Effect of 'FenuflakesTM' on 24-hour glycemic variability in adults with type 2 diabetes: A randomized crossover continuous glucose monitoring study.

Background and objectives: Evidence suggests that bioactive components present in plant foods have beneficial effects. Fenugreek is commonly used in Indian culinary practices and can help to keep blood sugar levels under control. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of defatted fenugreek seed flakes (FenuflakesTM) on the 24-hour glycaemic response (Incremental Area Under the Curve, iAUC), variability (Mean Amplitude Glycaemic Excursion assessed by Continuous Glucose Monitoring system) in participants with type 2 diabetes.

Methods and study design: Twenty-one type 2 diabetes participants, aged 42 to 50 years, were provided with 5-day cyclic iso-caloric diets for 14 days without (control diet) and with 30 g of FenuflakesTM (test diet) in a randomized crossover trial. The Abbott Pro sensor recorded interstitial glucose concentration every 15 minutes consecutively for 14 days in the participants. Additionally, fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were assessed at the baseline and end of the study.

Results: 15 out of 21 participants completed the randomized control and test diet feeding periods as per protocol. There was a significant reduction in 24-hour iAUC (p=0.02) and mean amplitude glycemic excursions (p=0.006) in the test diet as compared to control diet. Furthermore, within the test diet, there was a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c (p<0.05) at the end of the 14-day intervention period.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the inclusion of FenuflakesTM, into regular dietary practices may effectively reduce glucose levels and enhance glycemic control in Asian Indian adults with type 2 diabetes.