Personalized ​Blood Sugar Control: key to Diabetes ⁢Prevention

Updated June ⁤12, 2025
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Individual responses to carbohydrates considerably affect​ blood sugar levels, depending on a person’s metabolic health, Stanford Medicine researchers found. The study, published ⁣in Nature, links these ‍variations‍ to conditions like insulin resistance and beta-cell dysfunction, both indicators of diabetes.

Postprandial glycemic responses (PPGRs), or glucose fluctuations after meals, reflect‍ the body’s reaction to carbohydrates and⁣ relate closely to beta cell function. Elevated⁤ PPGRs are associated ⁣with prediabetes and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes⁣ (T2D). However, a extensive understanding of glucose dysregulation‍ via ‌PPGRs remains⁢ limited due to factors‌ like insulin resistance and secretion.

Researchers examined PPGRs and their connections to metabolic subtypes and omics profiles by studying responses⁣ to standardized carbohydrate meals, including a rice meal, in⁢ individuals with ⁣detailed ⁤metabolic assessments.

Michael ⁣Snyder, PhD, ​professor of genetics at ⁢Stanford, noted the current American Diabetes Association dietary guidelines may not ‍be effective because they treat everyone the same. He added that the study suggests subtypes exist within‍ prediabetes, and these subtypes could determine optimal food choices.

The ⁢study involved 55 individuals ⁣without T2D, who underwent ‌metabolic testing for insulin resistance and beta cell‍ dysfunction, along with multi-omics profiling. These‍ tests included triglyceride levels, blood ‍metabolites, liver function⁤ measures, and gut microbiome data. Results showed 26 of the 55 individuals had⁤ prediabetes.

Participants wore continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) ⁣at home and consumed pre-portioned​ foods, including jasmine rice, buttered‌ bread, shredded potato, pasta, canned black ⁣beans, ‌grapes, and a berry mix.each carbohydrate​ was consumed twice in the morning⁢ after a 10- to 12-hour fast,with blood ‌sugar responses ​monitored for‍ three ‍hours post-consumption.

Those with insulin resistance experienced the highest blood sugar spikes after eating pasta, while potatoes caused the greatest spikes⁢ in individuals with either insulin resistance or beta cell dysfunction. Multi-omics analysis revealed that potato-sensitive individuals also had elevated triglyceride and fatty acid levels, consistent with insulin resistance. Conversely, beans triggered blood sugar spikes linked with histidine and keto metabolism, indicating fat‍ utilization for energy.

The study also found that elevated blood sugar‌ after ‍bread consumption correlated with a higher likelihood of hypertension. The differing glucose responses between ‌potatoes and grapes were associated‌ with insulin resistance, perhaps serving ‍as a future biomarker.

“Such a biomarker ⁢would be‌ useful as insulin resistance is amenable ‌to⁣ lifestyle and medication interventions that can reduce risk for diabetes‌ in high-risk individuals.At present there is⁢ no easy way to diagnose ⁢it in the clinic,”

Tracey McLaughlin, MD, professor of endocrinology and co-lead study author

The findings suggest that understanding personalized blood sugar responses could aid more tailored prevention​ and treatment‌ approaches ⁢for prediabetes and diabetes, improving personalized blood sugar control.

“eating carbohydrates later in a meal​ is still a good‌ idea even though it has not yet been sorted out whether it is⁤ best to eat protein, fat, or fiber before carbohydrates,”

Snyder said

What’s next

Future research will ⁣focus on refining personalized dietary ⁣recommendations based on⁢ individual metabolic profiles to optimize ⁢blood sugar control and prevent the progression ⁢to type 2 ‌diabetes.