Effect of Consuming Soybean Dietary Fiber on Fasting and Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Levels in Type II Diabetes

The effects of diet enriched soybean fiber on glucose and insulin curves were studied in non-insulin-dependent diabetic human subjects. Postprandial glucose levels following a meal tolerance test in which fiber was given in powder form were lower in all subjects irrespective of the form of fiber intake. Consumption of fiber-rich bread for 12 weeks significantly reduced glucose levels at 0, 30, and 60 min following a meal tolerance test in subjects with fasting blood glucose levels of 130 mg/dl and over. Each patient consumed, during a 12-week period, 40 g of fiber either in bread or as a powder suspended in milk. Following the consumption of fiber for 12 weeks, a reduction of plasma insulin was observed, but without a statistical significance. Body weight and plasma lipid levels did not change throughout the study period.