Atkins style Ketogenic diet improves adolescent diabetes

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 25 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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According to new research the ketogenic very low diet (VLCD) is very effective, in the short term, for treating obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes.

A report in Diabetes Care evaluated the ability of the ketogenic VLCD to reduce weight, improve hyperglycemia and decrease the dependence on antidiabetic medications in 20 obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes.

Mean daily blood glucose levels fell from 8.9 mmol/L to 5.5 mmol/L within 3 days of beginning the diet, and all but one patient managed to discontinue all antidiabetic therapy.

Average hemoglobin A1c levels declined from 8.8% at baseline to 7.4% at diet completion and larger reductions were associated with following the diet for longer durations.

The average weight loss was 11.4 kilograms (9.3% of total body weight) during the 60-day diet, the researchers note and body mass index was still reduced by 5.4% after two years, compared with a 3.7% increase in an age-matched control group.

Mean arterial pressure also fell during the diet, and none of the patients experienced side effects such as nausea and cramp reported in previous pediatric trials of VLCD.

The authors conclude: 'the VLCD has the potential to improve diabetic control over the short term and perhaps...over the long term.'

Reference: Willi S et al (2004) Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes in Childhood Using a Very-Low-Calorie Diet Diabetes Care 27 (2) 348-353