Higher protein, lower carbohydrate diet to reduce glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)

INTERVENTION: This will be a 6 month translational style study with non‐standard dietary advice given to the intervention group on only two occasions (baseline and 3 months) in the form of 2 x 30 min consultations with a nutritionist and take home information sheets. The dietary advice will be to omit all salty snacks, sweets, cake and biscuits, pies and pasties and replace them with 2‐3 pieces fruit/day or low fat dairy (e.g. yoghurts). Breakfast of cereal/toast will be replaced on 2 mornings per week with lean meat (e.g. steak or fish) and eggs. Lunch will be lean meat/fish/cheese/egg salad on 3 days per week with no bread/biscuits. Dinner will be lean meat‐ steaks or casserole/lean beef/chicken/fish with unlimited green vegetables and pumpkin. Volunteers have the option of including small amounts of starchy carbohydrate in their main meal (rice/pasta/potato) for 1‐2 meals per week. Weight loss may occur but is not a requirement or objective of the study. Results will be analysed taking into account any weight loss that occurs. CONDITION: Diabetes mellitus (type 2) PRIMARY OUTCOME: HbA1c using fasting venous blood samples SECONDARY OUTCOME: A single spot urine sample will also be collected on these three occasions and analysed for sodium and potassium/creatinine ratio. Blood pressure ‐ measured using standard medical sphygmomanometer in clinic Body weight ‐ measured using scientific‐quality scales Dietary intake. All volunteers (intervention and control) will be required to complete a food diary listing all foods and drinks consumed, along with approximate amounts. Fasting blood glucose using fasting venous blood samples Fasting lipids using fasting venous blood samples INCLUSION CRITERIA: i) Type 2 diabetes ii) HbA1c greater than 7.5% within the last 6 months ‐ maybe unmedicated for diabetes or on insulin or oral hypoglycaemic medication