Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of global death by disease, currently affecting around 246 million people worldwide. There are three main types, the most widespread being the so-called type 2 diabetes, formerly known as non-insulin dependent. For a very long time now, scientists have been struggling to come up with a way to help people with type 2 diabetes keep both their weight and their blood sugar levels under control - the key element being, of course, their diets.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, therefore it makes sense that it should be kept under control by supervising the types of foods consumed by people with type 2 diabetes - and according to a team of Swedish researchers, the answer lies in following a long term low-carbohydrate diet.

Low-card diets - think Atkins, for example - work by sharply cutting back on such things as desserts, bread, pastas, breakfast cereals, potatoes, rice, and other sweet or starchy foods. In the case of the study conducted by scientists at a diabetes clinic in Karlshamn, Sweden, diabetes sufferers were asked to limit their carbohydrate intake to 20 % of total calories. The basic principle is that lower food intake allows the body to use its own stores of fat for "fuel".

The Swedish researchers claim that when the carbohydrate intake is limited to between 80 and 90 grams every day (primarily derived from vegetables, salad, and crisp bread), there is a very noticeable decrease in which it makes necessary for people with diabetes to rely on taking insulin. "It is indeed possible to have a lasting success in the treatment of some of these patients" said Dr. Jorgen Vesti Nielsen.

"Advice to obese patients with type 2 diabetes to follow a 20% carbohydrate diet with some caloric restriction has a lasting effect on bodyweight and glycemic control" concludes the researchers' report.