According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 38.1 million U.S. adults were living with diagnosed diabetes in 2021, with 90% to 95% of those cases being type 2 diabetes.
A recent study from Johns Hopkins Medicine found that a modified low-sodium Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) style diet significantly lowered blood pressure in adults with type 2 diabetes, most of whom were already taking multiple antihypertensive medications.
The traditional DASH diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, and low in saturated fat and cholesterol, was adapted for this study to better suit people with type 2 diabetes. Researchers reduced carbohydrate intake, increased unsaturated fats, and lowered potassium levels to make it safer for those with chronic kidney disease. This new version was called DASH4D (DASH for Diabetes).
While the DASH diet is a well-established tool for managing hypertension, it hasn’t been well studied in people with diabetes. Study researchers wanted to evaluate how an updated version of the diet might help lower blood pressure in this group. The study is published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Study findings highlight the importance of managing blood pressure alongside blood sugar in people with diabetes, who are at an increased risk of stroke and heart disease. A 5 mmHg drop in systolic blood pressure, achieved through the DASH4D diet, was associated with a 14% lower risk of stroke, a 6% reduction in cardiovascular events, and an 8% lower risk of heart failure. Even among those taking multiple blood pressure medications, dietary changes made a measurable difference.
The crossover feeding study involved 102 participants (85 completed all phases) who rotated through four five-week diets: DASH4D with low and high sodium and a typical American diet with low and high sodium. Participants were provided all meals, with calorie adjustments to maintain weight. The average participant was 66 years old; two-thirds were women, and most self-identified as Black. The average baseline blood pressure was 135/75 mmHg, and two-thirds used two or more antihypertensive drugs.
Compared to the high-sodium typical diet, the low-sodium DASH4D diet lowered systolic blood pressure by 4.6 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 2.3 mmHg, with most of the effect occurring within the first three weeks.
Lowering blood pressure through diet is a critical, often overlooked, strategy for reducing cardiovascular risk, the researchers highlight. The next step is to make this diet more accessible and culturally adaptable and to empower people with diabetes to use diet as a practical and sustainable way to improve their health.
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine
Image Credit: iStock
