Blood glucose responses to traditional south asian vegetable dishes in normal and diabetic human subjects

The glycaemic responses of local South Asian vegetables including Sagh (B. juncea), Phool Ghobi (B. oleraceae), Band-ghobi (B. oleraceae) and Methi (T. foenum- graecum), incorporated into mixed meals and served with chapati as traditionally eaten in the country were studied in 8 normal and 8 type 2 diabetic subjects. Subjects were given a 50g carbohydrate portion of the different test meals in random order after an overnight fast. Taking the response of chapati plus egg as 100%, the relative glycaemic responses of the meals containing sagh, phool ghobi, band-ghobi and methi, respectively, were 69 +/- 6%, 51 +/- 6%, 103 +/- 14% and 29 +/- 7% in the normal and 44 +/- 4%, 36 +/- 4%, 94 +/- 8% and 25 +/- 5%, the diabetic subjects. The difference in response from chapati plus egg was statistically significant (p < 0.001) for sagh, phool ghobi and methi in both groups of subjects. Therefore, it is concluded that traditional South Asian vegetable meals tested may be of use in the dietary management of diabetes.