It does not take long while watching television to come across a commercial promoting a drug for controlling blood sugar. But there is good news for those wanting a different approach as the American College of Lifestyle Medicine found 37 percent of their study participants were able to achieve complete remission of their type 2 diabetes with a predominantly plant-based, whole-food diet.

Researchers used a sample size of 59 patients from a cardiac wellness program who also had type 2 diabetes. There was also a significant improvement in blood glucose control in the others who did not reverse their diabetes. It was done through the implementation of a low-fat, whole-food diet that was high in fiber and predominantly plant-based. There were also significant reductions in BMI (body mass index).

Scientists said previous studies demonstrated success in diabetes outcomes with diet but it usually involved calorie restriction. Those patients often had liquid meal replacements and incorporated fasting.

This study was unique in that it showed remission was possible by simply eating healthy food.

"The prevalence of diabetes is growing, as is recognition in the health care community that diet as the primary intervention can achieve lasting remission in individuals with type 2 diabetes," said study author Gunadhar Panigrahi, MD. "This case series further supports the effectiveness of a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern as a primary intervention to achieve remission as well as the need for increased education for both clinicians and patients on the successful application of lifestyle medicine principles and dietary interventions in everyday medical practice."

Researchers looked at the electronic health records of patients treated at a wellness clinic in Virginia between 2007 and 2021 who met the criteria for their study. They looked at those who adopted a whole-food eating pattern and achieved measurable improvements in their blood glucose control as measured by their HbA1c level. Data was examined from before the point of lifestyle change and the most recent point after intervention

The ages of the people ranged from 41 to 89 and the study noted the reduction in glucose-lowering medications among the patients following the lifestyle change. There was a pattern of deprescribing, which is a process supervised by the physician when a medication is no longer beneficial.

"There is a perception that many patients may not accept the idea of adopting a whole-food, plant predominant eating pattern, but there is a growing abundance of research that in fact shows adherence to a plant-predominant dietary pattern is feasible, and even enjoyable," said fellow researcher Micaela Karlsen. "Although full remission may not be possible for every patient, our research shows that every patient deserves to know that it may be possible through the adopting of appropriately dosed therapeutic lifestyle change."

Click here to read more in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.