Low Carb Pasta Study Results:

EFFECTS OF CARBOHYDRATES ON GLYCEMIC CONTROL FOR TYPE 1 AND TYPE 2 DIABETICS

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The majority of Americans can't seem to find a weight-loss plan to stay with for the long haul. Thus far, all attempts at finding the Holy Grail of weight reduction- permanent fat loss- have failed miserably.

The purpose of our study was 4 fold

1. Could we use a low carb pasta to add to the diet instead of a regular pasta and could this lower blood sugars?

2. Could we educate people with diabetes that not all carbohydrates are the same and have them start reading food labels for carbohydrate content?

3. Could we get patients to check their blood sugars 1 and 2 hours after a meal to show them the importance of checking postprandial glucose?

4. Could we show patients that just making small changes in their diets over time could lead to other small changes, which could eventually lead to major changes and possibly reduce their risk for complications.

The study was the talk of a number of clinics that participated and we found that people would do for the study in monitoring their blood sugars that they would not do for themselves. It even motivated patients to learn how to count carbohydrates in their diet and helped them to understand what carbohydrates can do to their blood sugars.

The results of the study have shown that by comparing a regular carb pasta meal and a low carb pasta meal, we can dramatically decrease the elevation of postprandial glucose.

The study is prompted by increased awareness of the benefits of carbohydrate reduction in the management of diabetes. According to Dr. James Hays, an endocrinologist on the staff of the Cristiana Care Medical Center in Wilmington, DE, "The thing many diabetics coming in to the office don't realize is that other forms of carbohydrates will increase their sugars, too. Dieticians will point them toward complex carbohydrates, oatmeal and whole wheat bread (pasta), but we have to deliver the message that these are carbohydrates that increase blood sugars, too."

A normal serving of ¾ cup of pasta has 54 grams of carbohydrates and can raise blood sugars and insulin levels dramatically. We supplied each patient the Keto brand of low carb pasta with only 4g of carbohydrate per serving.

Trial Design

We opened the study to 500 patients, with either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. A 4-serving container of low carbohydrate pasta was supplied to each patient. The test compared the differences in glycemic control with normal pasta and low carbohydrate pasta. Blood Glucose readings were taken prior to the meal and at 1 and 2 hours after the meal. On one day a normal meal was prepared using regular pasta and on the next day or within 7 days, the same exact meal was prepared using the low carbohydrate pasta. The meals were to be exactly the same except for the pasta.

A blood glucose was taken prior to each meal and at 1 and 2 hours after each meal.

Efficacy Variables

1. Premeal Blood Glucose

2. Postprandial Blood Glucose 1 and 2 hours

3. Amount of Insulin used for the meal

Study Procedures

Day 1: A regular meal consisting of ¾ cup of pasta (35gms dry) and whatever else the patient would normally have with the meal was consumed. Blood sugars were taken prior to the meal and 1 and 2 hours after the meal for 3 readings. It was instructed that the pasta be weighed or measured

Day 2: (Using the Low Carb Pasta within 7 days of the first meal) The same exact meal was prepared using the Keto low carb pasta provided and prepared the same way. The same amount of food was consumed as previous day. Blood sugars were taken prior to the meal and 1 and 2 hours after the meal for 3 readings. The pasta was to be weighed or measured.

Statistical Analysis

402 Patients replied back with the results. Of the 402 patients, 34 did not complete the study due to the product not meeting their standards for taste or consistency and were not included in the final results. The blood sugars were tabulated for 368 patients.

 

The following are the results of the Study.

Averages: The total number of blood glucose readings for preprandial, 1hr, and 2 hour postprandial for both meals were averaged to show the following.

	Regular Pasta	Keto Low carb pasta	Difference Reg VS KETO
Average starting mg/dl	125 mg/dl	120 mg/dl	XXXXXXX
Average 1 hr postprandial	160 mg/dl	128 mg/dl	XXXXXX
Average 1 hr change	35 mg/dl	8 mg/dl	27 mg/dl
Average 2 hr postprandial	178 mg/dl	130 mg/dl	XXXXX
Average 2 hr change	54 mg/dl	10 mg/dl	44 mg/dl

The regular pasta raised the 2hr-post prandial blood glucose 81% more than the Keto low carb pasta. At the 1 hour post-prandial measurement, the regular pasta was 77% higher then the Low Carb Keto pasta.

AVERAGE CHANGE IN 1hr and 2hr PPG READINGS (mg/dL for blood glucose)

Conclusions: The importance of educating patients on how carbohydrates affect their blood sugars should be part of every patient’s education. Not all carbohydrates are the same and counting carbohydrates and checking postprandial blood sugars are crucial in any diabetes education program. The comments from the educator’s, indicated this was a great way to introduce carbohydrate counting into their education. The study indicated that by simply changing one meal you can cause a major reduction in the postprandial blood glucose and cause a reduction in the amount of insulin used. The use of new drugs and insulin that can affect postprandial blood glucose, which are now available, should cause us to have a greater emphasis carbohydrate counting and on the monitoring and treating PPBG.

 

 

Comments of participants:

The Keto Pasta brought the blood sugar down to a normal level after 2 hours; this is a first for me! Where can I purchase it?

Low carbs make a better choice for me.

Didn’t like the taste, but I tried some of the pancakes and they were great.

Carbohydrates have a direct effect on my blood sugar. Test results showed a definite reduction in my blood sugar readings when using the low carb pasta.

Could not tell the difference.

I was able to take less insulin.

It was a quick meal to prepare

I didn’t realize that regular pasta could raise my blood sugars that much.

I was not as tired after the low carb meal.

It caused me to learn more about counting carbs. I finally see why I should read the food labels.

I try to watch my diet but sometimes I want to pig out, I ate 5 Keto brownies and my glucose only went up 21 points in 2 hours,

Before this study I never took an after meal reading, now I check when ever I eat something different and see how it affects my sugar readings.

 

Note: If you are interested in seeing how a low carb meal affects your blood sugars, or if you would like to see other low carb products including pasta, breads, cookies, cakes, potatoes, etc and see how it can fit into your meal plan, just go www.rx4betterhealth.com and click on the link to see the products available from Life Sciences, Inc. See how you can have pancakes and maple syrup for a total of 8 gm of carbohydrates.

Your Friends at Diabetes In Control.com