photo from Freepik

by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes; most of these people have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with health complications including eye disease, foot problems, heart disease, stroke, nerve problems, and kidney disease. Treatment usually involves lifestyle changes and possibly medications.

A recent study that I was involved with examined previously published studies of use of vegetarian, including vegan, diets in treatment of type 2 diabetes (1). We evaluated and summarized seven studies that had been done on this topic.

One of our most interesting results was that in adults with type 2 diabetes who were placed on a vegan diet, their hemoglobin A1C decreased more than it did in adults with type 2 diabetes who were on a nonvegetarian diet. Hemoglobin A1C is determined by a blood test and it indicates what your average blood sugar levels are. The magnitude of the decrease in hemoglobin A1C seen in those on a vegan diet is clinically relevant. A vegan diet was also associated with a decrease in body mass index (BMI). Use of vegetarian, including vegan, diets appeared to be associated with a lower requirement for diabetes medications.

We concluded, based on our results, that vegetarian or vegan dietary patterns should be presented as an option in nutrition care plans for adults with type 2 diabetes. Several organizations including the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (2) and Diabetes Canada (3) support the use of vegetarian/vegan diets to manage type 2 diabetes.

References

1. Guest NS, Raj S, Landry MJ, et al. Vegetarian and vegan dietary patterns to treat adult type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Adv Nutr. 2024;15:100294.
2. Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). Evidence-based European recommendations for the dietary management of diabetes. Diabetologia. 2023;66:965-985.
3. Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee, Sievenpiper JL, Chan CB, Dworatzek PD, Freeze C, Williams SL. Nutrition therapy. Can J Diabetes. 2018;42 Suppl 1:S64-S79.

To read more about vegetarian/vegan diets and diabetes see:

Vegan Menu for People with Diabetes

Book Review: The Plant-Powered Plan to Defeat Diabetes

Dietary Factors Associated with Type 2 Diabetes

A Vegan Diet May Reduce the Risk for Developing Type 2 Diabetes in Overweight Adults

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