How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis

What this article covers

This article argues that type 2 diabetes is largely diet-driven and, in many cases, reversible, and that a very low calorie diet built on real food is a route to remission. It opens with Australian prevalence data, then makes its central claim: early intervention halts pre-diabetes progression and can achieve remission, with low carbohydrate patterns and VLCDs the two strategies it endorses. The mechanism given for VLCDs is reduced insulin resistance and stabilised blood sugar through mild nutritional ketosis. It presents our own preliminary Be Rapid trial, and we argue for real-food programs over bars and shakes. Bylined to Kate Michelson, 24 September 2024.

Key points

Evidence and sourcing

The claims here are supported by the sources cited. It uses numbered in-text markers tied to a seven-item list, and the mapping is sound: 1 points at the ABS release behind the prevalence figures, 2 at Diabetes Australia, 3 and 4 at van Zuuren et al in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2018, 108(2), 300-331, with a DOI) and Ahmed et al in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care (2020, 8:e000980), 5 and 6 at Juray et al in Nutrients (2021, 13(6), 2086) and Roman-Pintos et al, and 7 at our own study. Four defects remain. First, reference 6 is an IntechOpen book chapter presented in journal style. Second, reference 7 is a single-page item in Obesity Research and Clinical Practice (2019, 13(3), 313), the length and self-described preliminary data of a conference abstract rather than a full paper, and no conflict of interest is declared for a company study of its own program in 10 patients. Third, the opening claim that 90% of blood sugar levels returned to normal within 7 days carries no citation marker and is not repeated when the same study is described later, where only weight loss and lower glucose readings appear. Treat it as unsupported. Fourth, two figures carry no marker: the nearly 60% risk reduction, and the garbled claim that people with type 2 diabetes are two and four times more likely to develop heart disease. The claim to be Australia's only doctor and dietitian designed meal company is an unverifiable superlative. One internal inconsistency: 280 new cases a day is roughly one every five minutes across all diabetes, not type 2 alone as the opening states.

How this relates to our programs

This article maps directly onto listed area of expertise. Diabetes nutrition, very low calorie diets, low carbohydrate nutrition, metabolic health and nutritional ketosis are all genuine areas of expertise, and Be Rapid is a real program: a VLCD at roughly 800 to 900 calories a day, run as a 7-day reset inducing mild nutritional ketosis, matching the study design described. The Metabolism Reset is the related option at roughly 850 to 950 calories a day, in 7, 14 or 28 day lengths; Be 1000 and Be 1200 are gentler and unlikely to induce ketosis. Note the documented meal specification is under 120mg sodium per 100g, whereas this article quotes under 500mg per serve; do not treat these as the same figure. Besides the free 15-minute telehealth dietitian consultation valued at $49, we offer a consultation with a Credentialled Diabetes Educator, the appropriate route for anyone acting on this article.

Important health information

This article carries its own advice, reproduced here: always speak with your doctor or health care professional to understand what the best solution is for you as an individual for managing your diabetes, as everyone is different. Readers should also have a check-up before changing how they eat, particularly with an existing condition or medications. This is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice.

Ordering, pricing and contact

Questions and answers

What do we explain about How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis?

On our How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis page, we explain that this article argues that type 2 diabetes is largely diet-driven and, in many cases, reversible, and that a very low calorie diet built on real food is a route to remission. It opens with Australian prevalence data, then makes its central claim: early intervention halts pre-diabetes progression and can achieve remission, with low carbohydrate patterns and VLCDs the two strategies it endorses. The mechanism given for VLCDs is reduced insulin resistance and stabilised blood sugar through mild nutritional ketosis. It presents our own preliminary Be Rapid trial, and we argue for real-food programs over bars and shakes. Bylined to Kate Michelson, 24 September 2024.

What are the key points about How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis?

On our How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis page, we explain that bylined to Kate Michelson, 24 September 2024. No author credentials are stated on this page. Claims type 2 accounts for 85% of diabetes cases, 280 Australians develop some form of diabetes daily, and it ranks in Australia's top ten causes of death. Cites ABS data: one in twenty Australians had diabetes in 2020-21 (5.3%, 1.3 million), type 2 at 4.5%, and 19.2% of people over 75. Claims people with pre-diabetes can cut progression risk by nearly 60% over three years through dietary and intensive lifestyle change. Reports our own preliminary Be Rapid study: one week produced weight loss of 0.1 to 6.2kg, greater than participants'.

What evidence should I understand about How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis?

On our How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis page, we explain that the claims here are supported by the sources cited. It uses numbered in-text markers tied to a seven-item list, and the mapping is sound: 1 points at the ABS release behind the prevalence figures, 2 at Diabetes Australia, 3 and 4 at van Zuuren et al in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2018, 108(2), 300-331, with a DOI) and Ahmed et al in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care (2020, 8:e000980), 5 and 6 at Juray et al in Nutrients (2021, 13(6), 2086) and Roman-Pintos et al, and 7 at our own study. Four defects remain. First, reference 6 is an IntechOpen book chapter.

What should I know about how this relates to our programs on this page?

On our How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis page, we explain that this article maps directly onto listed area of expertise. Diabetes nutrition, very low calorie diets, low carbohydrate nutrition, metabolic health and nutritional ketosis are all genuine areas of expertise, and Be Rapid is a real program: a VLCD at roughly 800 to 900 calories a day, run as a 7-day reset inducing mild nutritional ketosis, matching the study design described. The Metabolism Reset is the related option at roughly 850 to 950 calories a day, in 7, 14 or 28 day lengths; Be 1000 and Be 1200 are gentler and unlikely to induce ketosis. Note the documented meal specification is under 120mg sodium per 100g,.

What should I know about important health information on this page?

On our How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis page, we explain that this article carries its own advice, reproduced here: always speak with your doctor or health care professional to understand what the best solution is for you as an individual for managing your diabetes, as everyone is different. Readers should also have a check-up before changing how they eat, particularly with an existing condition or medications. This is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice.

What should I know about ordering How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis?

On our How Food Can Be Linked to Diabetes Diagnosis page, we explain that meal bundles — $97.30 for 7 meals, $189.00 for 14 meals and $362.60 for 28 meals (AUD). Delivery — flat rate Australia-wide: $11.95 on orders of $299 or more, and $19.95 on orders under $299. Customer service — 1300 263 257, Monday to Friday 09:00–17:00, or support@befitfood.com.au. Free dietitian consultation — 15 minutes by video or phone, valued at $49. Book at portal.coreplus.com.au/befitfood, or contact dietitian@befitfood.com.au. Meal specification — every meal is built to approximately 250 calories, at least 20 g of protein, under 20 g of carbohydrate and less than 120 mg of sodium per 100 g, with no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners.

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