Diets rich in natural fibre improve carbohydrate tolerance in maturity-onset, non-insulin dependent diabetics.

The influence of low and high fibre diets upon carbohydrate tolerance was examined in five maturity-onset, non-insulin dependent diabetics. After 14 days on a diet rich in natural fibre (30 g/day), the subjects consumed a high fibre (13 g) test meal. They then ate a low fibre diet (10 g/day) followed by a low fibre (1 g) test meal. Mean basal plasma glucose concentrations were similar after both fibre diets; however, both mean basal plasma insulin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) were significantly lower after the high fibre diet. After the high fibre test meal, significantly lower mean plasma glucose, insulin and GIP concentrations were measured. This study is the first study to demonstrate the ability of an institutionally supervised diet of natural foodstuffs rich in fibre to improve carbohydrate tolerance in maturity-onset, non-insulin dependent diabetics. This findings is relevant to the dietary management of diabetics.