Diabetic Patients may Benefit from Single Large Meal Than from Smaller Meals

A new study conducted by Swedish researchers has found that eating a single large meal is more beneficial for diabetic patients compared to eating a number of small meals throughout the day. The study was conducted by researchers at Linkoping University who studied the effects of three different diets among a group of 21 diabetic patients. The patients were randomly divided into three groups to follow either a low-fat diet, a low-carbohydrate diet and a Mediterranean diet and blood samples were collected on the study day at six different time points.

The researchers found that while the low-fat diet was responsible for the highest increase in blood glucose levels, it had lower levels of triglycerides compared to the low-carbohydrate diet. Mediterranean diet on the other hand did not lead to high blood glucose levels even though it was consumed as a large single meal.

“It is very interesting that the Mediterranean diet, without breakfast and with a massive lunch with wine, did not induce higher blood glucose levels than the low-fat diet lunch, despite such a large single meal. This suggests that it is favorable to have a large meal instead of several smaller meals when you have diabetes, and it is surprising how often one today refers to the usefulness of the so-called Mediterranean diet but forgets that it also traditionally meant the absence of a breakfast”, lead researcher Professor Fredrik Nystrom said.

Source-Medindia