The Application of the Glycemic Index to the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus in the Elderly

Abstract

For the application of the glycemic index (GI) to the therapy of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the elderly, effects of aging and foods were studied in 3 groups of subjects, conducting 3 oral tests of equal calories, namely, glucose, white bread (high-GI meal) and kidney beans (low-GI meal). Group I: healthy adults (N=7), Group II: elderly non-DM (N=7), Group III: elderly DM (N=7). No significant changes with age could be found in blood glucose or GI. However, ingestion of a low-GI meal revealed excellent inhibitory effects upon postprandial glycemic elevation in the elderly diabetics. This implies the clinical usefulness of a low-GI meal (beans) for postprandial glycemic regulation in elderly diabetes mellitus.