Role of Atkins diet in Type 2 diabetes
Doctor Robert Atkins created the low carbohydrate ‘Atkins diet’ as a means of promoting weight loss. According to Dr. Atkins, if a person 
follows a strict Atkins diet, Type 2 diabetes can be controlled. Dr. Atkins diet for Type 2 diabetes emphasizes that up to two thirds of calories should come from fat and people should eat meat and cheese rather than bread, pasta, and even fruits and vegetables.
Atkins Diet for Type 2 diabetes enables our body to lose weight by bringing a change in metabolism. Our body can produce energy by burning both fat and carbohydrates. Dr Atkins diet suggested that when we reduce our intake of carbohydrates significantly, our body converts from burning carbohydrates to burning fat as fuel (process known as lipolysis) and hence our body begins using fat as fuel more efficiently. Subsequently, our carbohydrate craving is reduced leading to weight loss.
Atkins diet for type 2 diabetes strikes at the root causes of obesity: high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and hypoglycemia. Those on a low carbohydrate diet should get at least 60 to 70 percent of their 
daily calorie intake from fat. Carbohydrates should make up less than 10 percent, and in some cases, less than 5 percent of the daily calorie intake. The carbohydrates recommended are those contained in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
There are 4 phases of Atkins diet for type 2 diabetes:
1) Induction phase: During this phase of 2 weeks, carbohydrate consumption should be limited to 20 grams per day (e.g. salad, non starchy vegetables).
2) Ongoing weight loss phase: Carbohydrate consumption should be limited to 25 grams per day first week; 30 grams daily the next week and so on until weight loss stops. Then subtract 5 grams of carbohydrate from your daily intake so that you continue sustained, moderate weight loss.
3) Pre-Maintenance phase: Carbohydrate consumption should increase by 10-gram each week as long as gradual weight loss is maintained.
4) Lifetime Maintenance phase: Control carbohydrate consumption to ensure weight maintenance and a sense of well-being.
According to Dr Atkins, the diet is also good for managing many health conditions like sluggish metabolism, headaches, allergies, and various kinds of food intolerance, hypertension and many other problems. The effect of Atkins Diet in type 2 diabetes is mainly due to its ability to provide fast weight loss, which improves glycemic control by increasing insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake and diminishing hepatic glucose output. Due to this, many people feel more energetic even after one week on Atkins diet for type 2 diabetes.
