A plant-based dietary approach to the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Africa: short communication of a multiple-case study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore how participants and physicians experienced a plant-based dietary approach to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in South Africa.
Design: A multiple-case study was undertaken.
Setting: The pilot ‘Diabetes Reversal Challenge’ was initiated and led by UBUNTU Wellness Institute. Participants with T2DM consume a whole-food plant-based diet for 21 days and are assigned to private physicians for clinical monitoring of health outcomes.
Subjects: South African adults with T2DM (n = 10) and physicians (n = 4) participated in the challenge between April 2021 and May 2022.
Outcome measures: Participants’ health outcomes and contextual factors influencing how participants and physicians experienced the plant-based dietary approach in South Africa were the measures used.
Results: The plant-based dietary approach resulted in positive health outcomes for South African adults with T2DM, such as improved glycaemic control, weight loss, reduced need for medication and psychological benefits. Multiple layers of contextual factors influenced the plant-based dietary approach to T2DM in South Africa, mapped into a socio-ecological framework that includes (1) individual, (2) interpersonal, (3) organisational, (4) community and (5) healthcare system factors.
Conclusions: These results encourage healthcare systems to explore plant-based dietary approaches as an option in the management of T2DM in South Africa.

Keywords: plant-based diet, plant-based nutrition, type 2 diabetes, South Africa