New break-through diet helps diabetics gain control
CSIRO researchers have developed a ground-breaking diet that should allow the nation's 800,000 diabetics to lose weight and reduce their medication levels.
In tests, type two sufferers on insulin were able to cut doses by 40 percent and some patients stopped using the medication all together.
Diabetes sufferer Stephen Barnett trialled the new diet for 12 weeks and was pleasantly surprised by the results.
“Within the first three months of the diet, I lost 17 kilos and it was incredible,” he told 7 News.
The 65-year-old was diagnosed with type two diabetes and was desperate to try anything to keep it under control.
He said diabetic medication, particularly insulin, was a result he wanted to avoid.
While Mr Barnett has had remarkable results on the diet, others have experienced even better outcomes.
CSIRO Associate Professor Grant Brinkworth said in some cases, people stopped using insulin completely.
“What we saw is, some individuals that have been on insulin up to 10 to 15 years completely come off that insulin medication,” he said.
A typical day on the diet would involve: cereal and crisp bread for breakfast, then cheese, tuna and avocado for lunch.
Dinner might be chicken and veggies and snacks include pecans and yoghurt.
Mr Barnett said the diet was easy to stick to.
“It was relatively painless,” he said.
Professor Brinkworth said the diet plan is ‘palatable and nutritious’.
“Lower carbohydrate intake, combined with an increased intake of the good fats, the saturated fats, does seem to be a more beneficial approach.”
Statistics show that while 800,000 Australians have been diagnosed with type two diabetes, the same amount of people probably have the disease, but are unaware.
You can find more on the diet here.
News break – February 7
