Strong link between high glycaemic index diet and diabetes, says study
- April 9, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
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