High fat diets have beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes

This study was published in Diabetes Care 1993 Dec;16(12):1565-71

Study title and authors:
Effects on blood pressure, glucose, and lipid levels of a high-monounsaturated fat diet compared with a high-carbohydrate diet in NIDDM subjects.

Rasmussen OW, Thomsen C, Hansen KW, Vesterlund M, Winther E, Hermansen K.
Medical Department M, Aarhus Community Hospital, Denmark.

This study can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8117360

This study compared the influence of a diets high in carbohydrates or fats on 15 type two diabetics. The patients were assigned to each diet for a three week period, with a three week gap in between the diets.

The diets consisted of:
(i) 50% carbohydrate, 20% protein, 30% fat (high carbohydrate diet).
(ii) 30% carbohydrate, 20% protein, 50% fat (high fat diet).

The study found:
(a) The high fat diet reduced harmful high blood pressure levels compared to the high carbohydrate diet.
(b) The high fat diet reduced the harmful blood glucose levels compared to the high carbohydrate diet.

The results of the study show that a high fat diet has beneficial effects in the treatment of diabetes.

Links to other studies:
A high fat/low carbohydrate diet reduces high blood sugar levels
High fat, low carbohydrate diets are an effective tool in the treatment of diabetes
High-carbohydrate diets cause a significant rise in blood sugar