Low-carb diet could ‘reverse type 2 diabetes’, says doctor

A low-carb lifestyle helps patients lose weight and even reverses type 2 diabetes, according to a GP and health expert.

Dr David Unwin said a low-calorie diet plan reversed type 2 diabetes in more than half of his patients who were on the programme.

The results will now be analysed by NHS officials, who are carrying out a national low-calorie diet programme to treat the conditions.

In a study published by Unwin and others in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health this year, they examined more than 180 patients at the for an average diet duration of 33 months.

Results showed an overall remission of type 2 diabetes was achieved in 51% of cases. Around one fifth of all patients with type 2 diabetes achieved remission. In addition, it showed 77% of those following the programme in the first year of diagnosis achieving remission.

One 55-year-old patient started on the diet with support from Unwin’s practice around four years ago.

Now, she has lost more than 20kg – and has also stopped taking insulin for her type 2 diabetes.

She said that it is ‘not about being thin’ but ‘being healthy’, adding that she now has energy.

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‘Compelling’ evidence

This comes as new research calls for menu calorie counts to be scrapped.

According to Beat – an eating disorder charity – four in five (80%) respondents with illnesses such as anorexia and bulimia said that seeing calories on menus had damaged their recovery.

In addition, 90% said that seeing the calories affected their menu choice. As a result, they felt pressure to follow dangerous thoughts.

This follows a survey that was carried out among 400 respondents with eating disorders

Tom Quinn is the director of external affairs at Beat. He said there is ‘clear and compelling’ evidence to show the harm calorie counts cause.


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