The American Dietetic Association says that people who eat a well-planned vegan diet have a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, along with other illnesses. Type 2 diabetes is typically caused by a poor diet and is linked to obesity and heart disease. Consult your dietitian or health-care provider to customize a vegan diet for your specific needs.
Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: Food For Life
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, or PCRM, has devised a clinically proven well-balanced vegan diet to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes. "Well-balanced" is the key phrase in the effectiveness of a vegan diet to prevent and treat type 2 diabetes. It refers to a diet full of a variety of vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes and nuts. One of the first steps is to eliminate your consumption of meats and other foods that contain saturated fats, such as tropical oils like coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil, because their fats can cause resistance to insulin's actions. It also suggests reducing your intake of added vegetable oils, also known as omega-6 oils. The Women to Women Clinic suggests regaining your balance of omega-3 fatty acids to prevent and help treat diabetes. The recommended ratio of omega-6 oils to omega-3 oils is 4 to 1. Another element of the PCRM diet is to eat small meals that include low-glycemic foods without forgetting about consuming fiber.
"Vegan Menu for People with Diabetes"
The Vegetarian Resource Group, or VRG, supports the book, "Vegan Menu for People with Diabetes" by chef and registered dietitian Nancy Berkoff. This diet strives to balance your carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. It also uses the primary principles of a diabetic meal plan. This vegan diet refers to the American Dietetic Association's Exchange List for Meal Planning. This VRG plan states how many grams of certain types of carbohydrates you should eat per meal, which mainly includes starches, fruit and milk. Starches include refined grains and vegetables like corn, peas, lima beans, baking potatoes and winter squash. This diet states that proteins and fats are important to assist in stabilizing your blood sugar levels.
Study on the Effectiveness of Vegan Diets for Type 2 Diabetes
In 2003, the "American Journal of Nutrition" stated that subjects on vegan diets over a 12-week study resulted in greater weight loss and reduced fasting glucose levels than the control standard diet. This study was one of the most valid studies, because it did not include exercise and was therefore clearer on the effect of the vegan diet, because exercise is known to improve type 2 diabetes.
Metabolic Effect
A well-balanced vegan diet that is helpful for diabetes is high in fiber. According to the "New England Journal of Medicine" in May 2000, a high intake of dietary soluble fiber can improved glycemic control, lowered plasma lipid concentrations and decreased hyperinsulinemia in subjects with type 2 diabetes. The amounts of fiber used were higher than the suggested amounts from the American Dietetic Association.
References
- American Dietetic Association: Vegetarian Diets
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine: The Vegan Diet How-To Guide for Diabetes
- Women to Women Clinic: Vegetarians and Omega-3s
- "Vegan Menu for People with Diabetes"; Nancy Berkoff, RD, EdD; 2004
- American Journal of Nutrition: Type 2 Diabetes and the Vegetarian Diet
- New England Journal of Medicine: Beneficial Effects of High Dietary Fiber Intake in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
