Utilizing the Second-Meal Effect in Type 2 Diabetes: Practical Use of a Soya-Yogurt Snack

OBJECTIVE - To evaluate the effect of a prebreakfast high protein snack upon postbreakfast hyperglycemia RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - We studied 10 men and women with diet-and/or metformin controlled type 2 diabetes Metabolic changes after breakfast were compared between 2 days breakfast taken only and soya yogurt snack taken prior to breakfast RESULTS - There was a significant lower rise in plasma glucose on the snack day The incremental area under the glucose curve was 450 +/- 55 mmol min/l on the snack day compared with 699 99 mmol min/l on the control day (P = 0 013) The concentration of plasma free fatty acids immediately before breakfast correlated with the increment in plasma glucose (r = 0 50 P = 0 013) CONCLUSIONS - Consuming a high-protein prebreakfast snack results in almost 40% reduction of postprandial glucose increment The second meal effect can be applied simply and practically to improve postbreakfast hyperglycemia in people with type 2 diabetes