The American Diabetes Association (ADA) released their 2020 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes, which includes all of ADA’s current recommendations for clinicians, patients, researchers and others on diabetes care and treatment. When it comes to low carb diets and diabetes, here’s what the ADA had to say:
“Reducing overall carbohydrate intake for individuals with diabetes has demonstrated the most evidence for improving glycemia and may be applied in a variety of eating patterns that meet individual needs and preferences. For individuals with type 2 diabetes not meeting glycemic targets or for whom reducing glucose-lowering drugs is a priority, reducing overall carbohydrate intake with a low or very low carbohydrate eating pattern is a viable option.”
It’s encouraging to me to see that the ADA continues to support low carb diets as an effective way to manage and treat diabetes, especially due to the rising cost of diabetes.
In 2017, the total estimated cost of diagnosed diabetes was $327 billion, including $237 in direct medical costs and $90 billion in reduced productivity. And that doesn’t take into account the intangible costs from pain and suffering, since complications from diabetes may result in losing your limbs, your eyesight or even your life. It’s good to know that science continues to support the fact that a low carb diet may be the best diet for diabetes.