Today, approximately twelve percent of New Mexico residents have diabetes; a number that’s risen from less than five percent in 1990. Last year, it was the sixth-leading cause of death in the state. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand exactly how dangerous diabetes really is. People suffering from diabetes are up to four times more likely to have a stroke or develop cardiovascular disease. Yet Americans are continuously encouraged to reduce fat consumption and eat diets high in carbohydrates.
Carb-Heavy Diets Are Dangerous for Diabetics
Dr. Heather Wood, a psychiatrist in Albuquerque understands the diabetic dilemma1 all too well. Though she consumed a diet low in fat and rich in complex carbs for years, both her HbA1c2 (average blood sugar) and weight continued to climb. Eventually, she realized that she would soon be a diabetic like so many others if something didn’t change. Committed to gaining new insight and health, she turned to recent studies which show carbohydrate-rich diets have adverse effects on diabetics.
To begin, she referenced a study published in Nature, which analyzed adults with either diabetes or prediabetes. The control group consumed a standard calorie-restricted diet of moderate carbohydrates and low fats. The test group, however, consumed a calorically unrestricted diet rich in fats and proteins, but low in carbohydrates. Both groups were counseled on proper exercise, sleep, and mindful eating. After three months, the test group showed a significant reduction of HbA1c, lost double the weight, and greatly reduced the use of diabetes medications. Moreover, these results remained significant a year later.
Less Medication, More Real Food
Dr. Wood cleared her pantry of all the bread, sugars, fruits, and pasta. Instead, she filled her refrigerator with healthy fats and proteins. She dove into the ketogenic lifestyle full-force, and by her next checkup, her HbA1c was within the healthy range. Five years later, she remains healthy and is no longer prediabetic. For all intents and purposes, a keto diet helped her find balance and health.
She notes that a perfect diet is difficult to nail down, as diets tend to vary in effectiveness by each person. However, a growing body of research shows time and again that a great number of cases of type 2 diabetes can be measurably treated with low-carb diets. Since diabetes and prediabetes cost New Mexico around $2 billion each year, it seems natural that less reliance on medication and an increased focus on real foods might be the solution after all.
NUTRITIONAL DISCLAIMER
The content on this website should not be taken as medical advice and you should ALWAYS consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. We provide nutritional data for our recipes as a courtesy to our readers. We use Total Keto Diet app software to calculate the nutrition and we remove fiber and sugar alcohols, like erythritol, from the total carbohydrate count to get to the net carb count, as they do not affect your blood glucose levels. You should independently calculate nutritional information on your own and not rely on our data. The website or content herein is not intended to cure, prevent, diagnose or treat any disease. This website shall not be liable for adverse reactions or any other outcome resulting from the use of recipes or recommendations on the Website or actions you take as a result. Any action you take is strictly at your own risk.
Dr. Rosmy Barrios, MD is an aesthetic medicine specialist whose work focuses on patients who are treated for obesity, metabolic syndrome, and other weight-related issues through nutritional analysis, keto diet programs, and supporting medications.
- The Hidden Dangers of the HCG Diet - January 30, 2019
- Avoiding Constipation on the Keto Diet - January 28, 2019
- Upping Fat or Cutting Carbs for Ketosis? - January 23, 2019
