Glycemic acute changes in type 2 diabetics caused by low and high glycemic index diets.

INTRODUCTION

Low-glycemic index diets may improve the glycemic control in type 2 diabetes but the debate over their effectiveness continues.

OBJECTIVES

To test the effects of low-glycemic index diets on acute glycemic control (2 days) by measuring capillary blood glucose in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This was a crossover randomized clinical trial with 12 type 2 diabetics which were randomly divided into 2 groups and targeted the following draft diets for low and high glycemic index (LGI and HGI) for 2 consecutive days in 2 consecutive weeks. Group 1 followed an LGI diet in week 1 and an HGI diet in week 2, group 2 adopted the contrary. They were oriented to maintain medication and lifestyle and to follow the recommendations. Measurements were made of glycemia capillaries in 2 days (fasting, before lunch, post-prandial lunch and before dinner) and one last in fasting on day 3. A food record during the days and the counting of carbohydrates meals was made. The software SigmaStat (version 2.03) was used, with a statistical significance criterion of p < 0.05.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The amount of carbohydrates ingested by the LGI group was lower (p < 0.01), showing that the adoption of this diet reduces the intake of carbohydrates, being favorable for diabetics. Mean blood glucose on the first day was lower in the LGI group (p < 0.05).