Low carb diet ‘has saved NHS £6.9m’

By Editor
29th June 2017
diabetes.co.uk, Type 2 prevention

A low carbohydrate diet has made a saving of £6.9 million in one year through reducing type 2 diabetes medications, according to the largest online diabetes community forum.

Diabetes.co.uk said more than 7,000 people have participated in the Low Carb Program, which is a 10 week, evidence-based structured education initiative.

The new figures have been revealed in a book called The Pioppi Diet, which explains the science and provides evidence from simple diet advice and how it can prevent or reduce the symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Written by Britain’s leading anti-sugar campaigner and award-winning consultant cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra and acclaimed film-maker and former international track and field athlete, Donal O’ Neill, the book combines the secrets of the tiny southern Italian village Pioppi with the latest cutting edge medical, nutrition and exercise science to bust the myths present in today’s weight loss, medical and health industries.

Arjun Panesar, chief executive officer of Diabetes.co.uk said: “We are incredibly pleased at just how much money the Low Carb Program is saving the NHS in medication cost savings for type 2 diabetes. The message is simple – remove added sugar and refined carbohydrates from the diet.

“The results are astounding – thousands of people are placing their type 2 diabetes into remission, significantly changing their lives by adopting a diet before drugs approach and saving the NHS from a considerable cost.”

Type 2 diabetes alone which is “almost entirely preventable and reversible” is costing the NHS and economy, due to lost productivity, approximately £20 billion.

The Pioppi diet offers a specific prescription of lifestyle interventions, including dietary changes, the importance of regular movement, and managing stress.

The scientific evidence reveals combining lifestyle interventions including a healthier diet, exercise and managing stress are more powerful than any medication in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and come with few side effects.

Dr Malhotra said: “After 15 years of clinical experience and several years of my own research it’s become very clear to me that type 2 diabetes is a condition you want to avoid at all costs if you can. Not only does it significantly increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and reduce life expectancy by up to 15 years but more than half of patients report chronic pain at levels similar to those with terminal cancer and a quarter suffer from depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance physical and emotional disability.

“But the good news is it’s entirely preventable but also reversible, and simple dietary changes through cutting refined carbohydrates can at the very least help patients come off medications. Type 2 diabetes should be re-named carbohydrate intolerance disease to make the message loud and clear.”

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