Nuts May Help Lower Blood Sugar

Eating more tree nuts may help with diabetes control, a new review of research suggests. The study combined results from 12 previous studies. In those studies, people with type 2 diabetes were randomly divided into groups. One group ate more tree nuts and the other group did not. Both diets were equal in calories. On average, the amount of nuts added was 56 grams (about one-half cup). Usually, just one type of nuts was used. Tree nuts do not include peanuts. The studies were mostly short-term. On average, people who ate more nuts ended up with fasting glucose levels 2.7 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) lower than those on the other diets. The average hemoglobin A1C level was 0.07% lower for nut eaters. A1C measures blood-sugar control over about 3 months. The studies that showed the greatest reductions in blood sugar added nuts to replace some carbohydrates in the diet.