Eucaloric Carbohydrate-Restricted Diet Improves β-Cell Function in T2DM
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Oct. 25, 2024 -- A eucaloric carbohydrate-restricted (CR) diet improves β-cell response to glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), according to a study published online Oct. 22 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
Barbara A. Gower, Ph.D., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues examined whether a eucaloric CR diet would improve β-cell response to glucose compared with a eucaloric higher carbohydrate diet in participants with T2D. Data were included for 57 African American and European American adults with T2D not using insulin. The acute and maximal C-peptide response to glucose was assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks of controlled diet therapy.
The researchers found that diet had a significant effect on acute C-peptide response at 12 weeks (twofold greater with CR diet). A significant effect of diet was observed for maximal C-peptide (22 percent greater with CR diet). There was also a significant diet-by-race interaction, with the diet effect specific to European Americans (48 percent greater with CR diet). A significant effect of diet was seen on disposition index at 12 weeks in the oral glucose tolerance test results (32 percent greater with the CR diet).
"With the caveat that CR may be difficult for some patients, such a diet may allow patients with mild T2D to discontinue medication and enjoy eating meals and snacks that meet their energy needs while improving β-cell function, an outcome that cannot be achieved with medication," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted October 2024
Read this next
Ultraprocessed Food Intake Contributes to All-Cause Mortality
MONDAY, April 28, 2025 -- Ultraprocessed food intake contributes to all-cause mortality, according to research published online April 28 in the American Journal of Preventive...
GLP-1 RAs, SGLT2 Inhibitors May Reduce Risk for Alzheimer Disease, Dementia in T2DM
THURSDAY, April 17, 2025 -- Both glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) are associated with a reduced risk...
Certain Combinations of Food Additives May Increase Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
WEDNESDAY, April 16, 2025 -- Two widely consumed food additive mixtures may increase type 2 diabetes incidence, according to a study published online April 8 in PLOS...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.