ABSTRACT
This chapter considers concepts of biomedical ethics to explore the overuse of pharmaceutical interventions and the underuse of meaningful lifestyle changes in the prevention and treatment of Type 2 diabetes (T2D). A new paradigm is proposed, encouraging a plant-based dietary pattern as the centerpiece of care. Diabetes and prediabetes are usually diagnosed with either elevated fasting blood glucose or a glycosolated hemoglogin level. A diagnosis of T2D comes with many responsibilities: Routine medical care, daily self-care, and education. A healthy lifestyle is encouraged, but in primary care settings, few receive meaningful counseling or ongoing support for nutritional interventions. People with diabetes incur more medical expenses than those without. Medical care includes eye exams, podiatry care, dental care, and specialty care, such as cardiology. Effective treatment of any disease requires knowledge of its pathogenesis. Food environments as well as dietary patterns have changed dramatically over the past century and are a significant matter of public health concern.
