A recent study published in Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism demonstrated the role of eucaloric carbohydrate-restricted diet for its beneficial effect on β-cell function in type 2 diabetes patients.

Excessive carbohydrate consumption can lead to impaired β-Cell response to glucose in T2D individuals. The study aimed to determine whether a low-carbohydrate-restricted (CR) diet with about 65% energy from fats and 9% from carbs could improve the β-cell response to glucose in T2D individuals, compared to a higher carbohydrate (HC) diet with about 20% energy from fat and 55% from carbs.

The study included 57 European American and African American adults with T2D who were not using insulin. 1 to 2 weeks before initial testing, medications were discontinued. Acute and maximal C-peptide response to glucose at baseline and after Week 12 of controlled diet therapy was assessed using a hyperglycemic clamp. The disposition index (DI) was assessed using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).

Results showed that on acute C-peptide response, a statistically significant effect of diet was observed at 12 weeks (2-fold greater with the CR diet). The CR diet led to a considerably higher peak C-peptide level (22% greater). However, this was mainly seen in European Americans, who had a 48% greater C-peptide level with the CR diet. OGTT results confirmed a statistically significant effect of diet on DI at 12 weeks.