RESISTANT STARCH AND DIABETES
As explained in this month’s Food for Thought, resistant starch is the part of starchy foods that resists digestion in the small intestine. Instead, it acts in a similar way to dietary fibre, passing through to the large bowel largely undigested where it provides fuel for gut bacteria. Bacteria in the large bowel ferment and …
THE MICROBIOME AND RISK OF DIABETES
There is increasing interest in the role that the microbiome may play in our health. One area that is the subject of much recent research is the impact of our gut bacteria on glucose metabolism and risk of type 2 diabetes. Many studies have shown differences in the gut microbiome between people with and without …
DIABETES CARE
DIABETES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA In 2019, there were an estimated 88 million people in South-East Asia living with diabetes and the number of people with diabetes is projected to increase to 153 million by 2045 unless successful preventative measures are implemented. There is mounting evidence that Asians have higher postprandial (after-meal) blood glucose levels and …
DIABETES CARE
RICE AND THE MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES Due in part at least to the current popularity of “low carb” diets, people with diabetes are often advised to at the very least severely limit, if not completely avoid rice. This is of course a major issue for people who traditionally eat rice for all of their main …
DIABETES CARE
FIBRE AND DIABETES People with diabetes are usually encouraged to include more fibre-rich foods in their diet. The importance of this has been confirmed in a recently published systematic review and meta-analysis looking at the role of dietary fibre and whole grains in diabetes management. The scientists combined the findings of 44 studies involving people …
DIABETES CARE
BRAIN HEALTH The brain is the organ in the body that scientists know the least about. What we do know is that for its size (around 1.4 kg for an adult) it uses a disproportionate amount of resources. The brain is 2% of body mass but consumes 20% of the oxygen we inhale, and this …
DIABETES CARE
INDIVIDUALS FASTING BLOOD GLUCOSE AND INSULIN ARE STRONG PREDICTORS OF THE WEIGHT LOSS RESPONSE TO DIETS WITH DIFFERENT MACRONUTRIENT COMPOSITION IN A LONG-TERM STUDY Efforts to identify a single optimal diet for the treatment of overweight and obesity have so far failed. Overall, the body of scientific evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) indicate that …
DIABETES CARE
THE ADVANTAGES OF A LOW GLYCEMIC INDEX DIET FOR WOMEN WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES Disorders of blood glucose levels in pregnancy are relatively common. In a representative Australian population about 1-2% of women with pre-existing diabetes become pregnant. This type of diabetes is usually insulin treated type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes with various treatments …
DIABETES CARE
EGGS AND DIABETES Eggs are popular. They are delicious, convenient and easy to cook. There’s also a steady stream of scientific research looking at whether we can enjoy them as part of our daily fare, or whether we should limit them. Several recent systematic reviews examine the evidence and provide an answer for people with …
DIABETES CARE
WHAT TO DRINK TO QUENCH YOUR THIRST? Plain water is best to quench your thirst: it is the most refreshing drink, provides zero kilojoules plus a few minerals, and has no effect on your blood glucose levels. It doesn’t have any taste, although the minerals that are sometimes found in water naturally, or that are …
