Nutty Benefits for Diabetes

Scientists are still trying to figure out the best diet for people with type 2 diabetes. Such individuals are usually advised to avoid fat, but this results in a higher proportion of energy from carbohydrates. A recent study of more than 100 people with type 2 diabetes tested three dietary changes. In one group, some carbs were replaced with roughly a half-cup of mixed nuts, about 475 calories. In another group, the usual carbs were replaced with a no-sugar, whole-wheat muffin. A third group had a half-and-half regimen, with an ounce of nuts and half a muffin to replace the carbs each day. The study lasted three months, and at the end of it, the people who were eating nuts had lower measures of HbA1c, an indicator of blood sugar control over time, and also lower LDL cholesterol levels.
[Diabetes Care, online June 29, 2011]