Can Vegan Diet Reverse Type 2 Diabetes? Know The Answer From Our Expert

Diabetes diet: Vegan diet can make you feel lighter and aid weight loss

Vegan diet for type 2 diabetes: There has been a remarkable increase in the number of type 2 diabetics over past three decades. Thus, controlling type 2 diabetes has become the most important public health challenge globally. Vegan diet can help in managing type 2 diabetes. Since India has been experiencing a paradigm shift in its culture over the last few decades, there has been a rise in the prevalence of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Uncontrolled and prolonged diabetes is known to increase the risk of micro and macro-vascular complications like myocardial infarctions, lower extremity amputations and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Diabetes is a lifestyle disorder, hence lifestyle management is the key factor in its management.

Vegan diet for type 2 diabetes: Know how going vegan can help type 2 diabetes patients

In this article, we are going to talk about vegan diet can help reversing type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown that low-fat, low glycaemic index (GI) vegan diet is known to improve the glycaemic control to a large extent. Raw foods containing high dietary fibre are known to be related to reduction of cholesterol and reduction of postprandial glycaemia.

Vegan diet includes high-fibre vegetables and fruits
Photo Credit: iStock

Also read: Is Vegan Diet Good For Your Health? Know The Tips For Beginners By Nutritionist

Vegan diet includes vegetables, cereals, fruits and high dietary fiber which is known to be associated with cholesterol reduction, reduced urinary loses of glucose, lowering of postprandial glycaemia.

Plant-based whole-foods like whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and nuts are rich in fibre. Studies show that these foods are protective against diabetes. On the contrary animal products which include foods like meat, egg, poultry and dairy products are known to be high in saturated fat and have been linked to insulin resistance, heart disease and certain forms of cancer. Vegan diet, when compared to omnivorous diet, is known to lower systolic blood pressure and has a lower glycaemic index. It contains higher amount of dietary carbohydrates, non-starch polysaccharides and polyunsaturated fats.

Also read: Vegan Diet: 5 Foods That Can Aid Quick Weight Loss

The results after having vegan diet showed a significantly lower fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels which in turn reduce the requirement of anti-diabetic medication. In this situation, the medication has to be monitored on a day-to-day basis and its dosage be adjusted accordingly to avoid any episode of hypoglycemia. Vegan diet also reduces the percentage of people requiring insulin and oral hypoglycemic agents to maintain their blood glucose levels at normal level.

Vegan diet has a big impact on sugar levels which causes reduction in the requirement of anti-diabetic medication as well as insulin. Reduction of insulin causes significant weight loss which is an additional benefit for diabetes patient. 

Vegan diet can lower your blood sugar levels
Photo Credit: iStock

There is substantial evidence that obesity and predisposition to diabetes can be reduced if one goes for vegan diet. In already diagnosed diabetics these dietary modifications will lead to a better glycaemic control thus helping diabetes reversal process.

Also read: 6 Plant-Based Sources Of Protein For Vegans And Vegetarians

(Dr Pramod Tripathi, an MBBS from BJ Medical College, Pune, is founder of Freedom from Diabetes)

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