Type 2 diabetes, or adult onset diabetes affects nearly 20 million Americans in the US today. The disease develops due to poor dietary and exercise habits, with some susceptibility linked to childhood and prenatal health. Most individuals with adult onset diabetes are started on a diet plan based on recommendations by the American Diabetes Association that focuses on caloric intake and low carbohydrate, low sugar meals and snacks. But a new study published by the associations journal Diabetes Care found that a vegan diet may be superior to this recommendation.
A vegan diet is based solely on vegetarian sources with no intake of animal, dairy, or fish. Protein is mainly from beans, nuts, and legumes. The diet tends to be low fat by nature because of the strong focus on vegetables and grains and lack of animal products.
In this particular study 99 participants were randomized to either the vegan diet or the standard American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet. They were on the respected diets for a total of 22 weeks and received weekly visits with a nutritionist offering counseling, dietary tips, and other advice. Medications were not altered for any participant during the study. Measurements of weight, cholesterol, blood sugar, and HbA1c were taken prior to study and during the diets, including after completion.
Participants following the vegan diet had greater improvement in all parameters compared to those that followed the standard ADA diet. They also had greater compliance (only 3 dropped out compared to 8 on the ADA diet) and stated the diet was easier to follow.
The average weight loss was twice as much for participants on the vegan diet compared to ADA diet, 14 pounds versus 6 pounds. Weight is such a significant factor in proper diabetes treatment and control. For many persons with the condition just losing 20 pounds can affect the need for medication and improve overall control. As well high weight in a person with Type 2 diabetes increases the risk for secondary chronic health conditions including high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression.
Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is an important blood marker of diabetes severity, and is also used to assess treatment. The normal level is below 7, and many with Type 2 diabetes will have levels in the double digits. During the 22 week study participants on the vegan diet saw a decrease in the HbA1c by more than 1 point ( a significant amount), while ADA dieters only saw a 0.38 decrease (not significant). LDL, or the bad cholesterol also improved more in vegan dieters, falling by 21% compared to only 10% in the ADA diet group.
Laboratory changes in the HbA1c and LDL cholesterol were better than expected in the vegan group, prompting authors to suggest it may be a superior diet to the current ADA diet. The diet is easier to follow for users compared to ADA diet which may be a significant reason for its success.
The vegan diet is successful enough to provide adequate control of Type 2 diabetes without the need for medications including insulin, glucose control medications, and cholesterol lowering drugs. In this particular study 43 percent of the vegan dieters were able to discontinue or lower doses compared to 26 percent on the ADA diet.
Diabetes is a serious chronic health condition that can increase the risk for further organ damage to the kidneys, eyes, and heart. Those with diabetes are at increased risk for premature death, heart disease, and stroke. Early lifestyle modification is the key to keeping healthy and included daily exercise and proper nutrition that focuses on whole foods.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on July 27, 2006 04:54 PM
