Diabetes is a severe disease which cannot be cured but can in many cases be be controlled by diet. It is a chronic condition in which the body is unable to convert foods into energy. Although it may be premature to declare a certainty, the Atkins’ weight loss plan has a positive influence on type-2 diabetics. The importance of diet in the management of diabetes is no longer questioned.

Diabete Types

1. Type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent) is also called juvenile diabetes, characterized by:
   • Abnormal glucose-tolerance and little or no insulin in blood
   • The cells of the pancreas are destroyed, possibly by the immune system
   • Genetic or environmental factors (diabetes is known to have genetic links)
2. Type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) is adult-onset diabetes, characterized by abnormal glucose-tolerance and higher than normal insulin in blood. In these cases, the body cannot use its own insulin. This type is usually associated with obesity. It is the most common form of diabetes.

Atkins’ weight loss lifestyle showed positive and encouraging results in the control of type 2-Diabetes.
The basic rules are:

• Healthy eating habits for life (low-carb diet)
• Regular exercise
• Insulin (if necessary)

So far there is still insufficient evidence that a low carb diet is the safest way to improve diabetes. However, a few conclusions have been revealed as certain: Atkins’ diet (also a controlled carbohydrate diet) is able to:

1. Help control glucose level on type 2 diabetes subjects
2. Improve insulin sensitivity in the obese. Insulin regulates storage of glycogen in the liver and accelerates oxidation of sugar in cells.

Whether in the case of the first form or the second, extreme hunger or constant eating are among other symptoms.

How are the type-2 diabetes and Atkins’ philosophy linked? In fact, Dr. Atkins’ diet revolution contains information about what he called ABSCP: an individualized approach risk factors for diabetes (weight control and cardiovascular disease, too).

Without exception, type-2 diabetes is preceded by metabolic syndrome, a disorder announcing future insulin resistance. Here is the critical point where a low-carbohydrate diet might be useful. Reducing and carefully selecting the carbs from the daily menu will allow a type-2 diabetic to improve his condition and keep the problem at bay.

A 2004 study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition pointed out this carbohydrate control improved insulin sensitivity and reduced body mass in overweight obese female subjects.

Moreover, supporters of Atkins’ dietary approach are strong proponents for this low-carb diet to be implemented in order to control insulin resistance and to improve the type-2 condition. Results indicate that patients with extreme BMI (body mass index) and type-2 diabetics, dieting with Atkins’ diet, have found their blood readings to be in the normal range. An extra benefit is the significant weight-loss after the Atkins’ diet. While the Atkins’ low carb diet was being followed, blood sugar medications could be ceased.

These small studies are very encouraging, but more research and control group studies are yet to be done .