By Nutrition Experts
Thursday, November
15, 2012.
Black Britons suffering from type-2 diabetes
can manage their symptoms through a conscientious approach to diet, new
research suggests.
A study carried out at Ohio State University compared the effectiveness of
mindful eating against nutrition-based guidelines to determine how they impact
on weight and blood sugar levels.
Participants aged between 35 and 65 were divided into two groups, with a group
of 27 adopting the mindful approach to diabetes management and 25 following
traditional programmes.
A mindful approach meant candidates were advised to listen to their bodies'
needs when making food choices and to limit their quantities to satisfy hunger
alone.
Those on the 'Smart Choices' programme adhered to typical guidelines for
diabetes patients, with each intervention involving eight weekly and two
biweekly 2.5 hour sessions with trained professionals.
All the participants had been diagnosed with the disease for at least a year,
exhibited a body mass index of 27 or above and had a haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
reading of at least seven per cent.
Interestingly, weight loss and HbA1c levels were similar for both groups at the
six-month follow up to the study, with the 'Smart Choice' participants losing
an average of six pounds, compared to 3.5 pounds for the conscientious group.
Associate professor of human nutrition Carla Miller described the differing
result as "not significant when analysed statistically".
There was between a 0.7 and 0.8 per cent drop in HbA1c levels too, with Ms
Miller adding: "If the reduction were sustained over time, it would mean a
dramatic reduction in complications associated with diabetes."
The research, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and
Dietetics, also showed similar reduced calorie intake in both groups, who
lowered their consumption of foods with a high glycemic index - which are
digested rapidly and drive up blood sugar.
According to the NHS, around 90 per cent of diabetes sufferers in the UK have
the type-2 form of the disease, with those overweight or obese at a greater
risk.