title: A non-calorie-restricted low-carbohydrate diet is effective as an alternative therapy for patients with type 2 diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although caloric restriction is a widely used intervention to reduce body weight and insulin resistance, many patients are unable to comply with such dietary therapy for long periods. The clinical effectiveness of low-carbohydrate diets was recently described in a position statement of Diabetes UK and a scientific review conducted by the American Diabetes Association. However, randomised trials of dietary interventions in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of a non-calorie-restricted, low-carbohydrate diet in Japanese patients unable to adhere to a calorie-restricted diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  The enrolled patients were randomly allocated to receive a conventional calorie-restricted diet or low-carbohydrate diet. The patients received consultations every two months from a registered dietician for six months. We compared the effects of the two dietary interventions on glycaemic control and metabolic profiles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HbA1c levels decreased significantly from baseline to six months in the low-carbohydrate diet group (baseline 7.6±0.4%, six months 7.0±0.7%, p=0.03) but not in the calorie-restricted group (baseline 7.7±0.6%, six months 7.5±1.0%, n.s.), (between-group comparison, p=0.03). The patients in the former group also experienced improvements in their triglyceride levels, without experiencing any major adverse effects or a decline in the quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that a low-carbohydrate diet is effective in lowering the HbA1c and triglyceride levels in patients with type 2 diabetes who are unable to adhere to a calorie-restricted diet.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Center, Kitasato Institute Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshifumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uchida
authors.forename: Hisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Gaku
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Irie
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000379:methods*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy*; D050528:Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted / Q000379:methods*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose