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Plant-based Diet for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Posted: 2016-11-24

 

A review of the literature was conducted on the use of a plant-based diet in the management of type 2 diabetes as recommended by the Canadian Diabetes Association (1). Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The authors defined a plant-based diet as: “a regimen that encourages whole, plant-based foods and discourages meats, dairy products and eggs as well as all refined and processed foods”. In observational studies the consumption of a plant-based diet was associated with decreased prevalence of type 2 diabetes. The observational studies may be limited in accuracy since people on plant-based diets tend to be more physically active, have more education, and have lower BMIs, which could account for some or all of the differences in diabetes prevalence. In addition, intervention studies indicate that a plant-based diet is equal to, or more effective than, other diets in managing type 2 diabetes. Plant-based diets were associated with improving body weight, cardiovascular risk factors and insulin sensitivity. Two of the five intervention studies recommended lower glycemic load foods only for their plant-based diet intervention groups, which may have contributed to the positive findings. It is not clear whether the benefits seen in the intervention studies were due to a lower consumption of meat and animal products and/or refined and processed foods or due to an increased consumption of vegetables. Recommendations are included in the paper for increasing client's acceptability and implementation of plant-based diets along with ways to enhance the capacity of health professionals to support the adoption of plant-based diets by individuals with type 2 diabetes. 

Coincidentally, the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recently published a position paper on vegetarian diets that also supports plant-based diets for better glycemic control in type 2 diabetes (2).  

 

For your clients, see the new handout on PEN: Plant-based Diet Guidelines 

 

References