Nutrition in prediabetes

Abstract

Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are forerunners of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and are now recognised as prediabetes states. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is associated with these conditions and there are many studies such as the Da Quin IGT and DM study; Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study(DPS); The Diabetes Prevention Program(DPP) which have clearly shown the efficacy and supremacy of diet intervention in controlling progression of the prediabetes state to type 2 DM. Weight reduction, increasing physical activity and restricting not only total calories but also deriving them from more healthy sources by reducing the total intake of fat, changing n-6 PUFA to n-3 PUFA, increasing the intake of fibre rich carbohydrates and the use of antioxidants have not only long-term health benefits but also can be a very useful cost-effective tool to overcome the burden of type 2 DM in our country. Prevention of type 2 DM is not a dream but a reality and this can be achieved from a path through our kitchen. Faulty nutrition seems to be the main culprit in this wide-spread epidemic of diabetes and nutritional therapy in prediabetes state appears to be the only option in our hands.