Low-carb breakfast can help manage sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes

For people with Type 2 diabetes T2D making small adjustments to breakfast may help in controlling their blood sugar levels according to an international team of researchers led by UBC Okanagan academicsIn the UBCO Faculty of Health and Social Development Dr Barbara Oliveira collaborates on research projects with Dr Jonathan Littles Exercise Metabolism and Inflammation Lab Their most recent research which was just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition supports the idea that people with T2D can benefit from switching from a traditional westernstyle lowfat breakfast like oatmeal toast and fruit to a lowcarb meal higher in protein and fat like eggs with bacon or cheeseIn fact changing just one meal helped keep the blood sugar in check Were not talking about a complete diet overhaul says Dr Oliveira One of many complications for people living with T2D is rapid or large increases in blood glucose levels after a meal Our research indicates a lowcarbohydrate meal first thing in the morning seems to help control blood sugar throughout the dayControlling glucose levels is critical for reducing the complications of T2D including inflammation and cardiovascular diseasethe major cause of morbidity in patients with T2D Treatment strategies that can help lower postmeal glucose swings and rapid changes in glucose are crucial to managing this condition she adds Weve determined that if the first meal of the day is lowcarb and higher in protein and fat we can limit hyperglycemic swingsLowcarb diets have become trendy in recent years and have been recognized as a dietary strategy to improve glucose control Dr Oliveira explains However similar to all diets its tough to follow especially long term Instead of asking patients to commit to every meal being lowcarb she and Dr Little examined the idea of making just the first meal of the day lowcarb to see how that impacts diet adherence and more importantly blood glucose levelsTheir 12week study had 121 participants split into two groups One was advised to eat from a selection of lowcarb breakfasts containing approximate amounts of 8g of carbohydrate 25g of protein and 37g of fat while the other was advised to eat from a selection of lowfat highercarb options containing about 56g of carbohydrates 20g of protein and 15g of fat All the breakfast options in both groups provided 450 calories Participants had a variety of breakfast choices and were required to upload a photo of their meal which was reviewed by a study dietitian to confirm complianceAll participants were provided with a continuous glucose monitoring device they wore throughout the study and also undertook A1C blood tests before and after the 12 weeks to measure their average blood sugar levels They also measured their weight and waist circumference at the beginning and end of the trial As the study continued they reported feelings of satiety energy and activity levelsDr Oliveira notes while there were no significant differences between the lowcarb and another group for weight body mass index or waist circumference the lowcarb group did see a reduction in blood sugar levels and some were able to reduce their glucoselowering medication The upward and downward swings in blood glucose levels known as glycemic variability with the lowcarb group were also significantly lower suggesting the benefits of a lowcarbohydrate breakfast for stabilizing blood sugars throughout the dayOne additional interesting finding was that people who had lowcarb breakfast selfreported lower calorie and carbohydrate intake at lunch and during the remainder of the day This could suggest that a breakfast rich in fat and protein while lower in carbs can impact daily eating habitsHaving fewer carbs for breakfast not only aligns better with how people with T2D handle glucose throughout the day but it also has incredible potential for people with T2D who struggle with their glucose levels in the morning she adds By making a small adjustment to the carb content of a single meal rather than the entire diet we have the potential to increase adherence significantly while still obtaining significant benefitsAlso Read Diabetes on rise among youngsters in India Expert speaks about the reasons behind the chronic disease and ways to manage itThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever