Research
Hormonal
Low glycemic index (GI) diets significantly improve glycemic control (HbA1c) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes, comparable to medication, and reduce hypoglycemic events.
For newly diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes, choosing foods with a lower Glycemic Index (GI) is a highly effective strategy. This approach improves blood sugar control (HbA1c) to a degree similar to medication and reduces the risk of dangerous low blood sugar episodes. Combine this with weight management and exercise for best results.
GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
The over-all conclusion was that low GI diets improved diabetic control and reduced HbA1c to an extent that was comparable to that seen following medication in newly diagnosed T2DM subjects. It was also put forward that a low GI diet may improve whole body peripheral insulin sensitivity... and reduce the number of hypoglycaemic events
Why this rating
Based on a Cochrane review of 11 intervention studies (meta-analysis).
Source
Impact of Diet Composition on Blood Glucose Regulation
Wendy R. Russell et al. · Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition · 2013
DOI 10.1080/10408398.2013.792772
narrative_reviewCited 256×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Insoluble cereal fiber and resistant starch improve whole-body insulin sensitivity and reduce postprandial glucose, whereas soluble viscous fibers (like guar gum and psyllium) acutely lower glucose and insulin responses.Good
- Physical food structure (e.g., intact kernels vs. flour) and processing methods (e.g., parboiling, cooling) significantly lower the Glycemic Index (GI) and postprandial glucose response compared to refined forms.Good
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