Modified DASH Diet Effectively Lowers Blood Glucose in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

A recent study published in Nature Medicine demonstrates that a modified version of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can significantly improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University conducted a crossover trial involving 89 participants, where each individual followed four different isocaloric diets in a randomized sequence. These included the DASH4D diet, a tailored DASH-style diet for diabetes, and a typical American diet, each with varying sodium levels (higher at 3,700 mg/day and lower at 1,500 mg/day).

The findings revealed that the DASH4D diet notably reduced average blood glucose levels by approximately 11.1 mg/dL compared to the control diet. Additionally, participants experienced a boost in time within the target glucose range, increasing by about 5.2 percentage points. The study also observed lower variability in glucose measurements and decreased durations of hyperglycemia (glucose levels above 180 mg/dL and 250 mg/dL). Importantly, no increase in hypoglycemia episodes was reported across the different diets, and no serious adverse events related to glucose monitoring or diet adherence occurred.

This research is notable as it is the first controlled study to confirm that a diet traditionally used for lowering blood pressure can also beneficially influence blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Dr. Elizabeth Selvin from Johns Hopkins emphasized that while the DASH diet has long been recommended for hypertension and cardiovascular health, its potential to improve glycemic control opens new avenues for dietary management of diabetes.

Overall, the study supports the inclusion of a modified DASH diet in strategies to manage blood glucose in diabetes, offering a promising, non-pharmacological approach that can complement existing treatments. Further research could explore long-term effects and practical implementation of such dietary modifications.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-dash-diet-diabetes-lowers-blood.html