Risk Effects Of Carbohydrates

Summary

Diabetes is chronic metabolic disease characterized by high blood glucose and insulin resistance resulting in hyperglycaemia and affects approximately 347 million people worldwide (WHO, 2013). Prevention and treatment often include being physically active, maintaining a healthy body weight, eating a healthy diet and avoiding saturated fat and tobacco use (WHO, 2013). However, studies have recently shown that carbohydrate consumption may be a risk factor for the development of the disease. The quality of carbohydrates has been of particular interest in many studies because of the rate of digestion and blood glucose response (Manuel-y-Keenoy et al, 2012). Carbohydrates that cause a rapid elevation in blood glucose (high GI) may have unfavorable metabolic effects compared to carbohydrates that cause a slow elevation in blood glucose (low GI) (Similia et al, 2011). The increased consumption of refined foods worldwide has been seen to have an affect on diabetes risk. In western population, the increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverage has seen an associated increase in the rate of diabetes (Malik & Hu, 2012). In many Asian populations, a high consumption of refined grains, particularly white rice and noodles, has been reported to be associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes (Zuniga et al, 2014). However, foods high in fiber are thought to decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes (Weickert & Pfeiffer, 2008). There is ongoing research into gene-environment interactions and the way carbohydrate restriction has a varied effect on diabetes risk based on genetic variability . Although type 2 diabetes risk may be increased by consuming high GI, high GL and refined carbohydrates, consuming the right kind of carbohydrates su...

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...umber of diabetics by 2025 (Seidell, 2000).

Research into gene-environment interactions have shown the presence of the TCF7L2 gene may magnify the risk of type 2 diabetes in situations of high glucose concentrations and insulin demand (Cornelis et al, 2009). Individuals who have the TCF7L2 alleles may therefore benefit from dietary intervention (Cornelis et al, 2009).

In conclusion it is not so simple to assume that a higher consumption of carbohydrates increases the risk of diabetes, but it is more important to make recommendations for the prevention of diabetes based on the quality and the not quantity of the carbohydrate (Hu et al, 2001). Based on the current research, diets that limit sugar sweetened beverages, are low in high GI and high GL foods and refined carbohydrates, and are high in fibre are optimal for reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.