Comparing Popular Diets for Effective Type 2 Diabetes Management: A Comprehensive Review

research reviewed several popular diets that people with type 2 diabetes use to lose weight and control blood sugar: low-carb/keto diets, vegan diets, and Mediterranean diets.

The study found that all three diet types can improve blood sugar management and lead to weight loss for diabetics. This happens through cutting carbs, limiting meat/dairy, increasing vegetable intake, or a combination.

However, long-term success on any diet depends heavily on the individual. The easiest diet for someone to stick with long-term will work best. Factors are how acceptable it seems, how much it restricts favorite foods, and how manageable it is to maintain in daily life.

So there isn’t one “best” diet for diabetes control. Low-carb, keto, vegan or Mediterranean plans can all work when customized to the patient’s preferences and needs. Getting patient buy-in is key so they sustain healthier eating patterns for good blood sugar and weight control.

The most effective diabetes diet is the one you can happily follow as a new lifelong lifestyle.

Chester B, Babu JR, Greene MW, Geetha T. The effects of popular diets on type 2 diabetes management. Diabetes Metab Res Rev. 2019 Nov;35(8):e3188. doi: 10.1002/dmrr.3188. Epub 2019 Jun 13. PMID: 31121637.