Fact Check: Can Yoghurt cure Diabetes?

The claim made by a youtube video that Yogurt can cure Diabetes is false. While there are many benefits of yogurt and studies have shown that yogurt can have some effect on lowering blood sugar, but it cannot be claimed that Yogurt can cure diabetes. 

Claim

A video uploaded on YouTube  in 2017 is titled "yoghurt can cure diabetes mellitus type 2". The video, which discusses the benefits of yoghurt, states that including yoghurt in the diet maintains the proper amount of enzymes and fibres, which improve digestion. It further claims that yoghurt can prevent arrival of type-2 diabetes.

Fact Check

This claim is false. Some of the benefits of Yogurt explained are correct but it cannot be claimed as the title says that yoghurt can cure diabetes mellitus type 2

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition where the body struggles to convert food into energy due to issues with insulin that regulates blood sugar.

WHO defines Diabetes as a chronic metabolic disease which is characterized by elevated blood glucose levels, which, over time, leads to severe damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.

The diagnostic criteria from the World Health Organization (WHO) for diabetes are defined by one or more of the following: fasting plasma glucose levels of 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) or higher, 2-hour plasma glucose levels of 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) or greater during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), random plasma glucose levels exceeding 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) in individuals exhibiting symptoms of hyperglycemia, or an A1C level of 6.5% or more.

Diabetes can be of various types, including Type 1, Type 2 and gestational Diabetes. Diabetes Type 2 occurs due to a progressive loss of adequate β-cell insulin secretion frequently on the background of insulin resistance. (1)

The prevalence of Type 2 DM is significant in the Indian subcontinent. As of 2019, there were approximately 77 million individuals with diabetes, a number expected to increase to over 134 million by 2045. Notably, about 57% of these cases remain undiagnosed. The high prevalence and the anticipated increase highlight the critical need for effective management and prevention strategies to tackle this health issue. (2)

The review from the IDF Diabetes Atlas 10th Edition further emphasizes the growing challenge of diabetes in India, projecting that the incidence rate, which was 9.6% in 2021, will rise to 10.9% by 2045. This underscores the urgent need for awareness, early diagnosis, and intervention strategies to control the diabetes epidemic in India​​. (3)

Can type 2 Diabetes be cured?

Type 2 diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be effectively managed and sometimes even go into remission with significant lifestyle changes and medical treatment. This often involves a combination of healthy eating, regular physical activity, weight loss if needed, and medication. Achieving and maintaining normal blood sugar levels can put diabetes into remission, reducing or eliminating the need for diabetes medication. However, ongoing monitoring and lifestyle maintenance are crucial to prevent relapse.

Yoghurt and its Health Benefits

Yoghurt is a dairy product created by fermenting milk with specific bacteria, leading to a thickened texture and tangy flavour. It's nutritious, offering protein, calcium, vitamins, and probiotics, which support digestive health and the immune system.

Yoghurt is known for its numerous health advantages, including the presence of probiotics, which have been shown to enhance gut health and strengthen the immune system. It's also a good source of essential nutrients like calcium, vitamin B12, potassium, and magnesium. Regular yoghurt consumption has been linked to better heart health, weight management, and even improved mental health. Its protein content supports muscle maintenance and repair, while its probiotics may help with digestive issues such as bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.

Does yoghurt cure Diabetes mellitus (type 2)?

No, Yogurt does not cure diabetes mellitus type 2. Many studies have been done in the past to investigate the effect of yoghurt on type 2 diabetes mellitus. Some studies have shown positive impacts, and others have shown no effects on diabetes parameters. Some studies showed that yoghurt could reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus if included in the diet.

Yoghurt consumption, when combined with a healthy diet, may lower the incidence of type 2 DM in older people who are at high risk of cardiovascular disease. This was concluded by Jordi Salas-Salvadó et al., who performed a review of various observational studies. (4)

Similar to this, Elena Barengolts et al. conducted a meta-analysis on nine RCTs in 2019 to examine the impact of probiotic yoghurt on type 2 diabetes glycaemic control. They found that probiotic yoghurt did not significantly improve glycemic markers, such as HbA1c, fasting insulin and glucose, and insulin resistance as determined by HOMA-IR, when compared to the control. (5)

In order to examine the impact of probiotic yoghurt consumption on lipid profiles and glycemic management in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, Mohammadreza Mirjalili et al. conducted an RCT with 72 patients. They found that there was a substantial decrease in HbA1c but no change in fasting plasma glucose. (6)

Expert Opinion:

Dr. Prem Aggarwal, cardiologist and chairman of Sanjeevan Hospital, New Delhi, clarified this misconception. He said, “Yoghurt is a probiotic. It restores the natural flora of bacteria present in the gut, which prevents inflammation. The presence of dysbiosis means new bacteria which cause inflammation. This gut inflammation is related to many diseases of the endothelium, and Diabetes is one of them. It is seen that sometimes when a large number of probiotics are consumed, it can lead to the normalization of the flora, which delays the development of the disease. However, to say that by by eating yoghurt, diabetes can be cured is absolutely false.”

Also there are many studies and expert opinions  that have shown that yogurt may benefit diabetic mellitus patients. However, no study or scientific paper supports the claim that yoghurt can cure diabetes mellitus type 2. Also, currently, there are no guidelines recommending the use of Yogurt for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Medical Dialogues Take: While Yogurt may have some beneficial effects on the management of blood sugar, the claim that it can cure diabetes is FALSE.