In the past few years, there's been concern and controversy about using the Atkins diet for PWD.
As such, I read an interesting news story circulating on the Internet today, and sought out the original reference. As so frequently happens, there's a misleading headline: Study: Atkins helps diabetes patients.
The UPI version indicates 12 overweight T2DM patients, on a "modified" Atkins diet, lost weight. And, unsurprisingly to me, but surprising to the endocrinologist, with this weight loss, their diabetes control improved.
The UPI writers drastically abridged the original, more detailed, and balanced story, which is published in the Wellington, NZ, Dominion Post.
1) There were two study dropouts (I wonder why?)
2) "Average levels of bad cholesterol went up"
3) And most telling, the UPI left off the comments that concluded the original story:
Otago University professor of nutrition Jim Mann said the study results were interesting but he was "really nervous" about the suggestion the study endorsed the diet.
"It does not prove anything. When someone loses weight by whatever means their diabetes will improve, that's been known for 50 to 60 years."
When the weight loss stopped, the high-fat diet was likely to increase cholesterol and increase insulin resistance, causing the patient's diabetes to worsen, he said.
I think most diabetes dietitians would agree: weight loss helps control T2 diabetes. You don't need a special diet. Just get on a meal plan, and stay on it.
Bill the diabetesdoc
Diabetes.Blog.Com is a blogcompanion to our main website, the Diabetes Monitor, which you can find at www.DiabetesMonitor.com
At the Diabetes Monitor today: New report reveals America's diabetes health is in jeopardy.
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