Diabetes Specialist
A comprehensive guide to swiftly putting diabetes into remission and naturally overcoming prediabetes:
Diabetes mellitus is a global health problem with a worldwide prevalence of 8.8% and is associated with multiple comorbidities and high financial burdens. Patients with T2D typically show abnormalities in their lipid metabolism which can further worsen beta cell dysfunction and insulin resistance, increasing the incidence of unfavorable macrovascular endpoints (e.g., cardiovascular disease (CVD), myocardial infarction, and CVD mortality) and microvascular complications. It is important to improve the management of T2D to achieve both glycemic and lipid goals.
The prevalence of diabetes is rising worldwide, posing a major public health concern. There is an urgent need to control this rapidly rising incidence by focusing on the root cause. Epidemiological studies have found a lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) among plant-based (vegetarian/ vegan) populations as compared to non-vegetarians.
Nonvegetarian diets are rich in calorie-dense foods, such as processed foods, refined grains, and animal-derived products, which give rise to metabolic abnormalities leading to insulin resistance, obesity, and diabetes. Dietary changes using whole food, plant-based (WFPB) diets have been highly effective in the prevention and management of diabetes, offering a safe and effective way to achieve serum glycemic control and insulin homeostasis. In addition, WFPB diets promote weight loss, which is a primary marker of insulin resistance (IR) in most individuals. Healthy plant-based diets not only improve insulin resistance but also improve the common controllable cardiovascular risk factors, including serum lipids, serum glucose concentration, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The current treatment for T2D revolves around medications that slow the progression of the disease without reversing or achieving remission or cure, whereas dietary lifestyle changes of adopting a WFPB diet can not only prevent the progression of diabetes with or without the help of medications (as and when required) but also achieve faster remission. Healthy plant foods—whole grains, millets, vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, and seeds— are within reach of many individuals living with T2D. Diabetes remission should be the primary goal in type II diabetes management.