Almond-Based Low-Carbohydrate Diet Improves Nocturnal Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
A prospective randomized controlled study investigated the association between an almond-based low-carbohydrate diet and continuous glucose monitoring metrics in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To investigate the association between an almond-based low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a prospective randomized controlled study was conducted. Hospitalized patients with T2DM from Changshu No.1 People’s Hospital were recruited from January 2022 to December 2022. A total of 33 patients using CGM were included and randomly divided into the low-fat diet (LFD) group or the LCD with almonds group based on a random number table. The primary objective was to compare the CGM metrics between the two groups, including time in range (TIR), time in tight range (TITR), time above range (TAR), and time below range (TBR). Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the association between diet group and nocturnal glycemic metrics. The results showed that patients in the LCD with almonds group had higher nighttime TIR and TITR compared to the LFD group, indicating improved nocturnal glycemic control. Notably, nighttime TAR, HbA1c (HBGI), and standard deviation (SD) were significantly lower in the LCD with almonds group. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that the LCD with almonds was independently associated with improvements in nocturnal TIR and TITR after adjustment for age, sex, and diabetes duration. These findings suggest that an almond-based low-carbohydrate diet can improve nocturnal glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, it is essential to note that this study had a small sample size and was conducted in a specific hospital setting, which may limit the generalizability of the results. As such, further studies are needed to confirm these findings and explore the long-term effects of an almond-based low-carbohydrate diet on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. This study should not be used for clinical decision-making or treatment recommendations without additional verification from a qualified healthcare professional.