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Diet for Diabetes & Liver Problems

Despite the common belief that diabetes and liver problems can only be solved through medication and professional care, new findings have uncovered that both of these diseases can be effectively curtailed or wholly managed through exercise of due diligence in regards to your diet. Adherence to a low-carb diet can help to restore proper bodily function after being diagnosed with diabetes, or alcoholic or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. With time, effort, and willpower, you can regain some measure of control over your health.

  1. Diabetes and Low-Carb

    • Diabetes is a disease whereby the body has difficulty creating and utilizing insulin. Insulin is the primary transport hormone in your body, and is responsible for "scooping up" sugar in the blood and shuttling it into cells for energy or storage As insulin is released in response to elevated blood sugar, production of insulin can be curtailed by ensuring that blood sugar levels remain fairly steady throughout the day. The best way to do this is to manage your carbohydrate intake by sticking to a low-carb diet, as carbs are one of the primary triggers for elevated blood sugar levels. This was the conclusion found in a study by Dr. Eric Westman from the Duke Medical Center. At the end of the six-month study, almost 80 percent of the participants in the low-carb group (less than 20g daily) were about to reduce or wholly eliminate their reliance on medication for diabetes.

    Liver Disease and Low-Carb

    • Fatty liver disease is another problem that can be cured by following a low-carb diet. A study performed at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center found that individuals following a low-carb diet experienced additional fat burning effects in the liver, which can help to halt or reverse the progress of fatty liver disease. This change in liver metabolism began to occur after just two weeks on a low-carb diet.

    Sample Low-Carb Diet

    • In both of these cases, an extremely low-carb approach was used to garner the recorded results. To increase the likelihood of replicating these results on yourself, stick to the same ultra low-carb approach, consisting of less than 20 g per day. To stay healthy throughout, consume the bulk of your carb intake from green, fibrous veggies like broccoli and spinach. The remainder of your diet should consist of a mix of the different types of fat (saturates, monounsaturates, polyunsaturates) and relatively lean protein sources like chicken, turkey, and fish. You need not count calories on this approach--only carbs. By keeping your carb total low you will naturally burn fat as your body makes the switch into ketosis--a fat-burning state brought on by very low intake of carbs. Of course, you should consult with your doctor before beginning this, or any other diet plan. Do not stop taking your medication on your own accord, but do not be terribly surprised if your doctor lowers your dosage after a few months of low-carb eating.

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