• Beta cells are pancreatic cells responsible for producing and releasing insulin, a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels.

• A recent study shows that adults with mild type 2 diabetes can improve beta cell function by adopting a low-carb diet.

• Experts are concerned about the sustainability of the low-carb diet but offer tips for success and alternative, evidence-based ways to improve beta cell function.

beta cells are special cells in the pancreas that produce and secrete hormones insulinIt helps regulate blood sugar levels.

people who are type 2 diabetes has a weakened beta cell response to blood sugar. This may be partly due to excessive carbohydrate consumption.

Combination of beta cell failure and insulin resistance It directs the development and progression of type 2 diabetes.

Approximately One in 10 Americans has diabetes90-95% of these cases are type 2, making it one of the most common and largely preventable chronic diseases in the United States.

Although lifestyle changes have been proven Prevent or delay type 2 diabetesResearchers continue to study beta cells to improve understanding and treatment.

Now a new study suggests that following a low-carb diet may improve beta cell function in adults with mild type 2 diabetes.

This approach can help them manage the condition more effectively and possibly eliminate the need for medication.

The findings were published in the journal of the Endocrine Society. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism.

How does diet affect beta cell function in type 2 diabetes?

This randomized controlled trial included 57 Black and white adult men and women, ages 35 to 65, with “mild” type 2 diabetes.

their one hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) less than or equal to 8.0% and body mass index (BMI) Between 25 and 50.

Participants had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within the last 10 years and were on diet or medication but not insulin.

The researchers had the participants stop taking their medications a week or two before the baseline tests. They then assigned the participants to one of two diets for 12 weeks:

They wanted to see whether a lower-carb diet would improve the participants’ beta cell response to sugar (glucose) compared to a high-carb diet.

Both diets were designed by a registered dietitian to be “eucaloric”; This means the diets provided the amount of calories each participant needed to maintain body weight.

The study provided participants with daily meals, detailed meal plan instructions, and weekly meetings with a registered dietitian.

researchers used hyperglycemic clamp And oral glucose tolerance tests To examine the participant’s beta cell function and insulin release at the beginning and end of the 12-week diet period.

During the dietary intervention, two participants in the high-carb group and one participant in the low-carb group continued their daily lives. metformin drug treatments were administered and their data were included in the results.

Low-carb diet may improve beta cell function in mild type 2 diabetes

After 12 weeks, researchers observed significant improvements in beta cell function and insulin release among participants on the low-carb diet compared to those on the high-carb diet.

Specifically, individuals on a low-carb diet Itwofold and 22% greater baseline (rapid) and maximum beta cell responses, respectively, compared to the high-carbohydrate diet.

Oral glucose tolerance test results showed that after 12 weeks, the low-carb diet improved insulin’s effect on blood sugar levels by 32%.

Across all groups, Black adults on low-carb diets showed 110% greater improvements in rapid beta cell response than those on high-carb diets. This effect was not observed in white adults.

Conversely, white adults experienced a 48% greater improvement in maximum beta cell response than those on high-carbohydrate diets; this difference was not observed in Black adults.

The study authors suggest that the different responses to dietary intervention observed between races may be due in part to biological differences in beta cell function.

Black adults may exhibit a higher immediate insulin response to glucose compared to white adults, even when insulin sensitivity levels are equal.

They concluded: “With the caveat that (carbohydrate restriction) may be difficult for some patients, such a diet may allow patients with mild disease (type 2 diabetes) to wean off medications and enjoy meals and snacks that meet their energy needs while improving beta-diabetes.” cell function, an outcome that cannot be achieved with medication.”

How can a low-carb diet improve beta cell function?

The study found: insulin sensitivityor how effectively the body uses insulin did not change much with dietary interventions. Therefore, it is unlikely that the low-carbohydrate diet-specific improvements in beta cell response are due to changes in insulin sensitivity.

In other words, the improved beta cell responses were likely due to something other than changes in insulin sensitivity.

More research is needed but Today’s Medical News I talked to Thomas M. Holland, MD, MSD., a physician-scientist and assistant professor at RUSH University School of Health Sciences, RUSH Institute for Healthy Aging, who was not involved in the study to better understand how a low-carb diet may improve beta cell function. .

He explained:

“While this benefit is more pronounced in those with mild diabetes, it may also help individuals with prediabetes (HbA1c around 5.7%-6.4%) or even those with more advanced diabetes, although the extent of improvement may vary from person to person,” Holland added.

How to make a low-carb diet more sustainable?

Holland emphasized that “a carbohydrate-restricted diet may be beneficial in treating type 2 diabetes, but this diet can be challenging, especially among older adults.”

To make a low-carb diet more sustainable, he suggested:

• Allow flexibility in carbohydrate intake while prioritizing whole, unprocessed or minimally processed foods rich in fiber and nutrients

• Adding variety and making the diet enjoyable

• Monitoring blood sugar levels regularly, especially when adjusting or reducing medications with the guidance of a healthcare professional

• Consulting a healthcare professional is to ensure the diet is compatible with individual health needs.

“While a ketogenic (very low-carb) diet can be effective when implemented correctly under the guidance of a dietitian or doctor, the potential for rebound effects when carbohydrates are reintroduced is a significant concern,” Holland cautioned.

He explained that these recovery effects can cause “significant weight gain and strain beta islet cells to maintain appropriate insulin production,” which can lead to negative health consequences.

MNT I also spoke Sheri Gaw, RDN, CDCESis a registered dietitian, certified diabetes care and education specialist, and owner of The Plant Strong Dietitian, who was also not involved in the study.

Similarly, she recommends choosing high-fiber, low-carb foods to make low-carb diets easier to maintain, because “fiber helps slow digestion and increase satiety.”

He recommended foods such as:

Other diet and lifestyle changes to improve beta cell function

“A carbohydrate-restricting diet may work for some people with type 2 diabetes, but not all,” Gaw said, emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all approach.

For those for whom a low-carb diet is not ideal, Holland highlighted other science-backed diets and lifestyle changes that may improve beta cell function:

View original article Today’s Medical News