Diabetes order when eating affects blood sugar levels

Researchers were able to show that the order of foods during eating affects blood sugar levels. Diabetics can lower their postprandial blood sugar levels by eating protein and fatty foods at high carbohydrate levels.

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According to recent scientific findings, the increase in blood sugar and insulin levels seems to depend primarily on the absolute amount and complexity of the carbohydrates. However, studies also indicated that in healthy individuals, taking pre-meal protein results in lower blood sugar levels after eating.

The researchers wanted to know now whether this effect is also shown in diabetics. They studied type 2 diabetics with a mean BMI of 32.9 kg / m², all of whom were treated with metformin. After a twelve-hour fast, participants took a meal of 628 kcal (55 g protein, 68 g carbs, and 16 g fat).

In a first attempt, participants were given the high-carbohydrate portion first and after 15 minutes the high-fat and high-protein portion of the meal. In a second attempt, this order was swapped. The researchers determined the blood sugar of the participants after 30, 60 and 120 minutes, respectively.

It was found that in the second series of tests compared to the first after 30 minutes a reduction of blood glucose by 28.6 percent (p = 0.001), after 60 minutes by 36.7 percent (0.001) and after 120 minutes one by 16, 8 percent (p = 0.03). The trend was similar for insulin secretion: when participants first ate proteins and fats, insulin levels were much lower. (Pm)