Treatment and Remission of Symptoms in Type 1 Diabetes with a Nutrient-Dense, Plant-Rich (NDPR) Diet: Case Studies

Abstract

Type 1diabetes (T1D), in contrast to type 2 diabetes, is an autoimmune disease rather than a lifestyle disease. However, diet and lifestyle factors such as nutrient density, glycemic load, fiber intake, and exercise do affect glycemic control, cardiovascular risk, and risk of complications in patients with type 1 diabetes. Patients with T1D may be able to reduce insulin requirements and achieve better glycemic control if practicing dietary methods to increase plant fibers and micronutrient density, and decrease glycemic load. We propose that anti-inflammatory effects of foods central to a nutrient-dense, plant-rich (NDPR) diet –vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds, and lower-sugar fruits – may slow or prevent further destruction of beta cells if dietary intervention is initiated early enough. Herein, we present three cases of patients with T1D who have adopted a NDPR diet at varying times following T1D diagnosis. One patient who began a NDPR diet at age 3 immediately following diagnosis has not yet required insulin therapy nearly three years after diagnosis, and has experienced a steady decline in autoantibody levels. Another child who began a NDPR diet several months after diagnosis maintains a low dose of insulin, a favorable HbA1c, and more consistent blood glucose readings. A patient in his mid-40s who began a NDPR diet 13 years after T1D diagnosis, dramatically reduced insulin requirements and C-reactive protein and maintains favorable HbA1c and cardiovascular markers.

Dietary Patterns and cardiovascular biomarkers in Adults with and without type 1 diabetes mellitus

“…The long-term consequences of T1D include chronic complications such as retinopathies, nephropathies, and dyslipidemias (Fuhrman & Ferreri, 2019), and in addition, a high risk for cardiovascular disease than the general population (Dec et al, 2021). Thus, the management and treatment of people with diabetes require a holistic approach to care that involves physical exercise, weight control, monitoring of blood glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, blood pressure, and adequate food consumption (Fuhrman & Ferreri, 2019).…”

Placing a Well-Designed Vegan Diet for Slovenes

“…Since the available financial support is not sufficient to thoroughly investigate a vegan diet, it is worth mentioning that the literature confirms other health benefits of vegan diets. Some are of greater scientific value (i.e., liver and kidney health, favourable changes in gut microbiota, prostate cancer, women's menstrual, menopausal and postmenopausal health, short-term mood state, migraine severity and frequency) [67,72,[123][124][125][126][127][128]; however, some have limited scientific value (i.e., case studies about chronic kidney disease, diabetes type 1/insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, low-grade follicular lymphoma, lupus nephritis and less common dementia in a large-scale observational Adventist Health study [129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136]). Notably, these findings are sufficiently impressive to warrant further examination of these results in well-designed studies.…”

Dietary patterns and cardiovascular biomarkers in adults with and without type 1 Diabetes mellitus

“…The long-term consequences of T1D include chronic complications such as retinopathies, nephropathies, dyslipidemias (Fuhrman & Ferreri, 2019), and in addition, a high risk for cardiovascular disease than the general population (Dec et al, 2021).…”

“…Thus, the management and treatment of people with diabetes requires a holistic approach to care that involves physical exercise, weight control, monitoring of blood glucose, cholesterol, triacylglycerol, blood pressure, and adequate food consumption (Fuhrman & Ferreri, 2019).…”