Plant-based diets have emerged as a crucial tool in addressing the impending obesity and diabetes-induced epidemic of disease and death, according to Dr. Kim Williams, past president of the American College of Cardiology. He acknowledged the skepticism that surrounded plant-based diets initially but noted the increasing acceptance of this eating pattern.
In 2013, plant-based diets for diabetes were dismissed as a fad and ridiculed in official endocrinology practice guidelines, only to be recognized and endorsed by the same professional associations as the general recommendation for diabetic patients by 2015. The American Diabetes Association now lists plant-based eating as an acceptable dietary pattern for managing the condition.
The Canadian Diabetes Association goes a step further by recommending plant-based diets for disease management due to their potential to improve various health markers. However, it was found that there is a lack of awareness about plant-based diets among diabetes educators and patients, but most patients expressed willingness to give it a try.
The resistance to recommending plant-based diets is attributed to the misconception that patients may not adhere to this eating pattern, as well as the lack of awareness about the scientific evidence supporting its benefits. However, studies have shown that plant-based diets can be well accepted and are more effective than standard diets recommended for diabetes management.
Despite the growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of plant-based nutrition, there are challenges in overcoming established dietary habits and the widespread marketing of unhealthy foods, according to Dr. Williams. However, he emphasizes the importance of recognizing the potential of plant-based diets to reverse the obesity and diabetes-induced epidemic.
For more information on the effects of diet on type 2 diabetes, refer to the related videos below.
