Can Type 2 Diabetes be Controlled with Fruits and Vegetables?

Doctors recommend a number of different methods for managing type 2 diabetes: blood sugar monitoring, exercise, diet. But how effective are fruits and vegetables in controlling the condition? Could broccoli be a better wonder drug than common diabetes medications?

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“Vegetarian Diet Better Than ADA's”
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Vegetarian Diet Better Than ADA's

Neal Barnard, MD

Founder, PCRM

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We sought to investigate whether a low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Individuals with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to a low-fat vegan diet or a diet following the American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines. Participants were evaluated at baseline and 22 weeks.

Forty-three percent (21 of 49) of the vegan group and 26% (13 of 50) of the ADA group participants reduced diabetes medications.

In conclusion, in individuals with type 2 diabetes participating in a 22-week clinical trial, both a low-fat vegan diet and a diet following ADA guidelines improved glycemic control; however, the changes were greater in the vegan group. Further research is necessary to establish longer-term diet effects and sustainability.

"The diet appears remarkably effective, and all the side effects are good ones -- especially weight loss and lower cholesterol," said chief researcher Neal D. Barnard, M.D., adjunct professor of medicine at George Washington University and president of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. "I hope this study will rekindle interest in using diet changes first, rather than prescription drugs," he said.