The study was unique because it did not require caloric restriction or fasting and had a primary endpoint of remission rather than improvement of diabetes.
MEDICAL NEWS TODAY: Growing evidence supports the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet, which includes reduced blood pressure, lower cholesterol, improved heart health, and diabetes outcomes.
According to a new study published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, following a lifestyle intervention that involved adopting a whole-food, plant-predominant diet, patients showed potential to achieve type 2 diabetes remission.
The researchers examined the health records of 59 type 2 diabetes patients from a cardiac wellness program between 2007 and 2021, who followed a whole-food, plant-based eating pattern. The average age of the patients was 71.5 years, ranging from 41 to 89 years.
These patients demonstrated noticeable improvements in blood glucose control, and 37% of the individuals in the study achieved full diabetes remission.
Additionally, the study showed an average reduction of glucose-lowering medications among patients who implemented these changes in their lifestyles.
“This study demonstrates that high-fiber, low-fat plant-based diets can help achieve remission from [type 2 diabetes mellitus] in patients already receiving standard-of-care treatment. The study was unique because it did not require caloric restriction or fasting and had a primary endpoint of remission rather than improvement of diabetes.” — Dr. Caroline Messer, an endocrinologist at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital, who was not involved in this study, speaking to Medical News Today…
Foods high in fiber make you feel fuller longer, which decreases the likelihood of experiencing cravings and overeating.
“High-fiber foods can help slow down the spikes in blood sugar,” Dr. Mary Vouyiouklis Kellis, an endocrinologist at Cleveland Clinic, told MNT.
“High-fiber foods move slowly through the stomach and can help you feel full for longer. This, in turn, may make you less likely to reach for other foods or snacks, for example,” she explained.
Plant-predominant diets may also contribute to the reversal of insulin resistance.
“By avoiding meat, plant-based diets are often hypocaloric and therefore associated with improved insulin sensitivity. Some studies show that individuals following plant-based diets experience improved satiety and are therefore more likely to adhere to these diets,” Dr. Messer explained.
Additionally, plant-based diets are lower in saturated fats, which are thought to harm pancreatic B-cell function. SOURCE…
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