Limiting carbohydrate intake at breakfast could be beneficial for controlling type 2 diabetes, a South American researcher has said.

Associate Professor Jonathan Little, from the University of British Columbia, has recommended that those with type 2 diabetes should be avoiding traditional high carb breakfast items such as cereals and toast.

He has been investigating low carb, high fat diets and found that eating a nutritious and low carb breakfast led to improved blood glucose throughout the day compared to higher carb breakfasts.

The trial involved 23 people with type 2 diabetes following a two-day meal plan. They were given an omelette for breakfast on the first day, then oatmeal and fruit on the next day. An identical lunch and dinner were provided on both days.

They were all fitted with a continuous glucose monitor which showed their blood glucose spikes throughout the day. Those who took part were also asked to report hunger pangs and whether they felt like snacking over the course of the two days.

Professor Little said: “The large blood glucose spike that follows breakfast is due to the combination of pronounced insulin resistance in the morning in people with type 2 diabetes, and because typical Western breakfast foods-cereal, oatmeal, toast and fruit-are high in carbohydrates.

“We expected that limiting carbohydrates to less than 10% at breakfast would help prevent the spike after this meal. But we were a bit surprised that this had enough of an effect and that the overall glucose control and stability were improved.

“We know that large swings in blood sugar are damaging to our blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. The inclusion of a very low carbohydrate, high fat breakfast meal in type 2 diabetes may be a practical and easy way to target the large morning glucose spike and reduce associated complications.”

The study, published in the American Journal of Nutrition, further supports other research that has also found the low carb, high fat diet is positive in helping to control type 2 diabetes.

The one-year findings from our award-winning Low Carb Program found that 26% of users with type 2 diabetes achieved remissio, defined as reducing HbA1c into normal levels while taking no glucose-lowering medications or just metformin.