The folks at Harvard Medical School just released a new report titled, “Healthy Eating for Type 2 Diabetes.” One conclusion from the report? In various research studies, both men and women who ate the most whole grains had a roughly 40 percent lower risk of diabetes than those who ate the least whole grains, or none at all. “Soluble fiber in particular appears to improve both blood sugar and insuln sensitivity, and high-fiber diets may even lower the need for insulin,”states the report.

According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million Americans, or 7.8% of the population, have diabetes – nearly one quarter of whom have not yet been diagnosed. People with diabetes often face daily injections of insulin to keep their disease under control, and complications of this serious disease can involve blindness and amputation of limbs.

Although the focus of the Harvard report was on how food choices and weight control can manage and “even prevent” diabetes, the report’s authors stressed that there is no specific ‘diabetes diet;’ all of us, whether diabetic or not, should enjoy a rich variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. The full report is available for $18 on the Harvard Medical School website.

Yet another reason to celebrate Whole Grains Month during September. Enjoy the recipes and product lists on the WGC website to help get more whole grains in your meals and snacks.(Cindy)