Will Weight Loss & Diet Reverse Type 2 Diabetes?

Diabetes is a dangerous disease that causes many more problems than just the insulin issues it begins with. Those who have diabetes can't process insulin properly, so their blood sugar is always in danger of getting too high. Diabetics must always monitor their blood glucose levels and be careful not to eat too many sugary or high-carb foods.

Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, cannot be cured, but you can prevent it and even reverse some of the effects of it through some simple lifestyle changes.

Low-Fat Vegan Diet

Doctors advise most diabetics to begin a special diet, although the kind of diet recommended varies to some extent. One diet which has shown particular promise in reversing type 2 diabetes is a low-fat vegan diet.

A 2006 clinical trial published in Diabetes Care studied diets for type 2 diabetics. All study participants were put on special diets. Some of them were assigned to a low-fat vegan diet, while others were put on another diet that followed guidelines from the American Diabetes Association. Forty-three percent of those on the low-fat vegan diet were able to reduce the amount of medication they needed to control their diabetes, while 26 percent of those on the other diet were also able to reduce their amount of medication.

While this study does indicate a higher success rate with the low-fat vegan diet, it also shows that simply being on a special diet for diabetes will help control the disease.

Dr. Neal Barnard led the 2006 study, and he created a program he says will reverse type 2 diabetes. Dr. Barnard recommends that you start by cutting out animal products, which contain fat. Fat is linked to insulin resistance, so cutting it out of your diet will help control your diabetes.

After you cut out animal products, take a close look at a glycemic index. The glycemic index shows you which foods will raise your blood sugar level the fastest. Avoid any foods on the high glycemic index list. Instead choose foods on the low glycemic index side of the list.

Weight Loss

Another important component to controlling diabetes is weight loss, and if you're following the diet prescribed for you, you're sure to lose weight. One optional part of Dr. Barnard's program involves volumetrics. This step requires you to count calories and focus on foods that have fewer calories than grams per serving. Soups, salads and foods cooked in water are all good choices for following volumetrics.