Eating Nuts Improves Diabetes Control

Eating Nuts Improves Diabetes Control
Nuts such as peanuts are shown to control blood sugar levels.  A new study indicates that replacing carbohydrates with two ounces of nuts everyday improves blood glucose and cholesterol control in people with type 2 diabetes.

In the research conducted at the University of Toronto, 117 men and women with type 2 diabetes were randomized into three groups where they received either a full portion of mixed nuts, a half portion of both nuts and muffins, or a full portion of muffins. Participants’ fasting blood glucose levels were tested every other week.

After three months, participants receiving the full portion of nuts showed the biggest decrease in glycated hemoglobin, a measure of blood glucose control.  The difference was significantly more than the decrease shown in the participants receiving the half portion of nuts and muffins, and in those solely receiving muffins.  Nuts intake also decreased bad LDL cholesterol in the blood compared to the other groups.

David Jenkins, MD, PhD, principal researcher and a pioneer in the diabetes study said, “Nuts can make a valuable contribution to the diabetic diet by replacing high glycemic index carbohydrates with vegetable fats and proteins which have been shown to be associated with better cardiovascular health and diabetes prevention.”  The study was reported in the recent issue of ‘Diabetic Diet’ published by the American Diabetes Association.

 

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