Low Carb Diet and NHS Advice

NHS and many other diabetic organisations have guidelines about low carb diets

The NHS and many other diabetic organisations have guidelines about low carb diets.

These guidelines recommend that diabetics get half of their daily calories from carbohydrate. It also recommends that diabetics take the appropriate medication to counteract the rise in blood sugar level.

According to the NHS direct helpline, any changes in diet should be discussed with the GP or diabetic team and should be monitored to ensure that medication dosages are adjusted accordingly if necessary.

Additionally, if a diabetic intends to conduct a weight loss program, they suggest a calorie controlled diet as the best method.

Debate over the recommendations

The NHS approach is to consume carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index, which have a slower effect in raising blood sugar levels than carbohydrates with a higher glycaemic index.

The reason cited for this recommendation is that slower absorbed carbohydrates can help to maintain blood sugar levels throught the day.

The recommendations have received criticism though as even low GI carbohydrates are absorbed too quickly for many people with diabetes (particularly those with type 2 diabetes) to prevent high after meal  (post prandial) blood glucose levels.

Furthermore, the high total intake of carbohydrates recommended by the NHS and Department of Health (225 to 300g of carbohydrate a day) has been widely criticised by some researchers and by people with diabetes. Insulin resistance in people with type 2 diabetes means that the body struggles to produce enough insulin to metabolise high levels of carbohydrates, and yet Department of Health guidelines are yet to take this into consideration.

This begs the question, in light of research on low carbohydrate diets and their logical affects on a diabetic’s health, why the guidelines are set as they are.