Comments on: Are Vegetarian Diets Any Good For Diabetes?

By: Steve Parker, M.D.

Steve Parker, M.D. — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 09:38:26 +0000

Lynda, I’m glad to hear you’re doing much better.

By: Lynda

Lynda — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:10:58 +0000

I too would like to see “real” studies. Neal Barnard and the PCRM are a closely associated branch of PeTA, and the “studies” they put forth are far from scientific. It is their mission to stop all animal husbandry; pets, horses, meat, eggs, fish, etc., and they only employ vegans to “prove their point” that all animal products are bad for you.

Just for the record, I was a vegetarian for 17 years, always sick and put on a massive amount of weight. As a vegan I became very ill, hypothyroid and infertile. In the next 20 years as a pescatarian I lost a bit of weight and regained some health, but as well as chronic anaemia, I was diagnosed on the edge of diabetes 2. I reintroduced meat and took extra fish oil, and my blood sugar/insulin resistance levels are now fine.

By: vegan lose weight

vegan lose weight — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 17:24:35 +0000

Thanks for the article.. I have just recently found the vegan lifestyle and I love it. It seems like I just can’t take in enough information.

By: coralf

coralf — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 14:36:21 +0000

As was the case with Vivian, I was vegetarian for 20 years when I was diagnosed and was on a wholefood diet which clearly has too many carbs for a diabetic. Have adjusted my vegetarian diet’s carb load, I am now enjoying far better glucose control. It is very difficult when I am not in control of the food though and eating out is tricky.

What I did want to share, was, that before being diagnosed, I ended up in a situation wherein I had to bring my insulin dependant father to live with me. On my high carb, vegetarian diet he had to lower is insulin doses significantly.

Of course he had to lower them even more after I switched to low carbing.

By: Steve Parker, M.D.

Steve Parker, M.D. — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 12:52:43 +0000

Hey, thanks for chiming in, Jessica. I’m glad your father got such good results!

-Steve

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 16:58:13 +0000

Hi, I’m a little late but wanted to contribute my story here. My dad was diagnosed “prediabetic” and sometime after that started on a vegetarian—but not vegan—diet (for reasons of conscience more than health). He also adopted a dog he started walking, and my mom went vegetarian also and was trying to lose weight, so they basically cut out meat and added some high fiber breads and a lot of vegetables. They still eat white flours and cheese and sweets. My dad’s blood sugars went way down, along with his cholesterol, and he got a clean bill of health. He also lost weight, and I’m sure that and the added physical activity contributed to his diabetes reversal, but it’s all kind of wrapped together.
I’ve been vegetarian for longer than they have, but I tend to eat a lot of breads, pastries, and cheese, and I gained weight at first. However, my diet now involves more salad, fruits, vegetables, lots of nuts (especially raw almonds and walnuts), oats, other whole grains, and beans. Whole grains are actually a pretty good source of protein, in addition to fiber. I think it’s definitely possible to have a low-carb vegetarian diet.
Here is a study finding better results with a low-fat vegan diet that was 80% carbs when compared with the ADA diet: http://www.pcrm.org/health/clinres/diabetes.html
I’m skeptical of the low-fat thing, though, considering the research supporting the Mediterranean diet.

By: Paul B

Paul B — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:03:47 +0000

I think a vegetarian diet can be low carb, or at least low sugar without being high in fat. Dr. Fuhrman’s approach in Eat to Live might be an example (though he’s not proposed exclusively vegetarian). It would have to emphasize low-sugar fruit such as kiwi, citrus and berries, legumes and lots of vegetables. Fats are limited for nuts and seeds. It isn’t necessarily low carb, but is low sugar.

By: Best Diet for Type 2 Diabetes: And the Winner Is… « Diabetic Mediterranean Diet Blog

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 20:07:58 +0000

[...] If a diabetic is interested in trying carbohydrate restriction, the Cochrane position statement provides that latitude. Regular readers here know my inclination: significant carb restriction. But also note that I’ve considered and reviewed vegetarian diets—which are usually high-carb…. [...]

By: Steve Parker, M.D.

Steve Parker, M.D. — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:25:59 +0000

Thanks for sharing, Steve.

Yes, Jennifer, a vegetarian diet would be carb-heavy. Unless it had LOTS of plant-based oils.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:23:01 +0000

Just for fun, I cancelled the fish and replaced with 2 eggs and extra lentils (exact same calorie count as the fish). Keeping it vegetarian (although certainly not vegan).

Came out 41.5% carbs, fat stayed at 43.5% and protein still a reasonable 15%.

Not bad!

A Vegetarian & Mediterranean medley – if I was going to be vegetarian, this would appeal to me.

Cheers
Steve