Strong link between high glycaemic index diet and diabetes, says study

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

Context:

An international study published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology revealed that diets low in glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) may help prevent type 2 diabetes, particularly in individuals with higher Body Mass Index (BMI).

Study findings:

The study, spanning five continents and involving 127,594 adults over nearly 12 years, found a significant association between high GI/GL diets and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- The Glycaemic Index (GI) measures how carbohydrate-containing foods affect blood glucose levels post-meal, while the Glycaemic Load (GL) considers both the quality and quantity of carbohydrates in food.
The research highlighted that individuals with high BMI and a family history of diabetes could delay the onset of the disease through better dietary choices.
The findings underscore the importance of dietary composition in managing diabetes risk, challenging previous controversies around the impact of GI on diabetes and providing evidence applicable to a broad population.

About Diabetes:

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.
Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood glucose. Hyperglycaemia, also called raised blood glucose or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

Type 1 diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes (previously known as insulin-dependent, juvenile or childhood-onset) is characterized by deficient insulin production and requires daily administration of insulin. In 2017 there were 9 million people with type 1 diabetes; the majority of them live in high-income countries. Neither its cause nor the means to prevent it are known.

Type 2 diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes affects how your body uses sugar (glucose) for energy. It stops the body from using insulin properly, which can lead to high levels of blood sugar if not treated.
Over time, type 2 diabetes can cause serious damage to the body, especially nerves and blood vessels.
Type 2 diabetes is often preventable. Factors that contribute to developing type 2 diabetes include being overweight, not getting enough exercise, and genetics.

Source: TH