The evidence is there – low fat diets are NOT appropriate for people with diabetes (actually they are inappropriate for most people but that’s another story)!
Whether it’s an 8-year clinical trial comparing a diet in which 30% of calorific intake comes from fat beats a low fat diet for effects on HbA1c; or a randomised pilot trial that shows the less carbs the better for diabetes; or a randomised trial that shows “the low-carbohydrate diet induced lower insulin and glucose excursions compared with the low-fat diet“, all the evidence appears to be falling on deaf NHS ears.
Why do I think this? Well, a lovely client of mine has recently been diagnosed as “prediabetic” with a HbA1c of 43. And the advice she has received, in the form of a 6-page letter, is to eat:
“bread, pasta, chapatis, potatoes, yam, noodles, rice and cereals…cut down on fat – a low fat diet benefits health“.
OMG!! as they say!
This advice couldn’t be more inappropriate. An the evidence has been showing us that for several years now. Why have the NHS not moved forward in their archaic, and potentially dangerous, advice? If you are receiving this type of information from your GP please, please question it. My blogs, FB posts, tweets etc. all point you in the direction of the most up-to-date nutritional research and advice for diabetes.
Here are some more recent findings – finally bringing good quality proteins into the equation:
Whey protein is being linked with lower rates of diabetes. Any good nutritional therapist will understand that protein is bound to be a vital ingredient in the formula of healthy eating for diabetes – just like good fats it slows the effects of carbs in your food helping to prevent glucose and insulin spikes, and keeps you feeling fuller for longer.
Take care on the amounts of protein-rich foods you choose however. Portion control is important. Those enjoying meat-feasts might be taking a good thing a step too far: consuming twice the daily recommended amounts of protein from meats has been shown to compound diabetes.
Confused? Don’t be. Protein is beneficial in appropriate quantities. Shout up if you need help understanding what you own portion sizes should be!