Your health: A plant-based diet is good for diabetes

Dear Dr. Roach: Your recent column on diabetes treatment made me wonder. From my understanding, diabetes is usually caused by overconsumption of sugar. However, consuming carbohydrates is not much different because carbohydrates are quickly converted to sugar through human chemical processes. So why are we promoting a plant-based diet high in carbohydrates?

Consuming protein, which is easily obtained by eating meat, appears to be the answer to reducing the consumption of simple and complex carbohydrates, which are quickly converted into sugar in the body. I switched to a high protein diet (both plant and animal protein) and my blood sugar levels have been very well controlled over the last few years.

FB

Diabetes is not caused by consuming too much sugar. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the cells that produce insulin are destroyed by the body. Type 2 diabetes is a disease of insulin resistance, in which the ability to secrete insulin in response to glucose load is relatively reduced.

When people with type 2 diabetes consume too much sugar over a short period of time, their body’s ability to respond becomes overtaxed and blood sugar levels rise. Most damage to the kidneys, eyes, blood vessels, and nerves is caused by sustained high blood sugar levels.

I am careful about what a plant-based diet means. While it’s true that a diet consisting only of maple syrup and orange juice is very bad for people with diabetes due to the blood sugar concerns you mentioned, it’s true that a diet consisting mainly of vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and fats is plant-based. A diet that includes moderate amounts of whole fruits, fish and nuts/seeds does not raise blood sugar levels any more than the standard Western diet.

The high fiber content of legumes, whole grains, and vegetables prevents rapid absorption, and the protein and healthy fats found in nuts and fatty fish likewise slow stomach emptying. Slow down. Finally, there is ample evidence that diabetics show excellent results with this type of diet.

While it is true that protein is an important part of a diabetic’s diet, many meat-based, high-protein diets are also high in saturated fat, which increases the risk of heart blockage and is a major contributor to the disease. This may cause problems. and death in diabetics. However, it is possible to eat a healthy, high-protein diet if you are careful.

Dear Dr. Roach: The supplementary facts about the “once a day” vitamins for men over 50 and women over 50 are similar. Men only have vitamin K, women do not. The only other difference was some variation in the daily values.

Are there any potential downsides to men taking Women’s 50+ Vitamins, or vice versa?

J.M.

I do not recommend that healthy people take a daily multivitamin, with some exceptions.

Women of reproductive age who are considering pregnancy should take a regimen that includes folic acid. People with known deficiencies (such as vitamin D) should obtain alternative supplements. Vitamin E can increase the risk of prostate cancer and should be avoided by people with prostate disease.

Also, menstruating women require more iron than men, so gender-specific vitamin preparations take these issues into account. Iron is generally not dangerous for people who do not menstruate unless they have hemochromatosis.

Therefore, although I do not recommend them, although they are very similar, there are subtle reasons to choose the right vitamin for your gender.

Dr. Roach regrets not being able to respond to individual letters, but will incorporate them into his columns whenever possible.Readers can email questions to Please contact YourGoodHealth@med.cornell.education