The American Diabetes Association (ADA) gets a lot of money from drug companies, which makes some people wonder if these donations affect its advice on diabetes treatment.
The ADA leads the way in diabetes advocacy and research in a healthcare industry worth $4 trillion. With 38 million Americans living with diabetes and another 90 million on the brink of the disease, diabetes isn’t just a major health issue—it also costs about $400 billion a year in healthcare.
Unlike some other illnesses, such as certain types of cancer or Alzheimer’s, type 2 diabetes can be reversed. Studies have repeatedly shown that eating fewer carbs can effectively reverse diabetes, something the ADA itself recognizes. Still, the ADA often recommends medications more than changes in diet.
In 2020, ADA president at the time, Tracey D Brown, shared how she managed her type 2 diabetes by eating fewer carbs, which lessened her need for insulin and other medications.
This was a big deal because of the ADA’s connections to pharmaceutical companies and it started a lot of talks about whether diet might be better than medication for managing diabetes. Brown later left the ADA for a senior role at Walgreens.
