A first-of-its-kind study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine revealed that a low-fat vegan diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans lowers insulin requirements and enhances insulin sensitivity and glycemic control in people with type 1 diabetes. The study found that a vegan diet led to improvements in cholesterol levels, kidney function, and weight.
Type 1 diabetes is believed to be caused by an autoimmune reaction that destroys the beta cells in the pancreas that make insulin. The hormone insulin helps move sugar from the blood into muscle and liver cells to be used as energy Type 1 diabetes requires people to take insulin because their bodies don’t produce enough. Insulin resistance is a condition in which cells don’t respond well to insulin and glucose remains in the blood. Insulin resistance is strongly influenced by dietary fat, which can prevent glucose from entering the cells. Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to health issues.
In the 12-week study, 58 people with type 1 diabetes were randomly assigned to either a low-fat vegan diet with no limits on calories or carbohydrates, or a portion-controlled diet.
The low-fat vegan diet group reduced the amount of insulin they needed to take by 28% and raised insulin sensitivity by 127%, compared to the portion-controlled diet group. Changes in body weight were associated with this change. The average weight decrease in the vegan group was about 11 pounds, compared to a nonsignificant decrease in the portion-controlled group. Increased carbohydrate and fiber intake was associated with changes in insulin sensitivity and increased carbohydrate and fiber intake. In people with type 1 diabetes, reducing fat and protein intake is associated with reduced insulin requirements and improved insulin sensitivity.
The vegan group had a 32.3 mg/dL decrease in total cholesterol compared to the portion-controlled group. In the vegan group, LDL cholesterol decreased by approximately 18.6 mg/dL, whereas in the portion-controlled group, LDL cholesterol did not change significantly.
The risk of cardiovascular disease and death is increased by type 1 diabetes. If you eat vegan food, your risk of heart disease goes down by 9%. If you have lower blood sugar levels, your risk of heart disease goes down by 12%
Each year, around 40,000 new cases of type 1 diabetes are diagnosed. The prevalence of type 1 diabetes is projected to increase by 107% by 2040, according to recent analyses. The annual cost of type 1 diabetes care has increased by more than 50% between 2012 and 2016.
Our research shows that eating a vegan diet with low fat and no carbs can help people with type 1 diabetes use less insulin, control their blood sugar levels, and improve their heart health.
The research was reported by the pcrm
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