Dietary Glycemic Index associated with Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetes.

10 March 2010

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) with metabolic control in type 2 diabetic patients.901 outpatients with type 2 diabetes provided complete home blood glucose profiles and centralized glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Dietary information was obtained using semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaires. HbA1c was assessed in the centralized laboratory while blood glucose profiles were assessed at home. Results: After adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, medication use, prevalence of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, energy and fiber intake, dietary GI and GL were positively associated with HbA1c in a dose-dependent fashion (P for trend , 0.007 for GI and 0.02 for GL). Diabetic patients with the highest GI and GL had the highest HbA1c levels (difference 1%, P = 0.001).

Diets low in GI and GL are associated with lower HbA1c and postmeal glucose levels in the everyday life of type 2 diabetic patients.