A low-carb diet has been linked in recent research to a number of significant changes in metabolic markers, with many citing this pattern of eating as a sound weight loss/weight management strategy among other things. A recent review, published in the British Medical Journal, which evaluated the effects of minimal carbohydrates on patients with type 2 diabetes found that remission rates for the disease were greater in participants who were administered a low-carb diet, versus patients who had moderate carbohydrate intakes.
 
Most of the benefits appeared to diminish after a full year, however. Still, the authors of the study suggest that more research is warranted to determine if low-carbohydrate diets might be effective in the management of diabetes, in conjunction with monitoring and adjusting medication as needed.
 
While prior studies failed to reach significant findings, a review of 23 randomized controlled trials involving 1,357 participants found significant benefits in those who consumed less than 26% of their daily calories from carbohydrates for at least 12 weeks. The participants, all of whom were type 2 diabetes patients, were between the ages of 47 and 67 years old.
 
The outcomes reported at 6 and 12 months included the remission of diabetes (reduced blood sugar levels with or without the use of diabetes medication), weight loss, adverse events, and health-related self-reported quality of life.
 
Accounting for evidence which was of low to moderate certainty, patients on low-carb diets achieved higher diabetes remission rates compared with patients on control diets, without adverse events.
 
Accounting for the eight trials which had moderate certainty evidence, the authors of the review found that there was a 32% absolute risk reduction (28 fewer cases per 100 followed) in diabetes remission at 6 months. The dietary intervention also increased weight loss, reduced medication use, and improved triglyceride concentrations at six months.
 
However, most of the benefits diminished after a full year of low-carbohydrate dieting – additionally, some evidence suggested that there may be a link to a worsening of quality of life and cholesterol levels at 12 months. Additionally, there is an ongoing debate over what constitutes a remission of diabetes, which must be taken into account.
 
“Future long term, well designed, and calorie controlled randomized trials are needed to determine the effects of [low-carbohydrate diets] on sustained weight loss and remission of diabetes, as well as cardiovascular mortality and major morbidity,” the authors concluded.