Help fight the rise of T2D with healthy dairy products

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise globally

World Health Organization (WHO) states that the number of people suffering from diabetes has almost quadrupled in the past 40 years — it currently affects around 422 million people worldwide. Of these people, more than 95% have type 2 diabetes, which is largely considered to be the result of excess body weight and physical inactivity.

There is a globally agreed target to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025. One way to help curb its prevalence is by developing healthy and delicious options for people struggling with the disease and its underlying causes.

Research shows dairy products can help fight type 2 diabetes

Epidemiological studies, such as those carried out by Drouin-Chartier et al *1 and Tian et al *2, have shown that there is an inverse correlation between type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk and total dairy, low-fat dairy, and yoghurt consumption.

Furthermore, Gijsbers et al *3 suggest that each added 200 grams per day serving of total dairy is associated with a 3% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

“There are several plausible biological mechanisms through which milk products may play a role in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Anu Turpeinen, Nutrition Research Manager at Valio.

Studies have indicated these mechanisms may play a part:

• Milk products help in weight management and reduce the risk of developing metabolic syndrome, which is major risk factors for type 2 diabetes (Bjørnshave & Hermansen 2014 *4, Kim & Je 2016 *5).
• Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes through their role in modulating insulin resistance, pancreatic beta-cell function, and/or inflammation (Pittas et al 2007 *6, Hirahatake et al 2014 *7).
• Bioactive milk peptides, derived from casein and whey proteins, have been shown to have antihypertensive effects (Siltari et al 2019 *8). Hypertension is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
• Milk protein, especially whey protein, may promote insulin sensitivity, improve glucose tolerance and lipid profile, and help in weight control (Turner et al 2015 *9, Bjørnshave & Hermansen 2014 *4).

“It should also be noted that the glycemic index (GI) of unsweetened dairy products, including lactose-free dairy, is low (30–40). This makes them an ideal source of valuable nutrients for diabetics,” says Dr. Turpeinen.

Valio Eila™ milk powders are well-suited for diabetic nutrition and make product development easy

Along with being healthy and nutritious, a product made for diabetics should also taste good. That is where Valio Eila™ lactose free milk powders come in. Our line of specialty milk powders can be used in various applications to provide a smooth and creamy texture while boosting the levels of protein, vitamins, and minerals in the product.

Valio Eila™ milk powders are especially well-suited for diabetic nutrition because of their low carbohydrate and high protein levels, which can help in maintaining a healthy diet.

The reduced sugar, increased protein, enhanced flavour, and added digestive wellness benefits of Valio Eila™ can help you overcome your new product formulation challenges and replace standard fresh milk or milk powder in recipes. Keep your ingredient lists short and simple!