Many living with diabetes must rely on drugs such as insulin to control the disease. But a recently-published study by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine shows that a vegan diet can decrease the amount of drugs needed and provide a better life to those with diabetes.
The idea that a low-cholesterol vegan diet can help diabetes sufferers is not a new one, but this new study proves that it is easier to follow and has more positive effects than other diabetes diets.
“There have been multiple studies on this subject,” Dr. Neil Nedley said. “But one of the surprising things that came out of the study was, one of the ways a vegan diet was better than comparable diets was its ability to lower both blood sugar and cholesterol. Together, they are a multiplied risk.”
Nedley is an Ardmore internist who is an expert on disease and the human body. He said the transition to a vegan diet not only offers patients a healthier lifestyle, it also decreases their intake of drugs, which could potentially increase the risk of mortality from coronary heart disease.
Many may think switching to a vegan diet is difficult or more expensive. But Nedley said it is easier than you might think, and the cost increase is minimal.
“Whole plant foods is what we recommend,” Nedley said. “A vegan diet is not hard to follow because all you have to do is cut animal-based products out of your diet.”
The American Diabetes Association’s diet asks the patient to measure and calculate their intake of carbohydrates, calories and cholesterol.
Nedley said once patients started seeing results in their weight and how they felt, they rarely switched back.
Most vegan foods can be bought in the produce section of local grocery stores, Nedley said. Ardmore also has a health food store devoted to vegetarian and vegan diets. There is a vegan substitute for almost any food, including meat and cheese, which makes the transition easier for aspiring vegans.
Veggies Health Food Center and Restaurant, 1202 Brookview Drive, is owned and operated by Mary Bernt. Her store is the only health food store in Ardmore, and she said she has helped close to 300 diabetics switch to a vegan diet and decrease insulin injections from their daily routine.
“It actually works so well that it is scary, because they can get off of insulin and pills so rapidly,” Bernt said. “I’ve even seen some people change overnight.”
A vegan diet has proven itself to work wonders for those with type 2 diabetes. Patients often feel more energetic, lose more weight and have a greater control over the things they eat, Bernt said. And as diabetes continues to push into epidemic territory, more and more doctors like Nedley continue to support vegan diets because its ability to decrease the amount of medication diabetics take.
Tips for Diabetics
Those with diabetes are encouraged to not only eat and live healthy, but to also prepare in advance for disasters, according to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.
When a disaster such as a storm or flood strikes, there is often little time to react. But Janice Hermann, a nutrition specialist at the OSU Cooperative Extension Service, said taking time to prepare ahead can save the patient from unnecessary worry and risk.
“With the confusion of a disaster, daily routines can be thrown off and result in inconsistent eating and disrupted timing of medical doses,” Hermann said. “The stress caused by a natural disaster can both change blood sugar levels and potentially unfavorably affect the health of people with diabetes.”
The AACE offers a list of some preparatory activities for disaster planning:
n Make a list of all medical conditions and prior surgeries.
n List all medications, which should include pharmacies and active prescription information and eligible refills.
n Properly store and prepare a 30-day supply of medications for diabetes and all other medical conditions. For diabetes, this includes insulin, oral anti-diabetic agents and, if prescribed by a physician, a glucagon emergency kit.
For a complete list visit the AACE Web site at www.aace.com/newsroom/disaster/disasterplan.
