Diabetic Diet

• Diabetes is a strong independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and these two conditions often coexist, sharing common modifiable risk factors.¹

• Although carbohydrate restriction for reducing the glycemic load is of paramount importance in the prevention and management of diabetes, a high fiber diet has an equally important role.

• Recent research indicates that a high dietary fiber consumption can increase insulin sensitivity and thus decreasing the blood sugar.² High-fiber diets may protect against obesity and CVD by lowering insulin levels.³

• Increased intake of bran and whole-grains that are high in fiber has been shown to reduce deaths from heart disease in people with diabetes and is highly recommended.⁴ The benefit is particularly high for viscous soluble fiber. ⁵

• Increased consumption of vegetables, whole grains, and soluble and insoluble fiber is associated with improved glucose metabolism in both diabetic and nondiabetic individuals.⁶ Such a diet is associated with a reduced risk of diabetes.^7-9

• Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables are recommended for people with diabetes and the proscription of fruits (as practiced in many parts of India) for these people cannot be justified.

• Psyllium (Metamucil) supplementation has been shown to lower A1C concentration and might be beneficial in people with diabetes with or without medications.¹⁰

• Increasing cereal fiber in the diet may be an effective means of reducing the risk of diabetes, a disease that has reached epidemic proportions in Asian Indians.¹¹

Sources

1. Liu S, Manson JE, Lee IM, et al. Fruit and vegetable intake and risk of cardiovascular disease: the Women’s Health Study. Am J Clin Nutr. Oct 2000;72(4):922-928.

2. Weickert MO, Pfeiffer AF. Metabolic effects of dietary fiber consumption and prevention of diabetes. J Nutr. Mar 2008;138(3):439-442.

3. Ludwig DS, Pereira MA, Kroenke CH, et al. Dietary fiber, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in young adults. JAMA. Oct 27 1999;282(16):1539-1546.

4. He M, van Dam RM, Rimm E, Hu FB, Qi L. Whole-grain, cereal fiber, bran, and germ intake and the risks of all-cause and cardiovascular disease-specific mortality among women with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Circulation. May 25 2010;121(20):2162-2168.

5. Vuksan V, Rogovik AL, Jovanovski E, Jenkins AL. Fiber facts: benefits and recommendations for individuals with type 2 diabetes. Curr Diab Rep. Oct 2009;9(5):405-411.

6. Wolfram T, Ismail-Beigi F. Efficacy of high-fiber diets in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Endocr Pract. Jan-Feb 2011;17(1):132-142.

7. van Dam R M, Rimm EB, Willett WC, Stampfer MJ, Hu FB. Dietary patterns and risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus in U.S. men. Annals of internal medicine. Feb 5 2002;136(3):201-209.

8. Montonen J, Knekt P, Harkanen T, et al. Dietary patterns and the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Am J Epidemiol. Feb 1 2005;161(3):219-227.

9. Hodge A M, English DR, O’Dea K, Giles GG. Dietary patterns and diabetes incidence in the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. Am J Epidemiol. Mar 15 2007;165(6):603-610.

10. Bajorek SA, Morello CM. Effects of dietary fiber and low glycemic index diet on glucose control in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Ann Pharmacother. Nov 2010;44(11):1786-1792.

11. Krishnan S, Rosenberg L, Singer M, et al. Glycemic index, glycemic load, and cereal fiber intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in US black women. Arch Intern Med. Nov 26 2007;167(21):2304-2309.