Among Blue Cross Blue Shield subscribers, individuals with type 2 diabetes will be randomly selected and invited to participate in an interventional trial. A control group matched for relevant variables will be selected from Blue Cross Blue Shield subscribers.~The Intervention group participants will be asked to attend weekly online classes on nutrition and health and to follow a low-fat, vegan diet for 16 weeks. Body weight, plasma lipids, HbA1C, dietary intake and adherence, and food acceptability will be assessed at baseline and at 16 weeks. Their longer-term medical utilization will then be tracked and compared with that of a control population selected from Blue Cross Blue Shield subscribers.
The CARING study assesses the health benefits of nutrition education for Blue Cross Blue Shield subscribers, as well as potential healthcare cost savings to subscribers and the insurance company.