Vegan Diet Reduces Insulin Requirements for Type 1 Diabetes

A new study led by Physicians Committee Director of Clinical Research Hana Kahleova, MD, found that a low-fat vegan diet has a strikingly beneficial effect on type 1 diabetes.¹ Physicians Committee researchers had already established a low-fat vegan diet as the nutritional treatment of choice for type 2 diabetes, but its effect on type 1 diabetes had not previously been studied. In the 12-week trial, despite increased carbohydrate intake, participants on the vegan diet reduced their total daily insulin dose by 12.1 units/day and lost an average of 5.2 kilograms. 

Although the primary problem in type 1 diabetes is the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta-cells of the pancreas, patients frequently also have insulin resistance, just as in type 2 diabetes. A low-fat vegan diet effectively counters insulin resistance, reducing insulin requirements, and improves body weight.²