The Journal of the American Medical Association reported a low-glycemic index (GI) diet is significantly better than a high fiber diet for keeping blood glucose levels down in people with type 2 diabetes.
 
Glycemic index measures how rapidly a food causes blood sugar to rise. High-GI foods, like white bread and potatoes, tend to spur a quick surge in blood sugar, while low-GI foods, such as lentils, soybeans, yogurt and many high-fiber grains, produce a more gradual increase in blood sugar.
 
The study measured the change in A1C in the blood, which reflects glucose over a longer period of time. A1C fell .50 percent on the low-GI diet compared with only .18 percent on the high-fiber diet. HDL ("good") cholesterol levels also rose with the low-GI diet.
 
Please consult your physician or dietitian before making any changes to your diet.

This article originally appeared in the January 2009 issue of AAKP Diet Tips & Bits.