Doctor advised 82-year-old diabetic to abandon all animal products for health reasons

A physician in Finland’s South Savo wellbeing services county recommended an 82-year-old diabetic patient adopt an all-plant diet to halt the progression of kidney failure, according to a report by national broadcaster Yle. The strict regimen, which excludes all animal products, processed foods, added fats, and sugars, has sparked controversy among nutrition experts and healthcare professionals.

The patient, identified only as Aune, was initially skeptical but followed the advice after trusting her doctor’s expertise. The diet resembles veganism but is far stricter, banning even plant-based processed substitutes like vegan deli meats. Instead, it relies on whole foods—vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds—prepared without added oils or salt. Supplements for vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iodine are mandatory due to the risk of deficiencies.

Nutrition experts, including Ursula Schwab, a professor of nutritional therapy at the University of Eastern Finland, warn that the diet is overly demanding for elderly patients. “There isn’t enough scientific evidence on its health effects or feasibility,” Schwab told Yle, adding that without careful planning, the diet risks malnutrition. National dietary guidelines do not endorse the approach.

The practice began roughly four years ago when two doctors at Mikkeli Central Hospital, Soili Kasanen and Ville Miettinen, started promoting the diet to patients. Despite internal reports flagging patient safety concerns—including cases where the advice exacerbated eating disorder symptoms—the doctors continued. Hospital management eventually banned the practice, though Yle reports at least one physician has persisted in recommending it.

Healthcare workers interviewed by Yle described the situation as a “tinderbox,” with some considering resignation over ethical concerns. Patients, however, were divided: most found the advice beneficial or neutral, while one reported psychological harm. Kasanen defended the approach, arguing that gradual changes mitigate risks and that critics underestimate patients’ resilience.

The controversy extended to medical education after university students received instruction on the diet, prompting an inquiry from Pekka Mäntyselkä, head of public health and clinical nutrition at the University of Eastern Finland. The wellbeing services county has since reviewed the diet’s scientific basis before enforcing the ban.

While the doctors remain vocal advocates—Miettinen co-authored a book on the subject—official guidelines and peer criticism have curbed its promotion in public healthcare. The case highlights tensions between clinical autonomy and evidence-based practice in Finland’s decentralized health system.