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# Low glycemic load diet linked to low risk of type 2 diabetes
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/glycemic_load_type_2_diabetes_mellitus_1019131240/
- Published: 2013-10-19T13:39:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:18:41.000Z
- Description: A meta-analysis of 24 prospective cohort studies in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found a dose-response link between dietary glycemic load and type 2 diabetes: each 100-gram increment was associated with 45 percent higher risk, significant above 95 grams per 2,000 kcal.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Diet, Nutrition, #vivvo-import

Saturday Oct 19, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that eating a diet with a low glycemic load is the way to go to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The study led by Geoffrey Livesey from Independent Nutrition Logic Ltd in Wymondham, Norfolk, United Kingdom and colleagues finds a dose response relation between dietary glycemic load and the risk of type 2 diabetes.

For the study, which was supported by Beneo-Palatinit GmbH in Mannheim, Germany, the researchers meta-analyzed data on dietary glycemic load and incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus from 24 prospective cohort studies identified by Aug 2012.

The glycemic load ranged from 60 to 280 grams for daily intake of 2000 kcal calories. The study shows that each 100-gram increment in glycemic load was associated with 45% increased risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. And the association was statistically significant when glycemic load was greater than 95 grams per 2000 kcal.

Glycemic load is a number to indicate how much blood sugar will be raised after eating a food. A diet with high sugar and high carbohydrate is a high glycemic load diet.

It should be noted that the concept of glycemic load does not distinguish the difference between simple sugars like fructose, glucose and sucrose, and complex carbohydrates, which can also release glucose after being ingested. The difference is that complex carbohydrates release glucose slowly and the body does not have to feel stressed in terms of the insulinaemic response. So complex carbohydrates are friendlier than simple sugars.

It should also be kept in mind that sugar or glycemic load is not the only factor that affects the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Saturated fat and trans fat are known to increase the risk for type 2 diabetes too.

Type 2 diabetes is believed to inflict more than 25 million Americans. The metabolic disease can be easily prevented in many cases by eating a healthy diet. And some dietary supplements may help prevent the disease as well. For instance, curcumin, an ingredient found in the spice turmeric in a dose of 6 grams per day can effectively prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus in people with pre-diabetes. (JD)