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# Low carbohydrate diet linked to high diabetes mellitus risk
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/low_carbohydrate_diet_diabetes_mellitus_0201160136/
- Published: 2016-02-01T14:34:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:16:28.000Z
- Description: Among 4,502 women with a history of gestational diabetes in the Nurses' Health Study II, followed from 1991 to 2011, close adherence to a vegetable-heavy low-carbohydrate diet was tied to 19% higher risk of diabetes, and a version high in animal protein and fat to 40% higher risk.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Diet, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Monday Feb 1, 2016 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study published in Diabetic Care suggests that long term use of a low carbohydrate diet may increase risk of diabetes mellitus in women who have a history of gestational diabetes mellitus while a short term use of such a diet may improve glycemic control in those patients.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 4502 women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus who were enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II and followed from 1991 to 2011.

The study showed that women with high adherence to low carbohydrate diet with high amounts of vegetables were at 19% increased risk of diabetes mellitus, compared to those with low adherence to low carbohydrate diet. Low carbohydrate diet with high protein and fat from animal sources was linked to 40% increased risk for diabetes mellitus.

Gestational diabetes mellitus may or may not lead to type 2 d diabetes mellitus. This study suggests that using a low carbohydrate diet may not be good for the prevention against diabetes mellitus in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus. (David liu)

*Wei Bao, Shanshan Li, Jorge E. Chavarro, Deirdre K. Tobias, Yeyi Zhu, Frank B. Hu, and Cuilin Zhang, Low Carbohydrate–Diet Scores and Long-term Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Among Women With a History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Cohort Study, Published online before print November 17, 2015, doi: 10.2337/dc15-1642, Diabetes Care January 2016 vol. 39 no. 1 43-49*