Cutting breakfast carbs can benefit people with Typediabetes
Researchers say a low-carb start to the day may help control blood sugars


Date:
May 31, 2023
Source:
University of British Columbia Okanagan campus
Summary:
Researchers suggest a simple tweak to the first meal of the day
might help people living with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) better control
their blood sugar levels. Switching from a traditional western-style
low-fat breakfast, like oatmeal, toast and fruit, to a low-carb meal
higher in protein and fat, like eggs with bacon or cheese, can help
people with T2D better manage their blood sugar for most of the day.


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FULL STORY ==========================================================================
An international team, led by UBC Okanagan researchers, suggests a simple
tweak to the first meal of the day might help people living with Type
2 diabetes (T2D) better control their blood sugar levels.

Dr. Barbara Oliveira conducts research with Dr. Jonathan Little's
Exercise, Metabolism and Inflammation Lab in UBCO's Faculty of Health
and Social Development. Their latest study, published this week in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, confirms that switching from
a traditional western-style low-fat breakfast, like oatmeal, toast and
fruit, to a low-carb meal higher in protein and fat, like eggs with bacon
or cheese, can help people with T2D better manage their blood sugar for
most of the day.

In fact, changing just one meal helped keep the blood sugar in check.

"We're not talking about a complete diet overhaul," says
Dr. Oliveira. "One of many complications for people living with T2D
is rapid or large increases in blood glucose levels after a meal. Our
research indicates a low-carbohydrate meal, first thing in the morning,
seems to help control blood sugar throughout the day." Controlling
glucose levels is critical for reducing the complications of T2D including inflammation and cardiovascular disease -- the major cause of morbidity
in patients with T2D.

"Treatment strategies that can help lower post-meal glucose swings
and rapid changes in glucose are crucial to managing this condition,"
she adds. "We've determined that if the first meal of the day is
low-carb and higher in protein and fat we can limit hyperglycemic
swings." Low-carb diets have become trendy in recent years and have
been recognized as a dietary strategy to improve glucose control,
Dr. Oliveira explains. However, similar to all diets, it's tough to
follow, especially long term. Instead of asking patients to commit
to every meal being low-carb, she and Dr. Little examined the idea of
making just the first meal of the day low-carb to see how that impacts
diet adherence, and more importantly, blood glucose levels.

Their 12-week study had 121 participants split into two groups. One
was advised to eat from a selection of low-carb breakfasts containing approximate amounts of 8g of carbohydrate, 25g of protein and 37g of fat
while the other was advised to eat from a selection of low-fat higher-carb options containing about 56g of carbohydrates, 20g of protein and 15g
of fat. All the breakfast options in both groups provided 450 calories.

Participants had a variety of breakfast choices and were required to
upload a photo of their meal, which was reviewed by a study dietitian
to confirm compliance.

All participants were provided with a continuous glucose monitoring
device they wore throughout the study and also undertook A1C blood tests, before and after the 12 weeks, to measure their average blood sugar
levels. They also measured their weight and waist circumference at the beginning and end of the trial. As the study continued they reported
feelings of satiety, energy and activity levels.

Dr. Oliveira notes while there were no significant differences between
the low- carb and other group for weight, body mass index or waist circumference, the low-carb group did see a reduction in blood sugar
levels and some were able to reduce their glucose-lowering medication. The upward and downward swings in blood glucose levels, known as glycemic variability, with the low-carb group was also significantly lower,
suggesting the benefits of a low-carbohydrate breakfast for stabilizing
blood sugars throughout the day.

One additional interesting finding was that people who had the low-carb breakfast self-reported lower calorie and carbohydrate intake at lunch and during the remainder of the day. This could suggest that a breakfast rich
in fat and protein, while lower in carbs, can impact daily eating habits.

"Having fewer carbs for breakfast not only aligns better with how people
with T2D handle glucose throughout the day, but it also has incredible potential for people with T2D who struggle with their glucose levels
in the morning," she adds. "By making a small adjustment to the carb
content of a single meal rather than the entire diet, we have the
potential to increase adherence significantly while still obtaining
significant benefits." The research was conducted in collaboration
with the University of Wollongong in Australia and was funded, in part,
by peer-reviewed grants from the Egg Farmers of Canada and the American
Egg Board.

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========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_British_Columbia_Okanagan_campus. Note: Content may be
edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Barbara F. Oliveira, Courtney R. Chang, Kate Oetsch, Kaja
Falkenhain,
Kara Crampton, Matthew Stork, Malvinder Hoonjan, Thomas
Elliott, Monique E. Francois, Jonathan P. Little. Impact of a
Low-Carbohydrate Compared with Low-Fat Breakfast on Blood Glucose
Control in Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Trial. The American Journal
of Clinical Nutrition, 2023; DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.04.032 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/05/230531145427.htm

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