About This Page

This topic is not directly related to animal rights and veganism, but it seems likely that people who are concerned about diabetes and know the potential benefits of a vegan diet for diabetes will be less inclined to dismiss veganism.

Note: We are not taking the position that a vegan diet is the only diet that is beneficial for diabetes.

Points to Consider

Vegans may have half the prevalence of diabetes than non-vegans.

• A study published in the American Diabetes Association Journal found that the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in vegans was less than half that of those who consumed meat, dairy, and eggs, and was also less compared to various other varieties of vegetarian diets. (The study followed more than 60,000 people over the course of five years)^[1]Tonstad S, Butler T, Yan R, Fraser GE. Type of vegetarian diet, body weight, and prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009; 32(5):791–796.

Prominent experts agree that a vegan diet is beneficial for diabetes.

• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says in an official position statement that “vegetarians and vegans are at reduced risk of certain health conditions, including ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, and obesity.”^[2]Melina, Vesanto, Winston Craig, and Susan Levin. “Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Vegetarian Diets.” Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 116, no. 12 … Continue reading
• Harvard Health says “research suggests that a predominantly plant-based diet can reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes.”^[3]“Becoming a Vegetarian.” Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School. April 15, 2020.
• Mayo Clinic says that “reasons for following a vegetarian diet [explicitly defined to include a vegan diet] are varied but include health benefits, such as reducing your risk of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.^[4]Vegetarian Diet: How to Get the Best Nutrition.” Mayo Clinic. March 14, 2016.
• Cleveland Clinic says “There really are no disadvantages to a herbivorous diet! A plant-based diet has many health benefits, including lowering the risk for heart disease, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer. It can also help lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels, plus maintain weight and bone health.^[5]Understanding Vegetarianism & Heart Health” Cleveland Clinic, December 2013.
• Kaiser Permanente says that “physicians should consider recommending a plant-based diet to all their patients, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or obesity.”^[6]Phillip J Tuso, MD, Mohamed H Ismail, MD, Benjamin P Ha, MD, and Carole Bartolotto, MD, RD. “Nutritional Update for Physicians: Plant-Based Diets.” The Permanente Journal – The Permanente … Continue reading
• The Dietitians of Canada say that “a healthy vegan diet has many health benefits including lower rates of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer.”^[7]Healthy Eating Guidelines for Vegans.” Dietitians of Canada, November 2017.
• New York Presbyterian Healthcare says “plant-based diets are believed to be an effective means of treating chronic disease, including diabetes.”^[8]Ask A Nutritionist: Plant-Based Diets.” NewYork-Presbyterian, March 30, 2017.

Vegan and vegetarian diets may be more effective than medications in improving diabetes symptoms.

• A review published in Current Diabetes Reports in 2018^[9]Olfert MD, Wattick RA. Vegetarian Diets and the Risk of Diabetes. Curr Diab Rep. 2018 Sep 18;18(11):101. cited 4 studies showing that vegan and vegetarian diets may be more effective than medications in improving diabetes symptoms.^[10]Anderson JW, Ward K. High-carbohydrate, high-fiber diets for insulin-treated men with diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Nutr. 1979;32(11):2312–2 ^[11]Barnard RJ, Jung T, Inkeles SB. Diet and exercise in the treatment of NIDDM. The need for early emphasis. Diabetes Care. 1994;17:1469–1472. ^[12]Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJ, et al. A low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized clinical trial in individuals with type 2 … Continue reading ^[13]Tonstad S, Butler T, Yan R, Fraser GE. Type of vegetarian diet, body weight, and prevalence of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(5):791–796.

A vegan diet may be more effective for diabetes than the diet recommended by the American Diabetes Association.

• A study published in the Diabetes Care Journal found that a vegan diet was more effective at improving type 2 diabetes than the American Diabetes Association’s own diet.^[14]Neal D. Barnard, MD, et al. “A low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized clinical trial in individuals with type 2 diabetes.” Diabetes … Continue reading

Those adopting a vegan diet may be able to lower or eliminate their diabetes medications.

• According to a review published in Current Diabetes Reports in 2018, several studies have found that medication use significantly decreased or was able to be discontinued when participants “adopted any type of vegetarian or vegan diet.”^[15]Olfert MD, Wattick RA. Vegetarian Diets and the Risk of Diabetes. Curr Diab Rep. 2018 Sep 18;18(11):101.

Two case studies indicate that plant-based diets could help with type 1 diabetes, not just type 2.

• “Plant-based diets rich in whole carbohydrates can improve insulin sensitivity and other health markers in individuals with type 1 diabetes”, according to two case studies published by researchers from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine in the Journal of Diabetes and Metabolism.”^[16]“Plant-Based Diets High in Carbs Improve Type 1 Diabetes, According to New Case Studies.” Physicians Committee. July 23, 2020

Related Links

• On other websites
  • Articles
    • Diabetes and Diet: Here’s What You Need to Know (Forks Over Knives)
    • Vegan Diet and Diabetes: Everything You Need to Know (Diabetes Strong)
  • Videos
    • A Nutritional Approach for Reversing Diabetes (Neal Barnard, MD)
    • Eric Adams On Reversing His Diabetes Diagnosis (Physicians Committee)
    • FAT causes diabetes, not carbs (Featuring Physicians Neal Barnard and Garth Davis)

Image Gallery for This Page

This gallery contains only one image—the social media sharing image for the page.

Footnotes