Singapore, Jan 12, 2009: A clinical trial, first of its kind in China, shows that a structured and integrated intervention program, including nutritional supplement Glucerna SR, dietary and nutrition modification, blood glucose monitoring and diabetes education, significantly lowers key metabolic markers (blood glucose levels, blood pressure, weight and waist circumference) in over weight Chinese diabetic patients.    

 

The results of the clinical trial, sponsored by Abbott Nutrition, the manufacturer of Glucerna SR, were published in the Asia pacific journal of clinical nutrition.

 

Dr Sun Jianqin, profession of nutrition and director of clinic, nutrition center, Huadong hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China and key investigator of the trial said, “Rice is the main carbohydrate contributing food in China and Asia, and the clinical trial is the first of its kind investigating structured and integrated intervention vs common diabetes education in patients taking rice based diets. Previous studies were carried out mainly in countries in which diabetes follow traditional western diets.”

 

Dr Sun further said, “ We now have clinical evidence to affirm intervention, Glucerna SR helps to lower key metabolic markers in overweight Chinese diabetic patients. This is significant as the integrated intervention is a tool to help patients manage the disease and many benefit the huge number diabetic patients in Asia, who are not managing their disease effectively.”

 

The results of the clinical trial show that 22% of the patients in the intervention group cut their drug doses because they had reduced their blood glucose levels. The results indicate the value of nutritional supplement in helping to reduce key metabolic markers to decrease and delay the complications of diabetes.        

 

Dr Kevin Tan, vice president, Diabetic Society of  Singapore said, “ Around 55.2% of the diabetic patients in Singapore are unable to manage their blood glucose levels and blood pressure, lessen their weight and waist circumference because of diet, lifestyle or medications, placing them at risk of heart disease, kidney failure, blindness and amputations.”

 

150 overweight diabetic patients from Shanghai participated in the 6 months trial. It was first clinical trial to evaluate a structured and integrated intervention program, including supplement Glucerna SR, dietary and nutrition modification, blood glucose monitoring and diabetes education in managing diabetes. 50 patients in the control group received common diabetes education only.

 

Patients between the age group of 18-70 years, with a body mass index of greater than 23 kg/sqm and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and were not participating in any other disease management or intervention program were participated in the clinical trial.