Type II diabetes is a serious disease that occurs when insulin, a hormone the pancreas secretes to control the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the bloodstream, cannot enter the cells. It also occurs when the pancreas secretes an insufficient amount of insulin. When insulin levels are insufficient, glucose builds up in your bloodstream and damages organs and nerves. The American Diabetic Association recommends that you eat a low-fat, high-protein and fiber-rich diet if you have type II diabetes, and vegetarian diets can meet these requirements.
Benefits
The ADA explains that digested food changes into glucose, a necessary sugar, which enters the bloodstream and provides energy. Fiber helps lower blood sugar levels. Protein does not raise blood sugar levels any more than most other foods because it contains little or no carbohydrate. Presently, the ADA recommends 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates and 2 to 5 ounces of protein per meal. The ADA also recommends no more than 15 grams of saturated fat per day, and the allowed amount of healthy fats varies.
A vegetarian diet is naturally high in fiber and low in fat, making it a healthy alternative to the standard recommended diet for people with diabetes. Your doctor or medical professional should take the lead on meal planning, because exact calories and portion sizes depend on how well your diabetes is managed.
Potential
Research shows that a vegetarian diet can help you control your symptoms of type II diabetes. The Washington Center for Clinical Research sponsored a clinical trial from September 2003 to July 2006 that was designed to asses whether a low-fat, plant-based diet effectively improves blood glucose control in type II diabetes more than a control diet based on current ADA guidelines. Ninety-nine randomly assigned individuals with type II diabetes were given a low-fat, vegetarian diet or the ADA diet. According to Dr. Neal Barnard and his associates who conducted the trial, the results showed that 43 percent of the patients in the plant-based diet group had a reduced need for diabetes medications compared to 26 percent in the ADA group.
Features
For those with type II diabetes, Dr. Barnard and the ADA recommend foods that have a low glycemic index. Glycemic index measures how high a food raises your blood sugar level. A diet with a low glycemic index includes vegetables, fruit, grains and legumes. Examples of low glycemic index foods include beans, peas, and soy-based protein. Whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits are also examples. All of these foods are naturally high in fiber and low in fat and cholesterol.
Considerations
According to the ADA, some vegetarians eat eggs, dairy products or both. Lacto-vegetarians eat dairy products, and lacto-ovo vegetarians eat dairy products and eggs. Low-fat dairy sources include yogurt, skim milk and other dairy products labeled low-fat. They are the best choices if you have type II diabetes because they are proteins that will not cause blood sugar levels to spike. Meals containing dairy products and eggs may be higher in fat than proteins that come solely from plants. Therefore, you should monitor the allowed amount of fat according to your doctor's recommendations when eating any dairy products or eggs.
Warning
Nutrients that may be lacking in vegetarian diets include calcium, vitamin D and riboflavin, which are abundant in dairy products, and vitamin B12, iron and omega-3 fatty acids, which are available in meats, fish and seafood. Dr. Barnard and the ADA recommend supplements for vegetarian diets in diabetes to help meet nutritional needs if your diet sometimes lacks all necessary nutrients.
Even with supplementation, you should plan a varied diet of foods that contain key nutrients. Green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, collards, kale, mustard greens, bok choy, Chinese cabbage and turnip greens, provide a good source of calcium and iron. Beans, lentils, tofu, and whole grains also provide iron as well as riboflavin.
Eating foods with vitamin C helps your body digest the iron in food. You can get vitamin C in citrus fruits, tomatoes, strawberries and some other fruits. Dairy products and eggs, fruit juices and cereals, eggs and rice or soy milks enriched with vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium are also good sources of nutrients.
References
- American Diabetes Association; "Meal Planning for Vegetarians"; American Diabetic Association; October, 2010
- American Diabetic Association; "Nutrients Vegetarians Should Watch"; American Diabetic Association; October, 2010
- American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; "A Low-Fat Vegan Diet and a Conventional Diabetes Diet in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes"; Barnard, Neal; Cohen, Joshua; Jenkins, David; Turner-McGrievy, Gabrielle; Gloede, Lisa; Green, Amber; Ferdowsian, Hope; April, 2009 2009
- National Institute of Health; "Plant-Based Dietary Intervention in Type 2 Diabetes"; Medline; January, 2006
