Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in those with type 2 diabetes, therefore strategies to reduce CVD risk in this population are urgently needed. Since one of the main targets of medications for diabetes and CVD has been blood glucose control, it is of immense interest to address dietary carbohydrate intake, in particular in relation to the quality of carbohydrate (i.e. glycemic index (GI)) and resulting post-meal blood glucose levels. A low GI diet was demonstrated in our CIHR-funded study in type 2 diabetes to reduce blood sugar, as well as to improve blood cholesterol, and with the added emphasis on legumes (dried peas, beans, lentils), to significantly reduce blood pressure, and lower CVD risk. Low GI diets by their nature lower post-meal blood glucose levels, similar to the diabetic drug Acarbose, which has been demonstrated to significantly reduce risk of CVD and blood pressure and have beneficial effects on kidney health. Therefore, to directly determine the effects of diet on complications of the large vessels in the body (CVD), we are currently conducting a CIHR funded 3-year controlled parallel study, where 169 participants with type 2 diabetes have been randomized to either low GI or high-cereal fibre food diets. MRI and 3-D ultrasound scans of the arteries in the neck are taken for assessment of disease of the large vessels. These measures will be assessed in relation to dietary factors, as well as to measures of disease in the smaller vessels including eye and kidney health.These measures will also be assessed in relation to risk factors for CVD, including blood sugars, blood cholesterol and blood pressure. The objective is to determine the effect of GI, in addition to other dietary factors in type 2 diabetes, on complications of large vessels, as well as to relate these to changes in the complications in smaller vessels and risk factors for CVD in an effort to offer comprehensive treatment strategies for diabetes.