Diabetes affects more than 12% of the population. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and used to transfer glucose from the blood stream to the cells in the body. Glucose is the energy source for all cells in the body. Diabetes is the inability of the body to produce sufficient insulin or to effectively use the insulin resulting in high blood sugar (glucose).
The American Diabetes Association's (ADA) journal Diabetes Care published a study that showed a low fat vegan diet was a better treatment for Type 2 diabetes than traditionally prescribed oral medication. The study also demonstrated that the vegan diet was more effective than the current diet prescribed by ADA.
The vegan diet consisted of fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains but no animal products. Portions weren't limited. The diet consisted of 75% carbohydrate, 15% protein, and 10% fat.
The ADA diet is based on each person's weight and lipid levels and consisted of less than 7% of saturated fat, 15 to 20% of protein, 60 to 70% of carbohydrates plus monounsaturated fats, and a maximum of 200mg of cholesterol a day.
Both diets improved the lipid and glycemic control of the participants but the vegan participants showed greater improvement in weight control, kidney function, and cholesterol reduction.
It may be the vegan diet worked more effectively because the participants ate more grains, and leafy green vegetables which contain significant amounts of vitamin B complex shown to decrease blood sugar. Fruits contain vitamin C, a vitamin that is destroyed by stress, the usage of artificial sweeteners and is drained from the body through excessive urination. Vitamin C helps the body produce insulin. Magnesium, vital to the body's ability to produce insulin, is found in citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit and in green leafy vegetables.
One woman who participated in the vegan diet, was no longer responding to intense drug therapies. She was able to discontinue her medicines and lost over 40 pounds during the study's duration. Another participant normalized his blood sugar level and lost 60 pounds.
The vegan diet goes against the ADA diet in that there are no limits placed on calorie consumption or carbohydrate consumption, main stays of the ADA diet.
With the cost of medicine ever on the increase prescribing a vegan low fat diet first makes sense.
The study was funded by Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation and the National Institute of Health and conducted by the George Washington University, the University of Toronto, and the PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
This is not medical advice. Please see your health care provider if you suspect a medical condition.
Author Resource:-
Free report on Swine Flu Treatment Dee Power is the author of several nonfiction books. She writes about food, gardening and Tips to lose weight fast
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