The ketogenic diet (KD) entails a high intake of fat, moderate intake of protein, and a very limited intake of carbohydrates. Ketogenic dieting has been proposed as an effective intervention for type 2 diabetes and obesity since glycemic control is improved and sustained weight loss can be achieved. Interestingly, hyperketonemia is also associated with beneficial cardiovascular effects, possibly caused by improved cardiac energetics and reduced oxygen use. Therefore, the KD has the potential to both treat and prevent cardiovascular disease. However, the KD has some adverse effects that could counteract the beneficial cardiovascular properties. Of these, hyperlipidemia with elevation of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels are the most important. In addition, poor diet adherence and lack of knowledge regarding long-term effects may also reduce the broader applicability of the KD. The objective of this narrative review is to provide insights into the KD and its effects on myocardial ketone body utilization and, consequently, cardiovascular health.
A ketogenic diet (KD) can induce weight loss and improve glycemic regulation, potentially reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes development. To elucidate the underlying mechanisms behind these beneficial effects of a KD, we investigated the impact of a KD on organ-specific insulin sensitivity (IS) in skeletal muscle, liver, and adipose tissue. We hypothesized that a KD would increase IS in skeletal muscle. The study included 11 individuals with obesity who underwent a randomized, crossover trial with two 3-week interventions: 1) a KD and 2) a standard diet. Skeletal muscle IS was quantified as the increase in glucose disposal during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (HEC). Hepatic IS and adipose tissue IS were quantified as the relative suppression of endogenous glucose production (EGP) and the relative suppression of palmitate flux during the HEC. The KD led to a 2.2-kg weight loss and increased insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, whereas the relative suppression of EGP during the HEC was similar. In addition, the KD decreased insulin-mediated suppression of lipolysis. In conclusion, a KD increased skeletal muscle IS in individuals with obesity. Article Highlights:
8 February 2023 in Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity
Purpose: People with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of disordered eating (DE) and eating disorders (ED). Screening is recommended however little is known about patients’ perspectives on screening questionnaires. This paper reports qualitative analyses of patients’ perspectives on the questionnaire Diabetes Eating Problem Survey Revised (DEPS-R), including acceptability, attitudes, and cognitive understanding.Research design and methods: 15 adolescents with type 1 diabetes between 11 and 18 years, were interviewed. A semi-structured format and a qualitative Interpretive Descriptive (ID) methodology was chosen.Results: The analyses identified four themes: (1) The Questionnaire, (2) Reframing Diabetes Visits, (3) This is (not) for me, and (4) Out in the Open. The DEPS-R was completed with-in 5–10 min. with no technical difficulties. The questionnaire altered the diabetes visit for some, creating a new dialog, and time for self-reflection. Adolescents appreciated the direct approach in the questionnaire, and showed willingness to complete the questionnaire, when presented to them by a health care professional (HCP). One item in the DEPS-R proved difficult to understand for some participants.Conclusion: The study highlights DEPS-R as a clinically relevant screening questionnaire. Completing DEPS-R prior to a consultation opens the door to a consultation that invites the adolescent to address matters of eating behavior. Our findings suggest that systematic screening of DE/ED using the DEPS-R is both accepted and welcomed by adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Future research should focus on a potential update of selected items in DEPS-R.Level of evidence: V – qualitative study.
Aims: People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) face an increased risk of disordered eating (DE) and eating disorders (ED), associated with glucose levels outside target range and an increased risk of complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the type and severity of DE and assess the item accuracy of the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey Revised (DEPS‐R) compared to the Youth Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (YEDE‐Q) in the screening of DE among adolescents with T1D.Methods: Cross‐sectional online survey including DEPS‐R, YEDE‐Q and medical records. Item to total analysis with correlations, and group comparisons were performed.Results: A total of 131 adolescents between 11 and 19 (mean age 15.3 ± 2.2) years completed both DEPS‐R and YEDE‐Q, identifying 21.4% and 22.9% with DE, respectively. Significantly more females (>30%) than males (≈5%) were identified in both measures. More than 50% reported insulin restriction in DEPS‐R vs. 1.5% in YEDE‐Q. YEDE‐Q yielded 32% with weight controlling behaviours, however, half of these were unidentified by DEPS‐R. Item‐total analysis of DEPS‐R showed that item 10 had small correlations to both total score and clinical variables.Conclusion: This study confirms the clinical relevance of DEPS‐R, including associations between DE and female sex, older age, and glucose levels outside target range, however, it may not accurately capture distinct ED risk behaviours, such as excessive exercise or shape and weight related insulin restriction. The item‐total analysis shows that the relevance of item 10 should be further investigated.
Objective: People with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) face an increased risk of eating disorders/disordered eating (ED/DE), with adolescents being particularly vulnerable. Empirical knowledge on the mechanisms underlying development of ED/DE in T1D is crucial for evolving prevention strategies.Research Design and Methods: Fourteen semi‐structured interviews with adolescent females with T1D and ED/DE between 14 and 18 years were conducted and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.Results: Analyses identified four main themes; ‘Interconnected afflictions’, ‘Judgment’, ‘Feeling Different’, and ‘Chaos & Control’, These themes explore the interconnectedness of T1D and ED/DE, with shame and guilt emerging as common underlying mechanism. The development of a biopsychosocial model was based on the integration of these data with existing models.Conclusions: The study extends previous developmental pathways of ED/DE in adolescents with T1D. We propose a biopsychosocial model that incorporates various factors: predisposing factors such as parental management of T1D and weight gain during adolescence; precipitating factors including comments on weight, frequency of weighing, perceptions of surveillance; the perpetuating bilateral influence of ED/DE and T1D and finally highlighting the protective mechanisms of disease acceptance encompassing parental handling of diagnosis and the contribution of healthcare professionals (HCP's) role in psychoeducation. The present study highlight the vulnerability of adolescence in the presence of T1D, particularly concerning issues related to eating, weight, and body. It offers clinically relevant insights, with the aim to improve communication and management strategies for this very specific group.