Plant Based Diet Helps People With Type 1 Diabetes
New case studies have shown that ‘Plant based diet’ is rich in carbohydrates, which help improve insulin sensitivity and other health markers in people with type 1 diabetes.
The case studies were conducted by researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and are published in Journal of diabetes and metabolism. One of the case studies studied a female type 1 diabetic patient. She initially adopted low carbohydrates (less than 30 grams of carbohydrates per day), a high-fat diet that was high in meat and dairy. Her blood sugar stabilized, but she needed more insulin per gram of carbohydrate. Her total cholesterol also increased from 175 to 221 mg / dL.
After transferring the patient to a plant-based diet (no dairy products, eggs, and meat), she was able to reduce her insulin dose. A drop in cholesterol levels was also noted.
“This study challenges the illusion that carbs are the enemy of diabetes. In this case study, the patient experienced the opposite: incorporating more healthy carbohydrates into her diet stabilized her glycemic control, reduced her insulin needs and boosted her overall health, as said by Hanna Kahleva, MD , PhD, Director of Clinical Research of Physicians.
The second case study followed a 42-year-old male type 1 diabetes patient; And the results were similar.
Researchers noted that a small study conducted earlier supported the results of the case study – a high carbohydrate, high fiber diet improved glycemic control in 10 people with type 1 diabetes.
Low fat, plant-based diets also benefit those with type 2 diabetes; research has shown. People who eat a plant-based diet have about half the risk of developing type 2 diabetes than carnivores.
Research decisions have proven that a plant-based diet can be beneficial for people with type 2 diabetes. Now, these groundbreaking case studies are hoping that the same may be true for those with type 1 diabetes.
