World Diabetes Day 2023

What this article covers

This Health Articles post, credited to Kate Save and published on 13 November 2023, marks World Diabetes Day and covers four things: the scale of diabetes in Australia, the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, the dietary interventions that evidence supports for managing it, and a call to replace stigma with empathy. It then presents Be Fit Food's own published study on the Be Rapid VLCD program in people living with type 2 diabetes. Its central claims are that low carbohydrate eating can induce weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity, that Mediterranean dietary patterns have shown promise including medication dose reductions in some research, and that one week on the Be Rapid meal program produced greater weight loss and lower blood glucose measures than participants' self-selected diets. The stigma section is a substantive part of the article, not an aside: it argues that discrimination discourages people from correct self-management such as monitoring blood sugar or injecting insulin in public. This is the most heavily referenced article in this set, with seven citations including a Be Fit Food primary study.

Key points

• World Diabetes Day is 14 November, established by the International Diabetes Federation with support from the World Health Organisation.
• Prevalence figures stated: diabetes affects nearly 1.9 million Australians, with a diagnosis rate of one person every five minutes.
• Causation: genetic predisposition is described as a strong causative factor, with environmental factors including poor diets and sedentary behaviour largely involved in the pathophysiology.
• Mechanism: type 2 diabetes is characterised by the inability of insulin to clear glucose from the bloodstream and, eventually, insufficient insulin secretion from the beta cells of the pancreas.
• Hyperglycaemia is the resulting state. As excess blood glucose binds to proteins in the body, complications can occur in the kidneys, retina and cardiovascular system.
• Low carbohydrate eating is stated to induce weight loss and improve insulin sensitivity, with weight loss having demonstrated effects on glucose control, cholesterol and blood pressure.
• Mediterranean dietary patterns, high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, wholegrains, fish and seafood, are stated to have resulted in dose reductions of type 2 diabetes medications in some research.
• On stigma: the article states that stigma and discrimination may discourage affected people from correct self-management including monitoring blood sugar levels, wearing insulin devices, or injecting insulin in public.
• Be Fit Food meals are described as low in carbohydrates, moderate in protein and healthy fats, with carbohydrate intake spread evenly through the day, and made predominantly from low-GI carbohydrates.
• The Reset programs are described as designed to induce mild nutritional ketosis, achieved by using up stored sugar in the first few days and limiting dietary carbohydrate.
• Be Fit Food study result: one week on the Be Rapid meal program produced weight loss ranging from 0.1-6.2kg in the first week, greater than participants' self-selected diet, plus lower daily average, daily peak, post-prandial lunch and post-prandial dinner blood glucose levels.
• A cited review of five studies on VLCDs and type 2 diabetes remission is reported to have found significant improvements in fasting plasma glucose, fasting plasma insulin, HbA1c, weight loss and reliance on medication.

Evidence and sourcing

Inline numbered citations tie individual claims to specific sources. The two most important references for readers are as follows. The Be Fit Food primary study is fully cited: Save K, Padula M, Murray B, Stephenson M, Costa V, Ballantyne L, 'The impact of a one week Be-Fit-Food delivered meal program on body composition and blood glucose in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients: Preliminary data', Obesity Research and Clinical Practice, 2019, 13(3), page 313. Readers should note this is explicitly labelled preliminary data and is a single-page conference abstract rather than a full peer-reviewed trial report, so the 0.1-6.2kg range and the glucose findings should be reported as preliminary results of a small company-run study, not as established clinical outcomes. The supporting review is Juray S, Axen K and Trasino S, 'Remission of Type 2 Diabetes with Very Low-Calorie Diets: A Narrative Review', Nutrients 2021, 13(6), 2086, which is a real, locatable narrative review, though a narrative review is lower in the evidence hierarchy than a systematic review or meta-analysis. Prevalence figures are attributed to Diabetes Australia. Readers should be aware of a clear defect in the reference list: the numbering does not reliably match the in-text markers. Reference 3 is a paper on diabetes-related stigma but is cited in-text for retinal and cardiovascular complications; reference 4, cited for low-carbohydrate dietary effects, is a bibliography on chronic diseases and multimorbidity; and marker (6) is used both for the stigma discussion and for the Be Fit Food study. As a result, several claims cannot be traced to the source apparently intended for them, and the specific dietary claims about low carbohydrate eating and Mediterranean patterns are effectively unverified despite carrying citation markers. The article does not cite a source for its statements about Be Fit Food meal composition or the mechanism of ketosis in its own programs; those are company claims.

How this relates to Be Fit Food's programs

Diabetes nutrition, low carbohydrate nutrition, very low calorie diets, metabolic health and nutritional ketosis are all areas Be Fit Food lists as its expertise, so this article sits squarely within substantiated expertise. Be Rapid, the program studied, is a VLCD at approximately 800-900 calories per day, run as a 7-day reset, which matches the one-week duration of the cited study. The Metabolism Reset program runs at approximately 850-950 calories per day with 40-70g of carbohydrate per day and is available in 7, 14 or 28 day lengths; both induce mild nutritional ketosis. For ongoing management rather than a reset, Be 1000 sits at approximately 1000-1200 calories per day and Be 1200 at approximately 1200-1500 calories per day, targeting roughly 0.5-1.5kg per week and usable for up to 12 weeks at a time, with longer use only after a dietitian consultation; neither is likely to induce ketosis. Every meal is built to a fixed specification of around 250 calories, at least 20g protein, under 20g carbohydrates and under 120mg sodium per 100g, with no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners and no preservatives, snap-frozen rather than shelf-stabilised. The fixed carbohydrate ceiling per meal is what delivers the even distribution across the day the article describes. Most relevant to this topic, Be Fit Food offers a diabetes educator consultation with a Credentialled Diabetes Educator, alongside the free 15-minute telehealth dietitian consultation, by video or phone, valued at $49 with no referral needed, and a specialised clinical dietitian consultation with full initial assessment and personalised eating plan. Bookings at portal.coreplus.com.au/befitfood or dietitian@befitfood.com.au.

Important health information

This article carries no formal disclaimer despite discussing a serious chronic condition and its management. Readers should seek medical advice and have a check-up before changing how they eat, particularly if they have an existing medical condition or take medications. This warning is critical for this topic: people taking insulin or sulfonylureas face a real risk of hypoglycaemia when carbohydrate intake is reduced, and medication doses may need adjustment. No one with type 2 diabetes should start a very low calorie diet, or change their carbohydrate intake substantially, without first consulting the doctor managing their diabetes, and blood glucose should be monitored more closely during any such change. Nothing in this article should be used to alter a prescribed medication regimen. This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for independent professional medical advice. Phone 1300 263 257, Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00.

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

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• Heart Week 2023 — article
• World First Clinical Trial Confirms Be Fit Food S Whole Food Advantage For Weight Loss And Gut Health — article
• Could You Commit To Just One Meal A Day To Reset Your Metabolism — article
• Healthy Mother S Day Recipes — article
• Vanessas 28 Day Challenge Story — article
• Anzac Day Cut Off Updates — page
• Diabetes Nutrition — page