The top Diabetic Diets as rated by US News & World Report are the DASH Diet (also rated the top overall diet) and the Biggest Loser Diet. Type 2 Diabetes can be completely reversed and prevented if you follow the right diet. There is an alarming rise in Type 2 Diabetes in the US and around the world and it is directly related to the foods we eat and the ingredients in those foods. If you are pre-disposed to Type 2 Diabetes or have been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes before you knee jerk to take a pill to fix your problem you need to change your diet to eat healthier foods.

Here is the highlights from the US News & World Report review of the Biggest Loser Diet:

Diet is a crucial tool for managing diabetes, and weight loss can help people who are overweight prevent type 2 diabetes. The experts who rated the 25 diets below evaluated each one on its ability to both prevent and manage diabetes. The Biggest Loser diet and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), an eating plan endorsed by the government, came out on top.

Resembles these U.S. News-rated diets: DASH Diet, Mayo Clinic Diet, Mediterranean Diet, Volumetrics, Glycemic-Index Diet

The aim: Weight loss, disease prevention or reversal.

The claim: Six weeks of healthy food and regular exercise not only is a great start to a weight-loss journey—it can also help prevent or reverse diabetes; cut the risk for cancer, dementia, and Alzheimer’s; improve your heart health; and boost your immune system.

The theory: We eat too many of the wrong foods and not enough of the right ones, and we sit around too much. The not-so-surprising solution: eat regular meals that emphasize filling calories from fruits, vegetables, lean protein sources, and whole grains; practice portion control; use a food journal; and get up off the sofa.

Can it prevent or control diabetes?

The approach is generally viewed as an ideal eating pattern for both.

Prevention: Being overweight is one of the biggest risk factors for type 2 diabetes. If this diet helps you lose weight and keep it off, you’ll almost certainly tilt the diabetes odds in your favor. Biggest Loser data show some contestants no longer had indications of metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors that together can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes (and heart disease and stroke).

Control: In the American Journal of Medicine study, researchers reported participants reduced their levels of A1C—a measure of blood sugar—after seven months. And while the diet’s guidelines mirror those encouraged by the American Diabetes Association, you can also tweak your menu and exercise plan as needed, per your doctor’s advice.

What You’ll Eat

The Biggest Loser pyramid makes for what many experts consider a balanced diet, with four servings a day of fruits and vegetables, three of protein, two of whole grains, and no more than 200 calories of “extras” like desserts.

A bonus: You can enjoy whatever cuisine you’re in the mood for, be it Mexican, Italian, or Asian, as long as you don’t go overboard, and you keep the Biggest Loser’s portion-control tips in mind.

As with other diets that are good for Type 2 Diabetes the Biggest Loser Diet emphasizes fruits and vegetables and restricts unhealthy fats and foods laden with refined sugar. As with other do-it-yourself diets you need to be truly committed to your healthy lifestyle change to be successful. Make sure to build your support system to help you stick to the plan and not relapse to eating unhealthy foods. There are many recipes books on the market that cater to the diet although some find the recipes more difficult to prepare and require a wide variety of ingredients which can add to the overall cost of the Biggest Loser Diet.

The Biggest Loser Diet is sound nutritionally and safe to follow. There is concern that many who have tried the diet have found it difficult to remain on the diet for the long term. Unlike other diets the Biggest Loser Diet does promote regular physical exercise (2 1/2 hours of moderate intensity exercise per week). Needless to say regular physical exercise has many benefits leading to better health. The bottom line is the Biggest Loser Diet is a good choice for those who are trying to prevent or reverse Type 2 Diabetes and looking to lose weight.

Related articles

• Type 2 Diabetes Can Be Managed with Diet, Y’all. (oldwaystable.org)
• Celebrity chef Paula Deen reveals she has type 2 diabetes – Chicago Tribune (chicagotribune.com)