Food Order Has a Significant Impact on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Levels

Postprandial hyperglycemia is an important therapeutic target for optimizing glycemic control and for mitigating the proatherogenic vascular environment characteristic of type 2 diabetes. Existing evidence indicates that the quantity and type of carbohydrate consumed influence blood glucose levels and that the total amount of carbohydrate consumed is the primary predictor of glycemic response (1). Previous studies have shown that premeal ingestion of whey protein, as well as altering the macronutrient composition of a meal, reduces postmeal glucose levels (2–4). There are limited data, however, regarding the effect of food order on postprandial glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes (5). In this pilot study, we sought to examine the effect of food order, using a typical Western meal, incorporating vegetables, protein, and carbohydrate, on postprandial glucose and insulin excursions in overweight/obese adults with type 2 diabetes. A total of 11 subjects (6 female, 5 male) with metformin-treated type 2 diabetes were studied …