Effect of a Dietary Intervention on Insulin Requirements and Glycemic Control in Type 1 Diabetes: A 12-Week Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

This study compared the effects of a low-fat vegan diet to those of a portion-controlled diet in people with type 1 diabetes. Over 12 weeks, the average total daily dose of insulin decreased significantly and insulin sensitivity increased significantly in the vegan group, while no significant changes were observed in the group receiving the portion-controlled diet. Total and LDL cholesterol decreased in the vegan group, as did the ratio of blood urea nitrogen to creatinine. A1C decreased in both groups. These findings suggest that a low-fat vegan diet may yield improvements in insulin sensitivity, insulin requirements, glycemic control, and markers of cardiovascular and renal health compared with a portion-controlled diet in people with type 1 diabetes.