• Intervention
    Is the therapeutic use of a vegetarian diet effective for reducing blood glucose levels among adults with diabetes?
    • Conclusion

      No studies report an increase in blood glucose levels, however the findings are mixed regarding the effectiveness a vegetarian diet to decrease blood glucose levels. The therapeutic use of a vegetarian diet may be effective in decreasing blood glucose among adults with type 2 diabetes.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    How does the therapeutic use of a vegetarian diet compare to omnivorous therapeutic diets for lowering blood glucose levels among adults with diabetes?
    • Conclusion

      The therapeutic use of a vegetarian diet is neither better nor worse for lowering blood glucose than omnivorous therapeutic diets in adults with diabetes.

    • Grade: II
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    Is the therapeutic use of a vegetarian diet effective for reducing A1c levels in adults with diabetes?
    • Conclusion

      Based on very limited evidence (a single study), the therapeutic use of a low-fat vegan diet may be effective for decreasing A1c levels in adults with diabetes (in part because of decreases in weight associated with a low-fat vegan diet).

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    How does the therapeutic use of a vegetarian diet compare to omnivorous therapeutic diets for lowering A1c levels among adults with diabetes?
    • Conclusion

      Based on very limited evidence (a single study), the therapeutic use of a low-fat vegan diet may be more effective than omnivorous therapeutic diets for decreasing A1c levels in adults with diabetes, especially among those with no diabetes medication changes.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.
    Is the therapeutic use of a vegetarian diet effective for improving insulin levels in adults with diabetes?
    • Conclusion

      While none of the studies identified for analysis focused on patients with diabetes, limited evidence indicates that a vegetarian diet may be effective for decreasing insulin levels in adults.

    • Grade: III
      • Grade I means there is Good/Strong evidence supporting the statement;
      • Grade II is Fair;
      • Grade III is Limited/Weak;
      • Grade IV is Expert Opinion Only;
      • Grade V is Not Assignable.
      • High (A) means we are very confident that the true effect lies close to that of the estimate of the effect;
      • Moderate (B) means we are moderately confident in the effect estimate;
      • Low (C) means our confidence in the effect estimate is limited;
      • Very Low (D) means we have very little confidence in the effect estimate.
      • Ungraded means a grade is not assignable.