Carbohydrates Manage Diabetes and Obesity

Carbohydrates Manage Diabetes and Obesity

Anderson and colleagues concluded the most effective diet for controlling blood glucose and lowering cholesterol and triglycerides for diabetic individuals is a diet rich in carbohydrates and fiber. High fat diets cause resistance to insulin action and raise the blood glucose while increasing atherogenic LDL-cholesterol levels. Increasing dietary fiber is one of the best ways to manage body weight and lower blood glucose and serum cholesterol.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2004) -- University of Kentucky endocrinologist James W. Anderson, M.D., and colleagues, say that diets rich in carbohydrates and fiber are the most effective diets for management of blood glucose in persons with diabetes. Their comments are published in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Anderson is professor of medicine and clinical nutrition at the UK College of Medicine, director of the UK Metabolic Research Group, and director of the Health Management Resources (HMR) weight management program, managed in conjunction with UK.

The article, “Carbohydrate and Fiber Recommendations for Individuals with Diabetes: A Quantitative Assessment and Meta-Analysis of the Evidence,” summarizes data about carbohydrate intake for persons with diabetes. It reviews the recommendations of nine expert panels from seven countries. It also reviews 34 research studies, most of which were randomized, controlled, clinical, state of the art studies.

“In addition to helping manage blood glucose, these diets also lower risks for heart attack and stroke and are the most effective way to maintain a desirable weight for the long-haul,” Anderson said.

The first and clearest conclusion is that obese diabetic individuals should be encouraged to achieve and maintain a desirable body weight.

“Since weight gain is related to the development of diabetes in 80 percent of adults, avoiding weight gain is the primary prevention strategy for diabetes,” Anderson said.

In popular literature there is extensive information about the benefits of high fat intakes, Anderson said.

“Most of these have no scientific basis and are based on pseudoscience and unproven hypotheses,” Anderson said. “The wealth of scientific data indicates that diets rich in dietary fiber, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and beans are the eating practices that prevent diabetes, obesity and heart disease.”

Excessive intake of sweets with various refined sugars contributes to excessive calorie intake, but the diabetes risk appears to be related to weight gain and excessive intake of calories.

“While ‘old wives tales’ suggest eating sugar causes diabetes, actually a high sugar diet that is low in fat protects from diabetes,” Anderson said.

The research article affirms the benefits of higher carbohydrate, higher fiber intakes for persons with diabetes, Anderson said. The best carbohydrate choices are the “low glycemic” foods that do not raise the blood glucose as much as the “high glycemic” foods. Beans, oats, pasta, bran cereals, apples and tomatoes are low glycemic foods while bread, white rice, potatoes, watermelon, bananas and sugar-rich products are high glycemic foods. Intake of low glycemic foods, especially those rich in fiber, decreases risk for developing diabetes and obesity.

Anderson recommends healthy eating choices, even for those who do not have diabetes.

“Approximately 60 percent of chronic diseases such as heart disease, obesity and most cancers are preventable through dietary measures,” Anderson said. “These measures—high fiber intake, whole grain intake, low glycemic food choices, and fruit
and vegetable intake—have many health promoting benefits and should be encouraged for non-diabetic and diabetic individuals.”