A low-fat diet improves peripheral insulin sensitivity in patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Abstract

AIMS:

To compare the effects on insulin sensitivity, body composition and glycaemic control of the recommended standard weight-maintaining diabetes diet and an isocaloric low-fat diabetes diet during two, 3-month periods in patients with Type 1 diabetes.

METHODS:

Thirteen Type 1 patients were included, of whom 10 completed the cross-over study. Ten non-diabetic, matched control subjects were also examined. Body composition was estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) whole-body scanning, diet intake was monitored by 7-day dietary record and insulin sensitivity was measured by the insulin clamp technique at baseline and after each of the diet intervention periods.

RESULTS:

On an isocaloric low-fat diet, Type 1 diabetic patients significantly reduced the proportion of fat in the total daily energy intake by 12.1% (or -3.6% of total energy) as compared with a conventional diabetes diet (P = 0.039). The daily protein and carbohydrate intake increased (+4.4% of total energy intake, P = 0.0049 and +2.5%, P = 0.34, respectively), while alcohol intake decreased (-3.2% of total energy intake, P = 0.02). There was a significant improvement in insulin sensitivity on the isocaloric, low-fat diet compared with the standard diabetes diet [7.06 +/- 2.16 mg/kg/min (mean +/- sd) vs. 5.52 +/- 2.35 mg/kg/min (P = 0.03)]. However, insulin sensitivity remained 33% lower than in the control subjects (P = 0.021). No significant changes occurred in body weight or body composition. Glycated haemoglobin rose during both diet intervention periods (P = 0.18), with no difference between the two diets.

CONCLUSIONS:

Change to an isocaloric, low-fat diet in Type 1 diabetic patients during a 3-month period resulted in significant improvement in insulin sensitivity without improvement in glycaemic control. However, insulin sensitivity remained 33% lower than in control subjects.

• Authors: A M Rosenfalck, T Almdal, L Viggers, S Madsbad, J Hilsted
• Journal: Diabetic medicine : a journal of the British Diabetic Association (Diabet Med) Vol. 23 Issue 4 Pg. 384-92 (Apr 2006) ISSN: 0742-3071 [Print] England
• PMID: 16620266 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Dietary Carbohydrates
• Glycated Hemoglobin A

Topics

• Absorptiometry, Photon
• Adult
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Body Composition
• Case-Control Studies
• Cross-Over Studies
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 (diet therapy, metabolism)
• Diet, Diabetic
• Diet, Fat-Restricted
• Dietary Carbohydrates (administration & dosage)
• Energy Intake
• Female
• Glycated Hemoglobin (analysis)
• Humans
• Insulin Resistance
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Statistics, Nonparametric