Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 5.1 Diabetes-related complications (
Diabetes Atlas, 2012
)
Complication
Organ affected
Retinopathy
Eyes
Cerebrovascular diseases
Brain
Coronary heart diseases
Heart
Nephropathy
Kidney
Neuropathy
Nerves
Peripheral vascular disease
Limbs
Amputation
Lower limbs
Not only is the maintenance of normal fasting blood glucose important
for the prevention of diabetes, but postprandial blood glucose monitoring is
also important to prevent the microvascular complications arising due to dia-
betes. The WHO defines normal postprandial glucose tolerance as indicated
by
<
7.8 mmol/l after 2 h following a 75-g glucose load in an oral glucose
tolerance test (
World Health Organization, 2006
)
. Postprandial hyperglyce-
mia is also a cause for oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction as shown
by many studies (
Ceriello et al., 2004; Kawano et al., 1999
)
.
2. MAINTAINING NORMAL BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS:
THE ROLE OF FOOD
Food plays an important role in the management of blood glucose in
diabetes and associated complications. Carbohydrates are an integral part of
our diet and it is recommended that they form one third of our daily diet.
The blood glucose levels after consumption of different types of carbohy-
drates may vary and this can potentially have an impact on the development
of many chronic diseases in the present-day world. Increase in plasma glu-
cose is linked to cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes along with other
complications associated with it mediated by high insulin levels, high gly-
cated hemoglobin, increased plasma triacylglycerols, endothelial dysfunc-
tion, and oxidative stress (
Riccardi, Rivellese, & Giacco, 2008
)
. Research
has shown that not only is the quantity of carbohydrates important, but their
quality is also equally important in maintaining optimal glucose levels. Both
