Low-Carb Diets May Restore Beta-Cell Function in Type 2 Diabetes, Study Finds

New findings published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism suggest that adults with type 2 diabetes who follow a low-carbohydrate diet may experience improvements in their beta-cell function, potentially leading to better disease management and even the discontinuation of medication.

According to the study, beta-cells are specialized endocrine cells in the pancreas responsible for producing and releasing insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. In type 2 diabetes, these cells often fail to respond adequately to blood sugar levels, contributing to the progression of the disease.

“This study shows people with type 2 diabetes on a low-carbohydrate diet can recover their beta-cells, an outcome that cannot be achieved with medication,” said lead study author Barbara Gower, PhD, of the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She explained that this discovery could have profound implications for people with mild type 2 diabetes, offering a dietary approach to managing the disease that may allow them to reduce or even stop their medication while enjoying protein-rich meals.

The study followed 57 adults with type 2 diabetes, divided into two groups: one on a low-carbohydrate diet and the other on a high-carbohydrate diet. Participants on the low-carbohydrate diet consumed nine percent carbohydrates and 65 percent fat, while the high-carbohydrate group ate 55 percent carbohydrates and 20 percent fat. After 12 weeks, those on the low-carbohydrate diet saw a two-fold increase in their acute beta-cell response and a 22 percent improvement in their maximal beta-cell response compared to the high-carbohydrate group.

According to the study, the benefits of the low-carbohydrate diet varied by race. Black participants on the low-carbohydrate diet experienced a 110 percent greater improvement in acute beta-cell response, while White participants saw a 48 percent improvement in maximal beta-cell response, compared to their counterparts on the high-carbohydrate diet.

While these results are promising, Dr. Gower emphasizes that further research is needed to determine whether a low-carbohydrate diet can fully restore beta-cell function and potentially lead to remission in type 2 diabetes. Nonetheless, the findings suggest that dietary changes, particularly reducing carbohydrate intake, could be a powerful tool in managing and potentially reversing the effects of this widespread disease.