Going vegan may benefit people with type 1 diabetes, even when the diet includes ultra-processed foods.
A new analysis published in Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases found that participants who swapped all animal products for plant-based alternatives experienced significant weight loss and improved insulin sensitivity over 12 weeks.
The study builds on an earlier randomized clinical trial from the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which was the first to test a vegan diet in people with type 1 diabetes. In the original trial, 58 adults were assigned to either a low-fat vegan diet with no calorie or carb limits, or a portion-controlled diet that reduced overall calories while keeping carbohydrate intake steady.
For this analysis, researchers examined participants’ food logs using the NOVA system, which ranks foods by how much they’re processed. They found that even when participants consumed ultra-processed items — such as cereals, plant milks and meat alternatives — they still lost weight and showed improved insulin response. On average, those in the vegan group lost about 11 pounds. There were no significant changes in the portion-controlled group.
“Choosing a veggie burger instead of a cheeseburger — and other plant-based dietary swaps — can help people with type 1 diabetes who want to lose weight and improve how their body responds to insulin,” said lead author Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, director of clinical research at the Physicians Committee. “The key to success is replacing all animal products with plant-based foods — whether unprocessed fruits and veggies or ultra-processed cereal, plant milks, and meat alternatives.”
The original study also found that a vegan diet helped reduce insulin needs and improved cholesterol levels and kidney function.
This research was funded by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit focused on preventive medicine and ethical clinical research.