Mediterranean Diet Could Delay or Avoid Need for Diabetes Drugs

A low-carb, Mediterranean diet has trumped a low-fat, American Heart Association-style diet in helping newly diagnosed diabetes patients avoid drug therapy, according to the results of a study published recently in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

A long-running study in Naples, Italy, compared the effect of diet on 215 overweight adults who were newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Researchers found that the Mediterranean diet played a significant role in helping study participants avoid antihypergycemic drug therapy.

At the conclusion of the four-year study, 70% of those on the low-fat diet required treatment, while only 44% of those on the Mediterranean diet did. Researchers found that those on the Mediterranean diet also lost more weight and saw greater improvements in some glycemic control and coronary risk measures than did those on the low-fat diet.

The Mediterranean diet includes abundant quantities of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains and healthy fats, like olive oil, plus lean protein from fish or nuts. The low-fat diet followed by some study participants included whole grains, fruits and vegetables but a limited amount of additional fats and sweets.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet are the first order of the day for diabetes patients, but many doctors will also recommend their patients immediately begin drug therapy upon diagnosis. If diabetes is a concern for you or someone you know, make a serious commitment to improve your lifestyle habits without delay. This study demonstrates that by doing so, you could avoid having to begin a daily drug regimen.