Vegetarian Advice: Going Vegetarian With Diabetes

Question: It sure would help if there was a Vegetarian Food Exchange Diet for diabetes. I am open to any suggestions.

I want to try the vegetarian diet but I don't want to mess up my good record of keeping my diabetes in check. I don't know the first thing about vegetarian diets. I was diagnosed as diabetic in 1993 and was taken off medication in 1994. I have been able to keep it under control ever since.

However my cholesterol was about 236 the last time it was tested. I don't want to take cholesterol medication if I can keep from it. I have been using the Type 2 Diabetes Food Exchange Diet. Is there such a thing as a Vegetarian Food Exchange Diet for diabetes? It sure would help me if there was. I am open to any suggestions. -L.M.

Savvy Vegetarian Advice

Dear L.M.,

From everything I've read, a vegetarian diet can be quite benefical to diabetics. Apparently, a vegetarian diet will also help lower your cholesterol.

Here's a quote from Vegetarian Resource Group: "If you are looking for information regarding vegetarianism and diabeties, there is an article in the Winter 1999 issue of Vegetarian Dietetics, Can Type 2 Diabetes Be Managed Effectively with a Vegetarian Diet," which states, 'Consumption of a low fat, plant-based diet, coupled with regular exercise, can possibly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. A plant-based diet, rich in legumes and slowly digested grains, may improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity and facilitate the successful management of type 2 diabetes.'

'The Vegetarian Way', by Virginia Messina, MPH, RD and Mark Messina, PhD, has an excellent section on diabetes and a vegetarian diet. You can find it online or in bookstores.

I found quite a few articles online indicating positive results for Type 2 Diabetics with a vegetarian diet. This is the most practical, informative and encouraging article I saw, and best answers your question.

Here's another encouraging article: Diabetes Diet by Dr. Jay Levine

My suggestion would be to move toward a vegetarian diet, gradually and cautiously, monitoring and logging the results as you go. Consult your doctor as needed, of course. I'd be very interested to know how you're doing. FYI, I've attached the free Savvy Veg report on vegetarian nutrition.

Hope this helps! Judy Kingsbury, Savvy Vegetarian

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