Mixed
A 22-week low-fat vegan diet (≤10% energy from fat) significantly improves glycemic control (HbA1c), body weight, and cardiovascular risk factors (LDL cholesterol, urinary albumin) in individuals with type 2 diabetes compared to a standard American Diabetes Association (ADA) diet.
Adopt a low-fat vegan diet for 22 weeks to significantly improve blood sugar control and weight loss compared to standard diabetes guidelines. Focus on vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes while avoiding all animal products and added fats. You do not need to count calories or restrict portions, but you must take a Vitamin B12 supplement. Keep your exercise routine the same as it was before starting.
Both a low-fat vegan diet and a diet based on ADA guidelines improved glycemic and lipid control in type 2 diabetic patients. These improvements were greater with a low-fat vegan diet.
Why this rating
Randomized clinical trial with a reasonable sample size (n=99), though the primary HbA1c difference was not statistically significant in the intention-to-treat analysis without medication adjustment.
Source
A Low-Fat Vegan Diet Improves Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Randomized Clinical Trial in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes
Neal D. Barnard et al. · Diabetes Care · 2006
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