Culinary Medicine in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Management: A Narrative Review of Randomized Clinical Trials on Dietary Interventions (Nutritional Profiles of Meals and Snacks, Timing, Preparation and Key Considerations)

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 465 million individuals are affected by type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and could benefit from managing their condition with a high-quality diet based on proper, nutrient-rich food choices. A plant-based diet not only has health benefits but also helps mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the Mediterranean diet has the most beneficial effect on overall health. In contrast, ultra-processed foods have a negative impact on T2DM outcomes. Reviewing the nutritional profile of different meals, snacks and desserts would be helpful in enhancing their quality, strengthening the role of dietitians and doctors and protecting against T2DM complications. This approach would also increase simplification and education for consumers. The PubMed-Medline, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant articles published up to May, from 2000 (based on publication date). The results support the need to reinforce health claims and highlight public demand for food choices while also improving patient quality of life.