Physicians Committee to ‘Stick a Fork in Diabetes’ with Social Media Campaign

WASHINGTON, D.C.—For Diabetes Month this November, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine— a national nonprofit promoting good health through good nutrition—is inviting people to spread the message that plant-based foods can prevent or even reverse diabetes. The campaign, Stick a Fork in Diabetes, taps into the power of social media and selfies. By using the hashtag #StickAForkInDiabetes to share a selfie featuring a plant-based food on a fork, social media users will reach millions with the lifesaving message.

“Our goal with this campaign is to empower people to manage or prevent diabetes altogether,” says Maggie Neola, R.D., dietitian with the Physicians Committee. “If the American diet doesn’t change, by 2050, one in three people will have diabetes. Eating more plants or adopting a plant-based diet could change that outcome completely.”

Supporters of the campaign include actor Alec Baldwin, rapper Waka Flocka Flame, actress Maggie Q, and musician Chris Thomas King. Baldwin is featured in an introductory video on the campaign’s website, StickAForkInDiabetes.org.

Right now, 422 million people suffer from diabetes, a debilitating disease that causes nerve pain, kidney damage, heart disease, and vision loss. A whole-foods, low-fat plant-based approach has been shown to be three times more effective than the American Diabetes Association nutrition guidelines at controlling blood sugar. Cutting back on animal products and increasing consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes can prevent new diabetes diagnoses and alleviate symptoms in those already suffering. Many people with diabetes who switch to a plant-based diet see their need for medications go down—some can even go off their medications altogether.

For recipes, information on related research, success stories, or more information, visit StickAForkInDiabetes.org.