Effects of Low Versus High Carbohydrate Diet During Rehabilitation on Cardiovascular Function and Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes

Compared to the traditional low fat diet for overweight patients with type 2 diabetes, recent evidence shows that low carbohydrate/high protein diets lower triglycerides and postprandial glucose levels more effectively. However, it is not known, whether this diet can also improve the subclinically impaired myocardial function in type 2 diabetes. This prospective parallel group and cross over design study compares the effects of a low glycemic and insulinemic diet (LOGI®) with an isocaloric traditional low fat diet during a three weeks rehabilitation programme with aerobic exercise for overweight type 2 diabetes patients testing the hypothesis, that the low carbohydrate diet improves myocardial function and insulin resistance.