Can Grapes Combat ‘Diabesity’?

When it comes to controlling diabetes, the mention of grapes may seem surprising, as these crisp berries are relatively high in fructose, and eating too many of them may cause a diabetic’s blood sugar to elevate. However, new research has found that the skins of grapes hold promise in fighting this increasingly common illness.

Additionally, earlier research has found that a diet rich in grapes may aid in preventing the onset of type 2 diabetes, the most prevalent form of diabetes in America.

Researchers at Wayne State University recently received a grant from the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine for their study, which has found that grape skin extract may work to inhibit postprandial hyperglycemia (after-meal high blood sugar).

If a person’s blood sugar is consistently high after meals, it is seen as a significant risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes. If a person who already has diabetes consistently experiences postprandial hyperglycemia, it can lead to blood vessel and nerve damage, as well as other complications, including organ damage.

Dr. Kequan Zhou, the lead investigator of the study, states, “it is hopeful that our research may eventually lead to the successful development of a safe, targeted nutritional intervention to support diabetes prevention and treatment.”

As far as diabetes prevention, grapes have been previously implicated in playing a potentially important role. A large-scale 2013 study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) analyzed three sizable health surveys averaging about 20 years in length, which consisted of a total of 187,382 individuals. Participants’ dietary habits were charted, and chronic diseases that they developed over the years were noted.

Results of the analysis showed that eating three or more weekly servings of grapes, raisins, blueberries, apples or pears correlated with a seven percent lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While this study does not single out grapes specifically, they were one of the fruits that was shown to have the diabetes risk-lowering effect.

Currently, nearly 30 million Americans are living with some form of diabetes. While much more research still needs to be done on how grapes can help, these delicious little fruits show notable potential in naturally mitigating this disease.

-The Alternative Daily

Sources:
http://research.wayne.edu/communications/news-release.php?id=429
http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/diabetes-hyperglycemia
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/265410.php
http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f5001