Beneficial effect of low-glycemic index diet in overweight NIDDM subjects.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether low-glycemic index (GI) diets have clinical utility in overweight patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Six patients with NIDDM were studied on both high- and low-GI diets of 6-wk duration with metabolic diets with a randomized crossover design. Both diets were of similar composition (57% carbohydrate, 23% fat, and 34 g/day dietary fiber), but the low-GI diet had a GI of 58 compared with 86 for the high-GI diet.

RESULTS

Small and similar amounts of weight were lost on both diets: 2.5 kg on high-GI diet and 1.8 kg on low-GI diet. On the low-GI diet, the mean level of serum fructosamine, as an index of overall blood glucose control, was lower than on the high-GI diet by 8% (P less than 0.05), and total serum cholesterol was lower by 7% (P less than 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In overweight patients with NIDDM, reducing diet GI improves overall blood glucose and lipid control.