For immediate release Wednesday 11^th June 2008

Can getting your oats help in the treatment of diabetes?

Call for volunteers for new study at Aberdeen’s Rowett Institute

A new study is aiming to find out whether a diet rich in oats can help people with diabetes to better control their blood sugar levels after a meal. It is hoped that the work will develop new dietary strategies which could delay the need for people with type 2 diabetes to start taking tablets or insulin to control their blood sugar. The study will start in Aberdeen at the Rowett Research Institute and is seeking fifteen volunteers with type 2 diabetes controlled by diet alone, and who are also not taking aspirin or statins, to join the project.

Dr Susan McGeoch who is leading the study said: “People with type 2 diabetes have a higher rise in their blood sugar levels following a meal than someone without diabetes. This rise in blood glucose seems to be associated with an increase in the levels of inflammation in the body, and it is thought that this rise in inflammation can lead to an increased risk for some of the complications of diabetes such as heart attacks and strokes. We know that different foods produce different changes in the blood glucose following a meal and we aim to find out whether an oat rich diet can lead to better controlled levels of blood glucose following a meal, and also whether this is linked to improvement in the levels of inflammation.“

People who volunteer to take part in this study will follow a healthy diet at home for 8 weeks followed by the oat-based diet for another 8 weeks. They will be required to attend the Human Nutrition Unit at the Rowett Institute on several occasions. While on the oat diet all the oat products will be provided, along with instructions as to how to include them into the diet.

The study is being undertaken in the North of Scotland by UHI Millennium Institute and involves scientists at Aberdeen’s Rowett Research Institute in collaboration with the Departments of Diabetes, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and Raigmore Hospital, Inverness.

Dr McGeoch would like to hear from anyone who has type 2 diabetes and is not on tablets or insulin to control the blood sugar levels and is not on aspirin or statins to control cholesterol. Please contact Susan on 01224 712751 ext 2331 or e-mail scm@rowett.ac.uk.

ENDS

Dr McGeoch is available for interview, please contact her on 01224 712751 ext 2331 or Sue Bird, 01224 716668, 07711 093417, to arrange an interview.

The Rowett Research Institute, ABERDEEN, AB21 9SB, is an internationally recognised centre of excellence for nutrition research. We undertake research to improve food quality and prevent disease. Further information available at www.rowett.ac.uk

The Rowett Research Institute is sponsored by The Scottish Government - RERAD (www.scotland.gov.uk).