November is American Diabetes Month. This month stands as an opportunity to inform and spread awareness in our communities about diabetes. Type 2 diabetes happens to be one of the more common forms of diabetes in America. This is when the cells in the body don’t properly use insulin. If you’re someone with type 2 diabetes, your provider may have advised you to take steps toward a healthier lifestyle. Well, there have been some new developments.
New research shows that partaking in a plant-based diet may result in type 2 diabetes remission. Let’s dive more into this new research and discuss if this may be the right step for you.
How A Plant Based Diet Affects Diabetes
As mentioned earlier, there is new and growing evidence that plant-based diets are highly beneficial. They are linked to reducing blood pressure, lowering cholesterol, improving heart health, and now helping with type 2 diabetes. In the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, a study shows that after adopting a whole-food and plant-predominant diet, patients with type 2 diabetes showed potential remission. (*note: patients ages ranged from 41 to 89 years)
The study states that there were noticeable improvements in their blood sugar control after they switched to this diet. So, how and why did this work?
Plant-based foods are filled with a lot of fiber. Fiber is known to keep you feeling full for much longer, which ultimately reduces cravings and overeating. In addition, high-fiber foods are linked to slowing down spikes in blood sugar; this is why there was a noticeable change in their blood sugar levels. It’s also important to mention that there are fewer saturated fats in plant-based foods, which also helps in a better lifestyle change.
Is this a long-term solution?
The question now becomes, if this truly works, could this be a long-term solution for those with type 2 diabetes? There are some benefits and some downsides to implementing this kind of diet. For the main part, someone with type 2 diabetes may see significant changes in their blood glucose levels, which is great. On the other hand, there is calorie restriction, which is unhealthy for the long term. It’s also important to note that this research study included fasting and liquid meal replacements.
So, the answer is this may not be a long-term solution, but it is something that can be implemented in the short run.
Types of Foods To Implement
If you want to incorporate a plant-based diet into your lifestyle, here are some food suggestions. Some of these foods can be stored or meal-prepped, so you don’t have to cook daily.
- Legumes (Beans, Lentils, Chickpeas)
- Grains (Rice, Quinoa, Farro)
- Protein (Tofu &Edamame)
- Veggies (Broccoli, Mushrooms, Bell Peppers)
- Fruits (Berries, apple slices, peeled oranges)
Speak To Your Doctor About This Diet
Before starting a diet change like this, you should speak with your doctor. Take the time to schedule an appointment and let them know you’ve done some research. They can look at the “whole picture” and give you their best advice. You can also speak to a MyCHN provider in person or virtually about adding Ozempic to your medication regimen. This is a common type 2 diabetes prescription. In the meantime, let’s continue to spread awareness of the growing condition that is diabetes.
