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Diabetes-specific nutritional supplement improves glycemic control
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Adults with well-controlled type 2 diabetes randomly assigned to drink a diabetes-specific nutritional supplement saw improved glucose control vs. those who consumed a standard nutritional drink, recent findings suggest.
“This study confirms that a product designed specifically for individuals with diabetes can assist in attaining normal blood sugars, Maureen B. Huhmann, DCN, RD, CSO, manager of clinical sciences at Nestle Health Science in Florham Park, New Jersey, and colleagues wrote. “Additionally, there may be benefits to insulin sensitivity, and with long-term use, this may reduce complications associated with diabetes, primarily cardiovascular outcomes.”
In a randomized, crossover trial, Huhmann and colleagues analyzed data from 12 adults with type 2 diabetes not using insulin (7 men; mean age, 60 years) randomly assigned to two separate interventions on 2 days, 1 week apart. Following an overnight fast of at least 8 hours, participants consumed either beverage A (diabetes-specific, Boost Glucose Control, Nestle) or beverage B (standard, Boost Original, Nestle) within 10 minutes. Participants were instructed to refrain from additional food or beverage consumption during the 4-hour test period. Blood samples for glucose and insulin levels were drawn at 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210 and 240 minutes after the beverage was consumed. Both beverages contained 190 calories; beverage A contained 16 g protein, 16 g carbohydrate and 7 g fat; beverage B contained 8 g protein, 32 g carbohydrate and 3 g fat.
Researchers found no between-group differences for fasting glucose or insulin (P = 0.85 for both). Researchers found that mean glucose area under the curve was lower in the diabetes-specific beverage group vs. standard nutritional supplement group (P < .0001); there were no between-group differences for mean insulin AUC (P = .068).
Researchers identified one outlier in sensitivity analysis of mean insulin AUC measures with one participant having an insulin AUC value more than twice as high as the next highest value; once removed, there was a significant difference between groups (P = .012).
Researchers found no differences in the first-phase insulin measure (AUC at the 30-minute time interval) between formula groups (P = .24). –by Regina Schaffer
Disclosure: Nestle Health Science provided funding for this trial. Huhmann and one other author report receiving salary from Nestle Health Science.
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