Premium
Beneficial Effect of a Low Glycaemic Index Diet in Type 2 Diabetes
Author(s) -
Wolever T.M.S.,
Jenkins D.J.A.,
Vuksan V.,
Jenkins A.L.,
Buckley G.C.,
Wong G.S.,
Josse R.G.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1992.tb01816.x
Subject(s) - medicine , type 2 diabetes , glycaemic index , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology , glycemic index , glycemic
Low glycaemic index foods produce low blood glucose and insulin responses in normal subjects, and improve blood glucose control in Type 1 and well‐controlled Type 2 diabetic patients. We studied the effects of a low glycaemic index diet in 15 Type 2 diabetic patients with a mean fasting blood glucose of 9.5 mmol I −1 using a randomized, crossover design. Patients were given pre‐weighed diets (59% energy as carbohydrate, 21% fat, and 24g 1000‐kcal −1 dietary fibre) for two 2‐week periods, with a diet glycaemic index of 60 during one period and 87 during the other. On the low glycaemic index diet, the blood glucose response after a representative breakfast was 29% less than on the high glycaemic index diet (874 ± 108 (± SE) vs ± 204 ± 112 mmol min I −1 ; p < 0.001), the percentage reduction being almost identical to the 28% difference predicted from the meal glycaemic index values. After the 2‐week low glycaemic index diet, fasting serum fructosamine and cholesterol levels were significantly less than after the high glycaemic index diet (3.17 ± 0.12 vs 3.28 ± 0.16 mmol I −1 p < 0.05, and 5.5 ± 0.4 vs 5.9 ± 0.5 mmol I −1 , p < 0.02, respectively. Urinary C‐peptide excretion, as an index of insulin secretion, was 30% lower on the low than the high glycaemic index diet (2.05 ± 0.30 vs 2.93 ± 0.49 nmol mmol‐creatinine −1 ; p < 0.02), urinary urea was reduced by 19% (347 ± 27 vs 402 ± 39 mmol 24‐h −1 ; p < 0.025), consistent with enhanced colonic fermentation. These results suggest that low glycaemic index starchy foods may be beneficial in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.