Type 2 Diabetes Remission is Possible With a Plant-Based, Whole-Food Diet

The patients were treated with a low-fat, whole-food, plant-predominant dietary pattern while also receiving standard medical treatment at a wellness center in Virginia. Improvements in glucose control were accompanied by significant reductions in BMI.

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Previous studies have demonstrated that whole-food, plant-predominant eating patterns can improve diabetes outcomes but that research primarily involved substantial calorie restriction, often relying on liquid meal replacements, or fasting (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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).

This study, published in collaboration with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), is unique in its assessment of remission as a primary outcome and contributes novel information on the feasibility of achieving remission simply by eating healthy food.

Plant-Predominant Whole-Food Diet: Primary Intervention in Fight Against Diabetes

This supports further the effectiveness of a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern as a primary intervention to achieve remission as well as the need for increased education for both clinicians and patients on the successful application of lifestyle medicine principles and dietary interventions in everyday medical practice.

Researchers reviewed electronic health records of patients treated at the wellness clinic between 2007 and 2021 to identify those who adopted a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern and achieved meaningful improvements in HbA1c or blood glucose control, as well as remission of type 2 diabetes.

Data points were extracted from the periods immediately before the lifestyle intervention and the most recent post-intervention. The study used the 2022 consensus definition of remission published by ACLM of HbA1c less than 6.5% for at least three months without surgery, devices, or active pharmacologic therapy to lower blood glucose.

The mean age of the patients was 71.5 years and ranged in age from 41 to 89 years. Twenty-two of the 59 patients met the criteria for type 2 diabetes remission. The study also reported an average de-escalation of glucose-lowering medications among patients following lifestyle changes.

The study also highlighted that many patients did not first self-select into a lifestyle medicine treatment program for type 2 diabetes, but were rather educated on the merits of a whole-food, plant-predominant dietary pattern, and regular physical activity as part of their routine care at the wellness center.

There is a perception that many patients may not accept the idea of adopting a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern but there is a growing abundance of research that shows adherence to a plant-predominant dietary pattern is feasible, and even enjoyable (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Type 2 Diabetes Remission and Lifestyle Medicine: A Position Statement From the American College of Lifestyle Medicine

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Although full remission may not be possible for every patient, our research shows that every patient deserves to know that it may be possible through the adoption of appropriately dosed therapeutic lifestyle changes.

Future research should measure the proportion of patients in typical medical practices who are willing to consider lifestyle changes as part of routine treatment and examine the factors leading to the successful implementation of a plant-predominant dietary intervention.

References :

1. Remission of Type 2 Diabetes After Treatment With a High-Fiber, Low-Fat, Plant-Predominant Diet Intervention: A Case Series – (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/15598276231181574)
2. Association Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2738784)
3. Type 2 Diabetes Remission and Lifestyle Medicine: A Position Statement From the American College of Lifestyle Medicine – (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1559827620930962)

Source: Eurekalert