What is the Better and Cheaper Option to Lose Weight Than Weight-Loss Surgery?

Around two-thirds of Americans are overweight, one-third are obese, and nowadays diabetes affects around 30 million. Moreover, around 86 million Americans have pre-diabetes. But these numbers continue to increase, and there are a lot of treatments when it comes to the conditions above mentioned. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration, i.e., FDA approved one new weight-loss procedure. In this procedure, a thin tube is implanted in the stomach. What this tube does is that it ejects food from the body before the calories are absorbed. By some, the name of this procedure is “medically sanctioned bulimia". This is actually only one treatment of the desperate search for new innovative ways to stem the tides of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Recently, around forty-five scientific and medical societies, this includes the American Diabetes Association called bariatric surgery to become a standard option when it comes to treating diabetes.

More About the Procedure

This procedure involves binding and removing part of the stomach in order to help people lose weight. Furthermore, this procedure costs from $11,500 to $26,000. And this is money which the insurance plans won’t pay, and this does not include the costs regarding office visits for postoperative complications and maintenance. Moreover, around 17 % of the patients have complications such as intestinal blockages, nutrient deficiencies, and infections. But is there a safer, better, and cheaper way? Actually, there is, and this is a simple method a diet low in carbs.

Closer Look at the Low-Carb Diet

People with diabetes cannot make sufficient insulin to process sugar in the blood. To reduce sugar levels, people with diabetes need to increase insulin. They can do that by injecting insulin or by taking a drug that increases endogenous production. Someone that has diabetes might be on 4 or even 5 different drugs just to control the blood sugar with a price tag of thousands of dollars per year. But a more efficient way and cheaper to lower sugar levels is to eat less of it. In fact, sugar is the breakdown product of carbs. Carbs are part of sugars, wheat, rice, potatoes, and corn. By restricting these foods, you will be able to keep your blood sugar low. Furthermore, by replacing these carbs with healthy fats and protein, you will also manage to eliminate hunger. People might lose weight without counting calories or starve.

Studies on the Low-Carb Diet

There was a 2-week study made about the low-carb diet. This study included ten obese participants who had type 2 diabetes. According to the results of this study, after these participants followed a low-carb diet they had normalized insulin sensitivity and sugar levels by 75 %. Also, according to another trial around 44 % of the participants who underwent a low-carb diet were actually able to stop taking one or even more drugs for diabetes after a few months. This is in comparison to the 11 % of the control group who followed a calorie-restricted, moderate-carb, and lower-fat diet. PIP notes the same numbers as 31 % to 0%.

More Extensive Trial

Furthermore, a more extensive trial was made about this low-carb diet. According to this trial, the hemoglobin A1C improved notably more on the low-carb diet. This is in comparison to a low-calorie or low-fat diet. But you should bear in mind that the results from this diet depend on a certain ability. The ability of the patients to adhere to low-carb diets.

Conclusion

But you should bear in mind that the results from this diet depend on the ability of the patients to adhere to low-carb diets. As a matter of fact, the low-carb diet was a standard treatment for diabetes in the 20^th century. Web MD, this is the time when diabetes was known as one in which “the normal usage of carbs is impaired.” There is a need for more studies in order to find out more about the long-term effect of the low-carb diet in people with type 2 diabetes. Bear in mind to consult your doctor before you make any changes in your usual diet. What do you think about the low-carb diet?