DASH Diet Modified for Diabetes Lowers Blood Glucose Levels

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 13, 2025 (HealthDay News) — A modified version of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is effective at lowering glucose in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in Nature Medicine.

Michael Fang, Ph.D., from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, and colleagues conducted a crossover trial in which 89 adults with type 2 diabetes were assigned to four isocaloric diets in a random order: the DASH4D diet (a DASH-style diet tailored for diabetes) or a comparison (typical American) diet, each with higher (3,700 mg/day at 2,000 kcal) or lower (1,500 mg/day at 2,000 kcal) sodium, with each lasting five weeks.

The researchers found that the DASH4D (versus comparison) diet significantly reduced mean glucose (mean difference, −11.1 mg/dL) and increased time in range (mean difference, +5.2 percentage points). There was no effect on the coefficient of variation. For secondary outcomes, glucose standard deviation and time spent with hyperglycemia (glucose >180 mg/dL and >250 mg/dL) were lower in the DASH4D diet. However, time spent with hypoglycemia (glucose <70 mg/dL and <54 mg/dL) was similar across diets. No serious adverse events related to continuous glucose monitoring or the study diets were reported.

“The original DASH diet has long been recommended for people with diabetes and other health conditions due to its effectiveness in lowering blood pressure, but this is the first time a controlled study has shown a significant improvement in glucose control as well,” senior author Elizabeth Selvin, Ph.D., also from Johns Hopkins, said in a statement.

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