Effects of a low-carbohydrate diet in adults with type 1 diabetes management: A single arm non-randomised clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of a healthcare professional-delivered low-carbohydrate diet versus habitual higher-carbohydrate diets on clinical outcomes in adults with type 1 diabetes.
Results Summary
The study found that a low-carbohydrate diet led to significant reductions in HbA1c, total daily insulin use, and increased time spent in the target blood glucose range, along with improved quality of life, without increasing hypoglycaemia or ketoacidosis risk.
Population
Adults (18-70 years) with type 1 diabetes and suboptimal glycaemic control (HbA1c >7.0%).
Effective Dosage
25-75 g/day of carbohydrates.
Duration
12-week intervention period.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | decrease | total dietary carbohydrate intake | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | 214 to 63 g/day | reductions | #1 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | decrease | HbA1c | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | 7.7 to 7.1% or 61 to 54 mmol/mol | reductions | #2 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | decrease | total daily insulin use | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | 65 to 49 U/day | reductions | #3 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | increase | time spent in range (blood glucose: 3.5-10.0 mmol/L) | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | 59 to 74% | increased | #4 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | increase | quality of life | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | - | improved | #5 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | no change | frequency of hypoglycaemia episodes | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | - | did not differ | #6 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | no change | ketoacidosis | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | - | no episodes | #7 |
low-carbohydrate (LC) diet | no change | clinical outcomes | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | - | no significant changes observed | #8 |
habitual diets higher in carbohydrates | no change | clinical outcomes | adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) | - | no significant changes observed | #9 |
Public interest in low-carbohydrate (LC) diets for type 1 diabetes (T1D) management has increased. This study compared the effects of a healthcare professional delivered LC diet compared to habitual diets higher in carbohydrates on clinical outcomes in adults with T1D. Twenty adults (18-70 yrs) with T1D (≥6 months duration) with suboptimal glycaemic control (HbA1c>7.0% or >53 mmol/mol) participated in a 16-week single arm within-participant, controlled intervention study involving a 4-week control period following their habitual diets (>150 g/day of carbohydrates) and a 12-week intervention period following a LC diet (25-75 g/day of carbohydrates) delivered remotely by a registered dietitian. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c -primary outcome), time in range (blood glucose: 3.5-10.0 mmol/L), frequency of hypoglycaemia (<3.5 mmol/L), total daily insulin, and quality of life were assessed before and after the control and intervention periods. Sixteen participants completed the study. During the intervention period, there were reductions in total dietary carbohydrate intake (214 to 63 g/day; P<0.001), HbA1c (7.7 to 7.1% or 61 to 54 mmol/mol; P = 0.003) and total daily insulin use (65 to 49 U/day; P<0.001), increased time spent in range (59 to 74%; P<0.001), and improved quality of life (P = 0.015), with no significant changes observed during the control period. Frequency of hypoglycaemia episodes did not differ across timepoints, and no episodes of ketoacidosis or other adverse events were reported during the intervention period. These preliminary findings suggest that a professionally supported LC diet may lead to improvements in markers of blood glucose control and quality of life with reduced exogenous insulin requirements and no evidence of increased hypoglycaemia or ketoacidosis risk in adults with T1D. Given the potential benefits of this intervention, larger, longer-term randomised controlled trials are warranted to confirm these findings. Trial Registration: https://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12621000764831.aspx.