Diabetes diet: not just carbs
26th July 2011
By Lisa Yates
When discussing diabetes diets, low and high GI carbohydrates are often the focus, but many other foods and nutrients are important in the dietary management of diabetes. Outlined below are some issues worth discussing with patients who have diabetes.
Nutrients
Fibre
Diets high in cereal fibre (29 g per day) have been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by around 30%.1
Psyllium, rich in soluble fibre, can improve postprandial glucose as well as HbA1c levels.2 Psyllium can also help reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels.3,4
Chromium
Chromium may play a role in glucose metabolism by potentiating the action of insulin,5