Green tea only a fad for diabetics: Expert

Manav Mander

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Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 5

Food choices play an important role in the life of a diabetic. With smart and simple diet, one can effectively control diabetes.

The latest fad, green tea, which is considered for diabetics is just a myth, as it neither leads to insulin secretion nor lowers the blood sugar level. Turmeric, on the other hand, was found to be a wonder spice.

Dr Geeti Puri Arora from Deep Hospital, who is pursuing her research on diabetes, studied the effects of turmeric, cinnamon and green tea on glycaemic (blood sugar) control. This was performed at CRC (Clinical Research Centre).

“Simple diets are being investigated if they have some role to play in influencing blood glucose level and indirectly fat metabolism,” said Dr Geeti.

Green tea increases satiety and feeling of fullness with participants showing no response or change in blood sugar or insulin levels after they had taken tea, Dr Geeti said.

“People blindly follow the trend. Green tea is a fad among diabetics these days and those who want to lose weight. A lot of patients come and want us to recommend green tea as it helps in controlling sugar level, but this is just a myth. During research it was found that green tea satisfies the hunger urge only and has nothing to do with controlling sugar level,” she said.

Contrary to this, turmeric had a wonderful effect on diabetic patients. “Turmeric has effect on insulin secretion, increasing it (after ingestion with meals) resulting in optimal sugar level,” she said.

During research it was found that ingestion of 6 gm cassia cinnamon twice a day for 12 weeks revealed no significant effect on insulin secretion or glucose level.

Cardiovascular (heart) disease, stroke (paralysis), peripheral vascular disease (diabetic foot etc.) are the most common causes of morbidity (disability) and mortality (death) among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

“Lifestyle factors such as calorie over consumption and decreased physical activity are causing obesity leading to exponential increase in T2DM. Over the past three decades, prevalence of diabetes worldwide has more than doubled. It has been estimated that the number of people with diabetes worldwide will rise from 415 million in 2015 to 642 million or more by 2040,” she said.

Patients should identify food that can reduce blood glucose and affect insulin secretion and increase satiety can help in the prevention of diabetes and being overweight, she said.