Diabetes is a medical condition in which the body does not utilize insulin, the hormone responsible for regulating blood sugar, efficiently. In Type 1 diabetics, the body does not produce insulin, whereas in Type 2 diabetes the body does not produce enough insulin or cells become resistant to insulin. This in turn leads to chronic high blood sugar levels that increase the risk for stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and obesity. Research suggests that consuming walnuts might have beneficial effects on diabetes.
Blood Vessel Function
In research reported in the November 2009 issue of "Diabetes Care," researchers from the Yale University School of Medicine explored the effects of walnut consumption on blood vessel function in Type 2 diabetics. Patients followed a diet with or without 56 g of walnuts for eight weeks. Scientists found that the walnut group experienced improvements in function of blood vessel lining compared to the non walnut group.
Fasting Insulin Levels
Scientists from the University of Wollongong in Australia examined the long-term effects on metabolic parameters, such as fasting insulin levels, in Type 2 diabetics. They reported in the August 2009 issue of the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition," that patients consuming 30 g of walnuts for one year significantly reduced their fasting insulin levels compared to those not consuming walnuts.
Blood Lipid Profile
Lipid profile refers to the ratio of high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol to low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol. Improving your blood lipid profile reduces the risk for heart disease. University of Wollongong researchers investigated the impact of walnut consumption on blood lipid profiles in Type 2 diabetics. Patients were assigned to one of the following groups: low-fat diet; modified low-fat diet; or modified low-fat diet with 30 g of walnuts. At the end of the six-month study, scientists observed that the walnut group improved their lipid profile compared to the other groups, according to research published in the December 2004 "Diabetes Care."
Diabetic Neuropathy
Walnuts are a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, a healthy omega-3 fatty acid that might improve diabetic neuropathy, a complication of diabetes that results in damaged nerves. In one study, patients with diabetic neuropathy were given varying amounts of ALA over five weeks, while another group took a placebo. The results, published in the November 2006 issue of the journal "Diabetes Care," showed that all ALA groups experienced improvements in diabetic neuropathy symptoms compared to the placebo group. Researchers suggest that 600 mg of ALA seems to be the optimal dose. According to the California Walnuts website, 1 oz. of walnuts contains approximately 2.5 g of ALA.
References
- Nutra Ingredients: Walnut-Rich Diet May Boost Diabetic Heart Health
- European Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Long Term Effects of Increased Dietary Polyunsaturated Fat From Walnuts on metabolic Parameters; L.C. Tapsell et al.; August 2009
- "Diabetes Care"; Including Walnuts in a Low-Fat/Modified-Fat Diet Improves HDL Cholesterol-to-Total Cholesterol Ratios in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes; L.C. Tapsell et al.; December 2004
- "Diabetes Care"; Oral Treatment with Alpha-Lipoic Acid Improves Symptomatic Diabetic Polyneuropathy: the SYDNEY 2 Trial; D. Ziegler et al.; November 2006
- California Walnuts: Walnut FAQs
