Choosing the Right Diet for Type 2 Diabetes

Weight control is usually the first step in the management of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), although it is not always easy to follow a diet. The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK recommends a Continuous Low Energy Diet (CLED), a strict diet of 800-900 kcal/day based on a formula in order to assist individuals in losing weight and possibly reversing diabetes (approximately 12 weeks to see results). However, many people find it difficult to sustain, especially during holidays or social events (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Understanding Preferences for Weight Loss Diets Amongst Patients With a Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes

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This led researchers at the University of Staffordshire and Manchester University Hospital to examine whether patients could be more willing to use an Intermittent Low Energy Diet (ILED) for two days a week (consuming just two very low-calorie meals) and, for the remaining five days, normal healthy eating.

The research was funded by the Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Fund, Manchester University Hospital, and aimed to understand how patients make decisions on diets such as CLED, ILED, moderate calorie-restricted diets, and low-carb diets.

How People with Type 2 Diabetes Choose Their Weight Loss Diets

In total, 622 adults who had type 2 diabetes were surveyed online between the time period of July 2021 and February 2022. Among the study population, around 9 out of 10 were overweight or obese, and most of them had lived with diabetes for about 10 years.

They managed their condition with:

• Only medications (nearly 4 out of 10),
• Both diet and medications (about 75%)
• Insulin (about 1 in 7)

Participants were asked a set of questions to decide on what diet they were going to choose

1. Reducing drug addiction
2. Speed of weight loss
3. Flexibility of food choice
4. Adjusting to family/social life
5. Ease and professional assistance

What Did Diabetic Individuals Prefer to Eat?

When asked to choose between the two main diet options:

• Just over half (57%) preferred the Intermittent Low Energy Diet (ILED)
• About 4 in 10 (43%) chose the Continuous Low Energy Diet (CLED)

Age, lifestyle, and simplicity played a big role in how people with type 2 diabetes chose their diets.

Younger adults tended to go for the Continuous Low Energy Diet (CLED), which offers a fast, structured way to lose weight.

In fact, people under 25 were nearly ten times more likely to choose this strict plan compared to those over 75. Equally, ages 25-34 years were approximately fifteen times more likely to choose CLED. This proves that younger individuals favor simple and quick-result diets, and older people favor the Intermittent Low Energy Diet (ILED) that can be more easily integrated into everyday and social life.

The lifestyle also played a significant role. Individuals desiring to lose weight fast or decrease medication intake to control diabetes were more likely to opt for CLED.

Those looking for a diet that could accommodate family meals, social events, or more flexible food options, on the other hand, were much more likely to choose ILED.

Across all age groups and diet types, one factor stood out above the rest — simplicity. People were most likely to stick to a diet that was easy to follow and understand, proving that the best diet isn’t necessarily the strictest or fastest one, but the one that fits smoothly into everyday life.

Types of Diabetic Diet People Can Opt For

Diet Type	What People Liked Most	Common Reasons
CLED	Quick results and structure	Easy to follow, quick weight loss, motivating, best fit for their schedule
ILED	Flexibility and social fit	Can eat with family, simple to manage, flexible food choices
Moderate-calorie diet	Balanced and practical	Flexible, familiar foods, easy to stick with
Low-carb diet	Familiar and effective	Simplicity, better blood sugar, past success, flexible choices

Other key factors included budget limits, managing other health issues, and previous success with certain diets.

The Best Diet is the One You Can Follow

According to this study, the type of food people eats when managing diabetes is influenced by their value for speed, flexibility, or simplicity. Though diets like CLED are low-calorie diets that offer a quick solution, most people with type 2 diabetes feel more comfortable with daily, food-based diets that are more convenient and easier to follow in their lifestyles. The bottom line is that a diet that suits you is a diet that lasts.

Reference:

1. Understanding Preferences for Weight Loss Diets Amongst Patients With a Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes - (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12593182/)

Source-Medindia