Senior citizens living with type 2 diabetes may be changing their diet from bowls of brown rice to bowls of nuts.
After researchers conducted a study with 210 participants by administering two types of diets and found the people who ate low-glycemic foods gained better blood sugar control compared to the high-fiber diet often suggested by doctors in the past, the Times of India reports.
The findings showed people who were on the low-glycemic diet, which included nuts, pasta and peas, had better blood sugar control and a reduced risk of heart disease, stated the news provider.
This is in contrast to the high-fiber diet, which calls for more brown foods such as brown rice and potatoes with skins.
Also, after six months, the participants on the low-glycemic diet had an increased amount of "good" cholesterol.
Dr David J A Jenkins, co-author of the study, said the reduced risk of heart disease was a promising finding, since diabetics are more likely to develop the condition, the New York Times reports.
Type 2 diabetes is a growing problem in the older generation with approximately 12.2 million Americans aged 60 years or older diagnosed with the disease.
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