Adopting a whole-food, plant-predominant diet as a staple of routine care can successfully achieve type 2 diabetes remission, according to a recent study. The research, first published June 15 in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, involved a sample of 59 patients in a cardiac wellness program who had type 2 diabetes.
"The prevalence of diabetes is growing, as is recognition in the health care community that diet as the primary intervention can achieve lasting remission in individuals with type 2 diabetes," Gunadhar Panigrahi, M.D., FACC, DipABLM and the study's lead author, said in a June 27 press release.
The patients in the study ranged from 41 to 89 years old, with a mean age of 71.5 years, the release reported. They were given a low-fat, whole-food, plant-focused diet as well as standard medical treatment at a wellness center in Virginia, according to the release. Among the 59 participants, 22 individuals, or 37%, achieved "full remission" of their type 2 diabetes; most saw significant improvements in blood glucose control and significant reductions in their Body Max Index (BMI), the release reports.
Additionally, the research found a decrease in the use of glucose-lowering medications in patients who adopted lifestyle changes, the release reports. These findings align those of a recent qualitative case series that provided guidance to clinicians on deprescribing medications after patients' lifestyle interventions, according to the release, which notes that deprescribing medications that no longer benefit the patient "is a process that is supervised by a physician."
Panigrahi said in the release that the research demonstrated that achieving remission of type 2 diabetes by eating a healthy, plant-based diet is possible, according to the press release. The study also revealed "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," Panigrahi said in the release.
The study noted that many patients were made aware of the benefits of a whole-food, plant-predominant diet and regular exercise as integral in routine care at the wellness center, and didn't initially "self-select into a lifestyle medicine treatment program," the release stated.
Micaela Karlsen, PhD, is the senior director of research at the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), which collaborated on the study, according to the release. Karlsen said in the release that a perception exists that patients won't voluntarily adopt a plant-based diet despite increasing evidence that shows sticking to a healthy lifestyle is "feasible, even enjoyable."
"Although full remission may not be possible for every patient," Karlsen said in the release, "our research shows that every patient deserves to know that it may be possible through the adopting of appropriately dosed therapeutic lifestyle change."
