Following a low-carb, plant-based diet may significantly lower the risk of premature death in people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers analyzed 34 years' worth of health data from more than 10,000 adults with type 2 diabetes and found that those who followed a low-carb diet emphasizing plant-based foods and high-quality carbs had a 24% lower risk of dying from all causes. These eating plans were also associated with less heart disease and lower cancer mortality.
The researchers noted that the benefit was strongest in participants who also exercised regularly, didn’t smoke, and followed other healthy habits. The senior author emphasized that "This study underscores the importance of diet quality when choosing among various diets for diabetes control and management." Low-carb diets that emphasized animal products and low-quality carbs, such as potatoes, added sugars, and refined grains, did not significantly lower mortality in this study.
