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The American Diabetes Association has maintained that a plant-based eating pattern is an effective option for type 2 diabetes management in its 2018 Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes.
It highlights ‘nutrient-dense, high quality foods’ as key in managing the condition.
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine [PCRM] – led by Dr. Neal Barnard – wrote about the assertion, saying the Diabetes Association also ‘encourages clinicians to always include education on lifestyle management’
Nutritional therapy
According to the 2018 Standards of Medical Care guide: “Nutrition therapy
has an integral role in overall diabetes
management, and each person with
diabetes should be actively engaged in
education, self-management, and treatment
planning with his or her health
care team, including the collaborative
development of an individualized eating
plan.
“All individuals with diabetes
should receive individualized medical
nutrition therapy [MNT], preferably
provided by a registered dietitian who is
knowledgeable and skilled in providing
diabetes-specific MNT.
“MNT delivered
by a registered dietitian is associated with
A1C decreases of 0.3–1 percent for people with
type 1 diabetes (38–40) and 0.5–2 percent for people
with type 2 diabetes.
“Emphasis should be on healthful eating
patterns containing nutrient-dense, high quality
foods with less focus on specific
nutrients. The Mediterranean, Dietary
Approaches to Stop Hypertension, and plant-based diets are all examples of healthful eating
patterns.”
Dr. Neal Barnard talks about diabetes
PCRM
The PCRM, led by top physician Dr. Neal Barnard, has long contended a whole food plant-based diet can prevent, manage – and even reverse – type 2 diabetes.
According to the organization: “Diet changes are the cornerstone to treating type 2 diabetes.
“Current diet recommendations require restricting portion sizes, measuring and weighing foods, and limiting the total amount of carbohydrate.
“However, evidence suggests that a different dietary approach may be more effective and easier to follow…The first step is to avoid animal-derived products.”
