Doctors say a return to Nepal’s traditional lentil and rice diet could help tackle a growing type 2 diabetes crisis. Around one in five Nepalis over 40 now lives with the condition, driven partly by the spread of western processed foods. With diabetes medication often unaffordable, complications can quickly become life-threatening.
Small studies in Kathmandu and nearby communities show promising results. A calorie-controlled traditional diet helped about half of participants achieve remission within four months, with modest weight loss. The research forms part of a wider four-year project led by the University of Glasgow and Dhulikhel Hospital in Nepal.
The programme uses simple, local foods such as lentils, rice, yoghurt, and fruit, alongside portion control and community support. Researchers say people of south Asian heritage develop diabetes at lower weights but also need to lose less to reverse it. The approach avoids processed foods high in sugar and fat, many of which exceed World Health Organization guidelines.
Experts hope the low-cost, community-led model can reduce diabetes rates in Nepal and inspire similar efforts across the region.
