Does a Low-Fat Vegetarian Diet Improve Insulin Resistance in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes?

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of experimental (vegetarian) diet compared to conventional diet with similar caloric restriction on insulin resistance, body weight and body composition in type 2 diabetic patients after 3 month diet program and additional 3 month diet program combined with intensive exercise. Hypothesis: Greater improvement in insulin resistance, greater weight loss without compromising the body composition (subjects will lose fat preferentially to lean body mass) and differences in the fatty tissue metabolism will be found in the experimental (vegetarian) group compared to the control (conventional diet) group despite the similar advise on caloric restriction in both diets. The differences between the two groups will increase after an intensive physical exercise program.