A recent study highlights the importance of understanding individual blood sugar responses to meals, emphasizing the need for personalized nutrition apps that utilize continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). The study found that there are two types of responders to meals – high-responders and low-responders. High-responders experience sustained glucose peaks over longer periods of time, particularly when meals have carbohydrate contents exceeding 50%.
The researchers state, “To improve glycaemic variability and control, it is crucial to understand the glycaemic response to carbohydrate-rich meals and adopt a meal-based approach when planning diets.”
Glucose Control and Health​
Maintaining normal blood glucose levels is essential for overall health and can prevent metabolic diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Postprandial hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar after meals, has also been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Traditionally, the glycemic index (GI) has been used to predict postprandial glucose responses. However, this study emphasizes the limitations of GI, particularly for mixed meals where individualized responses can vary.
CGMs have revolutionized the evaluation of glycaemic variability and have shown that individuals have different responses to the same meals. This study aimed to investigate individual blood sugar responses to meals with varying carbohydrate contents using CGMs.
Study Specifics​
The study involved 34 healthy Korean adults connected to CGMs for two weeks. Participants consumed four different meals with varying carbohydrate contents, including a rice-based dish, a ham and cheese sandwich, a chicken and vegetable salad, and a fruit bowl. The researchers measured blood glucose levels at regular intervals for two hours after each meal.
The results revealed two distinct response groups: high-responders and low-responders. High-responders experienced sustained glucose peaks over a longer duration, particularly with meals containing over 50% carbohydrates. Interestingly, there was no correlation between glycaemic variability and control for the meal with less than 45% carbohydrates.
Implications​
This study emphasizes the significant individual differences in blood sugar responses to meals and highlights the benefits of using CGMs to understand these responses. Not everyone needs to replace high-GI foods with low-GI alternatives; it’s important to identify high-responders who may benefit from personalized dietary approaches. The researchers suggest that a meal-based approach, rather than a focus on individual food items, is crucial for individualized diets.
Further research with a larger and more representative sample is needed to validate these findings.
Source: Nutrients
“Individual Postprandial Glycemic Responses to Meal Types by Different Carbohydrate Levels and Their Associations with Glycemic Variability Using Continuous Glucose Monitoring” by Jiwoo Song, Tae Jung Oh, and YoonJu Song
