Changing to a vegetarian diet may not be a cure for diabetes, but it may offer some health benefits over a non-vegetarian diet. There are different types of vegetarian diets — some allow dairy products and/or eggs; others do not — and your dietician and doctor can help you choose a diet that is right for you.
A vegan diet is the strictest vegetarian diet out there. Vegans eat no meat and no products that come from animals. That means no dairy and no eggs. In general, vegan diets are low in saturated fats and cholesterol. But switching from a non-vegetarian diet to a vegan diet can be a BIG lifestyle change.
Any vegetarian diet includes lots of healthy veggies, fruits, and legumes. All of these are high in fiber, antioxidants, and other good stuff. Vegetarian diets are often lower in calories than non-vegetarian diets. Low calorie is very good if you are trying to lose weight. Obese people are at higher risk for type 2 diabetes; if you already have type 2 diabetes, losing some weight can help improve your health in many ways.
Recent research suggests that a vegetarian diet may even help make your body more responsive to insulin! This doesn’t mean you can start a vegetarian diet and stop your diabetes medications and insulin injections. But you may be able to talk to your doctor about adjusting your medications if a vegetarian or vegan diet works for you.
A vegetarian or vegan diet isn’t a cure for diabetes, not by a long shot. But it may help you manage your diabetes better. At the very least, making healthy diet choices — like choosing whole grains and plenty of fruits and veggies — can help reduce your risk of complications like heart disease and kidney disease.
Talk to your doctor and/or dietician before changing your diet. A specialist can help you create an appropriate eating plan that provides the nutrients and calories you need to feel good and stay at a healthy weight.
More about diabetes.
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Choosing the right sweets.