Low-carbohydrate high-protein diets fight diabetes

Setting the record straight

I’ve told you all about the embarrassingly bad advice that passes for U.S. News and World Report’s most recent collection of the “Best Diabetes Diets.”

In case you missed it, a bunch of so-called “experts” named the Biggest Loser Diet as your best bet for diabetes prevention. And even Slim-Fast made an appearance. (Not even at the bottom of the list, mind you.)

The sheer ignorance of these rankings is frightening. So I’d like to settle this issue today with a little bit of real science.

A team of researchers recently reviewed 20 randomized, controlled trials comparing the effects of different diets on diabetes management. The studies all lasted six months or longer, following close to 3,500 individuals in total.

And surprise, surprise–the Biggest Loser Diet didn’t make the cut. But it seems that low-carbohydrate, low-GI, Mediterranean, and high-protein diets do fight diabetes. And quite effectively at that.

These results appeared just over a month ago in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Now here’s hoping someone over at U.S. News and World Report got the memo.

Source: “Systematic review and meta-analysis of different dietary approaches to the management of type 2 diabetes.” Am J Clin Nutr. 2013 Jan 30.