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Online Plant-Based Diabetes Program Effective for Patients
A new study from the Physicians Committee, published in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, found that online education and support sessions can effectively help people with type 2 diabetes improve their health.1 Plant-based diets have proven to be effective for weight loss and glycemic control, but physicians often lack the time to adequately counsel each patient individually.2-4 After joining 12 weeks of online, group classes, participants lost an average of 8 pounds, the average HbA1c was reduce by 0.6 absolute percentage points, total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were reduced, and 22% of participants reduced the doses of their diabetes medication. This program also demonstrates that this model can be economically viable for primary care physicians to adopt.
References
- Rahman V, Becker R, Gray S, et al. Feasibility and efficacy of a plant-based nutrition intervention for type 2 diabetes in a primary care setting. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2025;0(0). doi:10.1177/15598276251339396
- Barnard ND, Cohen J, Jenkins DJ, et al. A low-fat vegan diet and a conventional diabetes diet in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a randomized, controlled, 74-wk clinical trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2009;89(5):1588S-1596S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.26736H
- Kahleova H, Petersen KF, Shulman GI, et al. Effect of a low-fat vegan diet on body weight, insulin sensitivity, postprandial metabolism, and intramyocellular and hepatocellular lipid levels in overweight adults: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(11):e2025454. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.25454
- Tai-Seale M, McGuire TG, Zhang W. Time allocation in primary care office visits. Health Serv Res. 2007;42(5):1871-94. doi:10.1111/j.1475-6773.2006.00689.x
