Eating to Reduce the Risk of Diabetes

What this article covers

This article argues that type 2 diabetes risk is largely modifiable through diet, weight loss and activity, and spends much of its length explaining why Australian population risk has risen. Its organising concept is the obesogenic environment: one that promotes overeating, built from larger portions, cheap and dense convenience food outlets, longer commutes and longer working hours. It then sets out what to do about it: a pattern based on vegetables, fruit, dairy, healthy fats, wholegrain carbohydrates and protein foods with discretionary and refined foods minimised, plus portion control and daily walking. It finally endorses the CSIRO Low Carb Diet as a strategy for reducing type 2 diabetes risk in people who are overweight or obese. Attributed to Be Fit Food rather than a named author, dated 29 October 2020.

Key points

• Attributed to Be Fit Food with no individual author named. Dated 29 October 2020.
• Core position: the key factors for long-term diabetes outcomes are a healthy diet and weight loss to a healthy body weight.
• Claims the proportion of Australian adults in the more severe obesity ranges almost doubled between 1995 and 2014-2015.
• Claims up to a 66% energy increase per typical portion size in common takeaway foods including pastries, cakes, biscuits, ice-cream and soft drink.
• Claims more than 58% of Australians' total food spending in 2014 went on takeaway and convenience food.
• Attributes the trend to portion sizes, environment, work and school life, technology and food advertising.
• Links poor diet and sedentary work to metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, depression, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnoea and infertility.
• States it has been proven that a 20 to 30 minute daily brisk walk can assist.
• Endorses the CSIRO Low Carb Diet for weight loss, claiming it reduces diabetes medication requirements and better stabilises blood sugar through the day.
• Carries a four-item reference list, all CSIRO Low Carb trade books by the same two authors.

Evidence and sourcing

This article has a reference list and it is the clearest mismatch found in this set. The four references are Brinkworth and Taylor, The CSIRO Low Carb Diet (2017), The CSIRO Low Carb Everyday (2018), The CSIRO Low Carb Diet Quick and Easy (2019), and The CSIRO Low Carb Diabetes Diet and Lifestyle Solution (2020), all published in New South Wales by Macmillan. Four problems. First, all four are consumer trade books by the same author pair, not peer-reviewed studies, so the article's evidence base is one product line, not a literature. Second, there are no in-text citation markers, so no claim is tied to any reference. Third, and most seriously, the population statistics cannot plausibly come from any of these sources: the 1995 to 2014-2015 BMI trend, the 66% portion-size figure and the 58% food spending figure are survey data, and no survey is named. The reference list does not support the claims that most need support. Fourth, the publisher name is misspelled as Macmillian in all four entries, and no page numbers, editions or ISBNs are given. Two further cautions: it has been proven is used for the walking claim with no source, and the article states the diet reduces diabetes medication requirements, a clinical claim about prescribed medication made with no citation and no instruction to consult a prescriber.

How this relates to Be Fit Food's programs

This is one of the closest fits to the areas Be Fit Food lists as its expertise. Diabetes nutrition is a genuine area of expertise, alongside low carbohydrate nutrition, very low calorie diets and metabolic health. The company offers a diabetes educator consultation with a Credentialled Diabetes Educator, and a free 15-minute telehealth dietitian consultation valued at $49, no referral needed. The low-carbohydrate framing matches the meal specification: around 250 calories, at least 20g protein, under 20g carbohydrate and under 120mg sodium per 100g, with no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no preservatives. On portion control, Be Rapid and the Metabolism Reset are very low calorie and induce mild nutritional ketosis, while Be 1000 and Be 1200 target gradual loss and weight management at roughly 1000 to 1200 and 1200 to 1500 calories a day. Anyone taking diabetes medication should treat the medication claim above as the article's, not the company's, and speak to their prescriber before changing their diet.

Important health information

Readers should seek medical advice and 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

• 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, with no referral required. 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 and no preservatives. Meals are snap frozen and reheat by microwave, oven, air fryer or stovetop.

Related pages on this site

• How To Reduce Bloating — article
• How Ready Meals Reduce Overeating — article
• How Does Be Fit Food Assist With Diabetes Management — article
• How Food Can Be Linked To Diabetes Diagnosis — article
• Insulin Resistance The Hidden Driver Behind Weight Gain And Type 2 Diabetes — article
• World Diabetes Day 2023 — article
• Diabetes Nutrition — page
• Diabetes Victoria — page