From 2002 to 2008, rates of diabetes rose 90%. “That’s staggering," said Dr. Jay Udani, CEO and medical director, Medicus Research LLC, during a presentation at SupplySide West. “The coming diabetes catastrophe has the potential to ruin lives and bankrupt medical systems." Fortunately, in addition to medication that can indeed help control diabetes after its onset, Udani says several food and dietary ingredients have the potential to prevent, manage and possibly reverse the ravages of diabetes.
Udani presented detailed reviews of the clinical evidence for a host of such ingredients. Caffeine, for one, presents a bit of a dichotomy. “Short-term studies show caffeine increases insulin sensitivity," he said. “However, long-term studies show caffeine reduces the risk of diabetes." Regardless of the ingredient, however, Udani says to “consider that when you see a trial that shows effect in those with diabetes, keep in mind that, if given to a healthy person, you may not see any effect. In other words, you may have to have some kind of problem to see any benefit from a particular ingredient."
Udan also discussed low-glycemic foods and their potential to reduce the risk for diabetes, as well as promote satiety. He said, however, that consumers often misunderstand the term and focus on a feeling of uncomfortable fullness. His suggestion is to focus on low-glycemic foods as a means of “delaying return of hunger."
