The diet experts suggest could help people with diabetes
A new study found that switching to a low-fat vegan diet can reduce daily insulin use in people with type 1 diabetes by nearly 30 percent.
Insulin is a hormone that moves glucose, a type of sugar, from the bloodstream to muscle and liver cells where it is used for energy. People with type 1 diabetes must inject insulin because their bodies cannot produce enough insulin.
Researchers compared the effect of a low-fat vegan diet and a portion-controlled diet on people with type 1 diabetes. They found that the vegan diet reduced the total needed daily insulin dose by 28 percent, or 12.1 units per day, while the control group experienced no significant change.
According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which published the research in the journal, reduced insulin requirements likely mean that the body improves insulin sensitivity; This expresses how effectively the body responds to insulin. BMC Nutrition.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Hana Kahleova said: “People with type 1 diabetes should consider a low-fat vegan diet, which can help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the amount of insulin they need.”
The new analysis was a follow-up to a study conducted by the Physicians Committee in 2024 that identified additional benefits of a vegan diet.
Participants lost an average of 5 kg and showed improvements in insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. Cholesterol levels and kidney function also improved among those who followed the plant-based plan.
Previous studies have also shown that plant-based diets have a 32 percent lower incidence of type 2 diabetes and 18 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions associated with the diets.
Professor Louise Goff, from Leicester Diabetes Centre, said: Independent: “The reduction in insulin dose seen in the vegan group is certainly remarkable, but it is crucial to understand why this occurs.
“Participants who followed the vegan diet for 12 weeks lost weight. Even in people with type 1 diabetes, weight loss increases insulin sensitivity. When the body becomes more sensitive to insulin, less exogenous insulin is needed to achieve the same glucose control.”
“Thus, the reduced insulin dose is most likely a reflection of increased insulin sensitivity secondary to weight loss, rather than a direct effect of eliminating animal products.”
Ms. Goff also noted that there was a significant increase in fiber intake in the vegan group, which was strongly associated with weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity; Both of these will naturally reduce the need for insulin.
“This does not diminish the potential benefits of a plant-based diet, but it does suggest that the mechanism is metabolic (weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity) and not specific to veganism,” he added.
“It would be interesting to see if similar results occur with other high-fiber, calorie-controlled diets.”
Professor Stefanie Baldeweg, former clinical lead for diabetes at University College London, said: “Nutrition can be a powerful aid in diabetes management. But it is one of many tools and should be approached thoughtfully.”
“The findings are promising but preliminary. Patients should not change their insulin regimens without medical supervision, and clinicians should view this as an area of ongoing research.”
