A new study has shown that eating millets can minimize risks associated with developing type 2 diabetes and it assists in the management of blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. The study reveals the ability to design meals that are appropriate as a preventive approach for pre-diabetic and diabetic people and for non-diabetic people.
The research was conducted across 11 countries, the study published in Frontiers in Nutrition reveals that people who are diabetic and consume millet as part of their daily diet witnessed a reduction in their blood glucose level by 12 to 15 % (post-meal and fasting), and blood glucose levels went from diabetic to pre-diabetic.
The HbA1c (blood glucose bound to hemoglobin) levels lowered on average 17 percent for people that are pre-diabetic, and the levels went from prediabetic to normal status. These findings show that consuming millet can bring a better glycemic response.
The authors reviewed 80 published studies of which 65 were eligible for a meta-analysis involving about 1,000 human subjects, making this analysis the largest systematic review on the topic to date, said International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).
Dr. S Anitha, the study’s lead author and a senior nutrition scientist at International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) said: “No one knew there were a lot of scientific studies has been conducted on the effect of millet on diabetes. The benefits were often contested, and the systematic review of the studies published in scientific journals proves that millet has a huge impact on reducing blood glucose levels, reducing diabetes risks, and has shown that these smart foods can do that well.”
Hemalatha, Director of the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) said: “In India, Diabetes contributed to a very high disease burden from 1990 to 2016. Health expenditure of diabetes-related health was more than $7 million. It is easy to cure diabetes as it requires a change of lifestyle, and diet is very vital in managing it. This study provides a part of the solution useful for governments and individuals. Careful planning is required in using and implementing it into programs.”
One of the study’s authors and a representative on the Indian National Technical Board of Nutrition, Raj Bhandari, stated that due to COVID 19, more attention has been given to health and diabetics are more vulnerable to the virus. “Our diets play a critical role and if we could bring millets back as a major part of our diet, we would not only help in controlling diabetes, but we would also be adding important nutrients to our plate.”
International Diabetes Association stated that diabetes is increasing in all regions of the world. India, China, and the USA have the highest number of diabetic patients. Africa has the largest forecasted increase of 143 percent from 2019 to 2045, South East Asia, 74 percent, and the Middle East and North Africa, 96 percent. The authors advised that millets be used instead of staples to keep diabetes in check, specifically across Africa.
