Eat more slowly or risk diabetes, a new study warns

Fast eaters may have a higher risk of developing the most common form of diabetes, writes Roger Dobson.

People who eat food quickly are twice as likely to develop impaired glucose tolerance, known as pre-diabetes, according to a new study. The increase was not seen in people with other eating patterns, including snacking and late-night eating.

In the UK, 2.8 million people are thought to have undiagnosed type 2, where not enough insulin – which converts blood glucose into energy in cells – is produced for the body to function properly.

In those with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), blood glucose levels are higher than usual, but not high enough to cause diabetes.

It can progress to type 2 diabetes if preventative steps are not taken. Forty to 50 per cent of people with IGT will develop type 2 diabetes within ten years.

In the Japanese study – after taking into account weight, sex, age, family history of diabetes, smoking and alcohol intake, blood pressure and cholesterol – fast eating was the only pattern that significantly increased the risk for development of IGT.

Who Should Check?

Experts feel that anyone with diabetes can benefit from checking their blood glucose. The American Diabetes Association recommends blood glucose checks if you have diabetes and are:

* taking insulin or diabetes pills
* on intensive insulin therapy
* pregnant
* having a hard time controlling your blood glucose levels
* having severe low blood glucose levels or ketones from high blood glucose levels
* having low blood glucose levels without the usual warning signs

One theory is that eating quickly increases postprandial blood glucose, the amount of sugar in the blood soon after eating.

Test procedures Most diabetes tests require blood samples. Generally, a band is tightened around your upper arm to slow blood flow and cause the veins below the band to stand out. The intended needle site is swabbed with alcohol. The hypodermic needle is inserted into the vein and the blood is directed into a collection tube. The band may be removed from your arm while the blood is being taken.

You may need more than one collection tube, depending on the test. After the blood is taken, you are asked to press a cotton ball or gauze against the injection site. Once bleeding has stopped, the injection site is covered with a sticking plaster.

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By Roger Dobson