Diabetics can Control Blood Sugar by Consuming Low Glycemic Index Diet

Patients with type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes can effectively control their blood glucose levels by following a low glycemic index diet, according to a new study.

During the study, the reviewers found that blood glucose levels decreased by 0.5 percent with a low GI diet.

Diabetic Diet - Glycemic Index (GI)
Glycemic index ranks foods according to their ability to raise blood sugar. Higher the glycemic index, quicker the rise in blood sugar.

"The glycemic index (GI) is a way of ranking foods, particularly carbohydrates, according to how quickly they affect the blood glucose levels in the body when they are eaten," said lead review author Diana Thomas.

The researchers reviewed 11 randomised controlled trials of either low GI or low glycemic load (GL) diets, with interventions lasting between four weeks and 12 months. The studies comprised 402 participants.

The highest GI is 100, based on consuming foods like white bread or straight glucose, according to the American Diabetes Association.

Soy or Soya Benefits
Soya bean helps in weight loss, is a source of energy, improves heart health and is good for the skin, nails and hair.

Low GI foods have a score of 55 or less. Glycemic load is a combined measure that takes into account the amount of carbohydrate in a food, as well as its GI score, and represents the overall glycemic effect of the diet.

"The participants were adults in most studies; however, there were two studies in children, all of whom had type 1 diabetes," Thomas said.

Blood Sugar Chart
The blood sugar chart gives you the fasting glucose values and glucose tolerance test values for normal people and people with early diabetes and established diabetes. Also use the calculator to find out if you have diabetes.

"So, the results are relevant to both adults and children, with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes," she added.

Thomas said that the point for people "is to lower the GI or GL of the diet, rather than to follow specific diet plans, which over the longer term can be very difficult to maintain."

Diabetes Type 1, Type 2 - Causes Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment FAQs
A comprehensive article on diabetes - both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, including : causes, signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, facts and a glossary on diabetes.

By knowing which foods to eat and which to avoid, "low GI rye bread instead of high GI white bread, or basmati rice instead of white rice - a person can gradually adapt their diet to become more low GI," she added.

The review appears in The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration.

Source-ANI
SRM