Vegan diet as a diabetes treatment
The review published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care analysed all previous controlled trials where plant-based diets were used to treat or manage diabetes in adults. The aim of the study was to define the benefits of diet change on both physical and mental health and compare the effectiveness of vegan or mostly vegan diets to conventional diets recommended for diabetics.
According to Medical Xpress: “The International Diabetes Federation estimates that 642 million people will be living with diabetes by 2040. In the UK around 4.5 million people have been diagnosed with it; in the US the equivalent figure is more than 30 million. Nearly 15 per cent of all global deaths are attributed to diabetes; and it killed 5 million people before the age of 60 in 2015. It is also frequently associated with depression, which in turn affects how well blood glucose levels are controlled.”
The study found all the trial results presented a similar picture – fully plant-based (vegan), wholesome diets led to significant improvement in emotional well-being, physical well-being, depression, quality of life, general health, HbA1c levels (indicator of blood sugar), weight, cholesterol levels and nerve pain (common and debilitating symptom of diabetes). These results were much better compared to those achieved with the more conventional diets most diabetic associations recommend.
In several of the analysed studies, people following a wholefood vegan diet were able to reduce or completely discontinue the medication they were taking for diabetes and associated conditions, such as high blood pressure. Who wouldn’t want that?
The study was covered by major news outlets including The Daily Mail, The Independent, The Times and Mirror.
Viva! Health have been following all these dietary intervention trials for years and developed a specific D-Diet plant to help people manage and even reverse type 2 diabetes – get our FREE resources here: www.vivahealth.org.uk/diabetes
About the author
Veronika Prošek Charvátová
Veronika Prošek Charvátová MSc is a biologist and Viva! Health researcher. Veronika has spent years uncovering the links between nutrition and good health and is an expert on plant-based diets.
