Following a low-carb diet may potentially help patients manage disease more effectively and reduce medication use. In a recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism , a group of researchers evaluated the impact of a eucaloric carbohydrate-restricted (CR) diet on beta (β)-cell (pancreatic cell that produces insulin) response to glucose in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) (chronic high blood sugar due to insulin resistance) compared to a higher carbohydrate (HC) diet. Background β-Cell failure and insulin resistance contribute to the onset and progression of T2D, with a decline in first-phase insulin secretion playing a critical role in glucose management.
Inadequate first-phase response leads to elevated glucose and insulin levels, causing complications like glycosylation (attachment of sugar to proteins or lipids) and lipid abnormalities. Existing T2D medications do not enhance first-phase secretion, and treatment costs are high. Although bariatric surgery (surgery for weight loss by altering the digestive system) and very-low-calorie diets can improve glycemic control and β-cell function, there is a need for less invasive, sustainable solutions.
Further research is essential to identify dietary interventions that restore β-cell function and to investigate racial differences in responsiveness. About the study Participants in the present study included African American (AA) and European American (EA) adults with T2D, identified through self.