Vegan Diet May Help Fight Diabetes

Around 30% of children born in the year 2000 will develop Diabetes later in life if significant changes in lifestyle do not appear, commented Caroline Trapp, Director of Diabetes Education and care for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, D.C., in her article published in Juneau Empire.

Citing a recent study published in Diabetes Care, Caroline said that people who consume more protein from meat and other animal products are at higher risk for Type 2 Diabetes. According to Caroline, researchers analyzed the diets of nearly 40,000 participants and found that for every 5% of calories consumed from protein instead of carbohydrate or fat, the risk of developing Diabetes increased 30%. Increased animal protein intake was also related to increased weight and blood pressure. Vegetable protein was not associated with Diabetes risk.

The Director of Diabetes Education and care for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine further added that meat-heavy diets are contributing to the Diabetes epidemic, but plant-based diets could help fight it. Recent studies find that a low-fat vegan diet is as effective as oral medications at lowering blood sugar. However, Caroline suggested that changes in diet or medication should be made in consultation with a health care professional.

Knowledge of Family History Helps Prevent or Delay Diabetes

Many people who develop Type 2 Diabetes in the later life have one or more family members with the disease. Hence, it is very important to share about your family history of Diabetes with your doctor. People with a family history of Diabetes can take steps to prevent or delay the development of the disease.

What is more advantageous of taking the steps to prevent Diabetes is that it is also good for your overall health. You can prevent or delay Type 2 Diabetes even by losing a small amount of weight  5% to 7% or 10-14 pounds for a 200-pound person and becoming more active. It is recommended that everyone should be active at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Keeping a log of what you eat and when you exercise can help when speaking with your healthcare provider and it will help you track your progress. 

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services is partnering with the National Diabetes Education Program  (NDEP) in recognizing National Diabetes Awareness Month in November 2010  by encouraging people to know their family history.  

DHHS Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas says, "I am encouraging all state employees as part of my affiliation with the State Wellness Advisory Group to increase their awareness of the health risks of diabetes, including their family history, and how to reduce their chances of developing this serious illness."

Dr. José Montero, Director of Public Health at DHHS, says, "You can’t change your family history, but knowing about it can help you work with your healthcare team to take actions on the things you can change, such as losing weight, exercising more, and eating better. So speak with your family to find out if you have any close relatives who have or had diabetes. If any woman in your family had gestational diabetes while pregnant, she is also at increased risk for diabetes in the future and so is that child."