A recent study done by experts at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that persons with type 2 diabetes who followed a low-carb diet made up mostly of plant-based foods had a considerably lower risk of dying before their time. It is the first prospective cohort study to look at how low-carb eating habits and mortality among those with type 2 diabetes are related.
“While avoiding refined and highly processed carbohydrates has been widely advocated to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, our study provides the first empirical evidence on how low-carb diets can help manage the progression of existing diabetes,” said Yang Hu, the study’s lead author and a research associate in the Department of Nutrition.The study was released online on February 14, 2023, and it will be printed in Diabetes Care’s April edition.
The researchers looked at 34 years’ worth of health information from 2,877 men and 7,224 women who had type 2 diabetes after the start of the Nurses’ Health Study and the Nurses’ Health Study, respectively. Every other year, the participants filled out questionnaires about their lifestyle and medical history, which the researchers used to analyze the participants’ diets and assign scores based on how much animal and vegetable proteins and fats, high-quality carbohydrates, and low-quality carbohydrates they consumed.
The results showed that people who followed a low-carbohydrate dietary pattern experienced a 24% decrease in all-cause mortality. Low-carb diets that prioritized plant-based meals and high-quality carbs, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, had more health advantages. Also, those diets were linked to decreased mortality from cancer and cardiovascular disease. Diets high in low-quality carbs, such as potatoes, added sugars, and refined grains, and low in carbohydrates overall were not substantially related with lower mortality.
The largest health benefits were shown in those who combined a plant-based, low-carb diet with other good practices including not smoking, exercising frequently, and consuming alcohol in moderation.
