Statement by the American Diabetes Association:
"A vegetarian diet is a healthy option, even if you have diabetes. Research supports that following this type of diet can help prevent and manage diabetes. In fact, research on vegan diets has found that carbohydrate and calorie restrictions were not necessary and still promoted weight loss and lowered participants' A1C."
Link:
http://www.diabetes.org/food-and-fitness/food/planning-meals/meal-planning-for-vegetarians/
Statement by the American Heart Association:
"Many studies have shown that vegetarians seem to have a lower risk of obesity, coronary heart disease (which causes heart attack), high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus and some forms of cancer."
Link:
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Healt...ian-Diets_UCM_306032_Article.jsp#.Wz4liqrfM5s
Statement by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the world's largest association of Registered Dietitians):
"It is the position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics that appropriately planned vegetarian, including vegan, diets are healthful, nutritionally adequate and may provide health benefits for the prevention and treatment of certain diseases. These diets are appropriate for all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, adolescence, older adulthood and for athletes."
Link:
https://www.eatrightpro.org/practice/position-and-practice-papers/position-papers/vegetarian-diets
Statement by Kaiser Permanente (one of the largest health insurance companies in the United States):
"Physicians should consider recommending a plant-based diet to all their patients, especially those with high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or obesity."
Link:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3662288/
The American Academy of Pediatrics is more careful in its position on vegetarian/vegan diets for children:
"if your household is vegan-a type of strict vegetarian diet including no animal products such as eggs or dairy foods-the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that your child only be on this diet after consultation with your pediatrician or health care provider. It is possible to have a child on a safe vegan diet, but it should be done carefully. There are critical vitamins and minerals which can be deficient in a vegan diet, particularly vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, vitamin A, calcium, zinc, and riboflavin."
Link:
https://www.healthychildren.org/eng...n/pages/dietary-supplements-for-toddlers.aspx