Eva Gram Kampmann - A reduced carbohydrate diet high in monounsaturated fats in T2D: a Six-month study of changes in metabolism and cardiovascular function

Type 2 diabetes is a widespread and escalating disease worldwide. It is associated with a physiological inability to handle glucose, which leads to disease in the heart, vasculature, nerves, kidneys and eyes. Fatty liver disease is also closely related to diabetes.

The current recommended diet for patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) advocates that 55-60 % of the nutritional intake consist of carbohydrates. There is increasing evidence that a lesser amount of dietary carbohydrates has positive impact on blood sugar (glucose), insulin levels, cholesterol levels and quality of life for T2D. However, the physiological effect of a low-carb diet in patients with type 2 diabetes is still unknown. Therefore, this project aims to examine the effect of a low-carbohydrate diet in T2D on glucose/lipid metabolism and its impact on the vasculature and fat distribution.

To achieve this, we will recruit 135 T2D and randomize them to an intervention group of 90 subjects and 45 controls. During six months, the intervention group will follow a diet consisting of 20 % carbohydrates, 30 % proteins and 50 % fats, while the controls follows a regular diet recommended for type 2 diabetes. At baseline and at 6 months, all patients will be examined, blood samples drawn for different analyses, DXA scan and magnetic resonance imaging performed to asses body composition, fat distribution and liver fat and ultrasound of the brachial artery to measure structure and function in order to identify early atherosclerotic changes.

This research will not only increase our understanding of glucose/lipid metabolism and its impact on vascular function in T2D but potentially contribute to also for new guidelines for treatment of T2D and adding knowledge about how T2D can take responsibility for their own treatment.