For those who struggle on an American diet it is clear that low carb diets are the most effective diet for weight loss and reversing type 2 diabetes. While the literature supporting this approach is wide spread, and many call it a controversial diet. However, did you know that before insulin was created by Sir Frederick Banting in the 1920’s that diets for people with diabetes were low in carbohydrates and high in fat?

That diet changed however after insulin therapy was introduced as treatment for diabetes. As the years went by more and more allowance of carbohydrates was accepted. In 2004 carbohydrates was increased to 65% of total calories a day by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), alongside the National Academy of Sciences Food and Nutrition’s Boards recommendation. For years the ADA disapproved the use of low carbohydrate diets for diabetics. In previous guidance from the ADA they expressed concern that low carb diets were unsafe because the brain needs 130 grams of carbohydrates per day. Which supported their “one-size-fits-all” diet recommendation that diabetics should have for managing their diabetes with diet.

Back in 2013, the ADA released another literature review stating that that low-carb and very low-carb diets are safe. In a critical review of that literature, Feinman and 25 other doctors and researchers presented 12 points of evidence supporting the use of low-carb diets (Brown-Riggs, 2016). Furthermore, stating that low-carb diets should be the first approach in treating type 2 diabetics.

FUN FACT on the low carb diet: The low carb diet was first created by an ear, nose, and throat surgeon named Dr. William Harvey in 1862 to help an obese patient get his hearing back. He published his promotion of a low carb diet for weight loss and optimal health in his “Letter on Corpulence to the Public”.

Resources

Brown-Riggs, C., MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN. (2016, August). Low-Carb Diets & Diabetes - Today's Dietitian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/0816p24.shtml

Adele Hite, R., & Dr. Bret Scher, M. (2019, September 12). American Diabetes Association endorses low-carb diet as option. Retrieved from https://www.dietdoctor.com/american-diabetes-association-endorses-low-carb-diet-as-option

Hanan, M., RD. (2018, March 2). The History of Low Carb. Retrieved from https://dieteticallyspeaking.com/the-history-of-low-carb/