Research Summary

Analyzed using Evidence Intelligence™

Low-GI Diet Improves Glycemic Control in High-Risk Adults

Last updated September 9, 2026

Key finding

Individuals in cluster A had, in general, a lower peak in plasma glucose response.

This study identified differential glycemic responders among adults at elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes through a randomized controlled trial comparing high and low-glycemic index diets.

Quick read

Study at a glance

The essential study design details in one scan.

EvidenceScore™

Moderate

Study type

RCTs

Follow-up

Medium-Term (3–12 mo)

Risk of bias

Some Concerns

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Plain-language summary

What this paper says

A plain-language read of the study’s main message and where it applies.

Study focus

This study identified differential glycemic responders among adults at elevated risk of Type 2 diabetes through a randomized controlled trial comparing high and low-glycemic index diets.

Clinical relevance

Understanding how different diets affect glycemic responses can help tailor dietary recommendations for individuals at risk of Type 2 diabetes, potentially improving their metabolic health and reducing diabetes incidence.

Keep in mind

The effectiveness of the interventions remains unclear due to limited data. The study may not be generalizable to all populations at risk for Type 2 diabetes. Sample size and duration of the study could limit the robustness of the findings.

Published in

Journal Reference

Publication details and source links for this paper.

Viktor S, Therese H, Mikael W, et al. Identification of Differential Glycemic Responders in Adults at Elevated Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Nutrients. 2023;15(20):4369. doi:10.3390/nu15204369

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Main Effects

Cluster A individuals showed a decrease in plasma glucose response by -0.5 mg/dL (p=0.01).

Cluster A was associated with a decrease in HbA1c by -0.3% (p=0.005).

Cluster A demonstrated an increase in insulin sensitivity by 0.4 units (p=0.002).

Evidence network

How this study fits

Understand where this research contributes within the broader evidence network.

Evidence Context

This study contributes evidence to High-Glycemic Index Diet, Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) and Blood glucose, HbA1c, Insulin sensitivity, and 1 more.

This study contributes evidence to

Intervention

High-Glycemic Index Diet

Outcome

Blood glucose

Evidence topic

Dietary Patterns

Primary intervention

High-Glycemic Index Diet

Primary outcomes

Blood glucose
HbA1c
Insulin sensitivity

Evidence topics

Dietary Patterns Fasting Blood Glucose Glycemic Control HbA1c Reduction

Primary intervention

High-Glycemic Index Diet

Primary outcomes

Blood glucose HbA1c Insulin sensitivity

Evidence relationships

Intervention and outcome relationships this study adds to the evidence network.

Evidence pairs

Relationships

Evidence topics

contributes_evidence

Editorial context

Why this study matters

See why this paper is useful beyond its individual results.

Evidence network role

This section describes how the study fits into the current evidence network. It does not determine whether an intervention works on its own.

Moderate contributionModerate confidenceNetwork score: 68

Why it is useful

Contributes to 8 evidence relationships
Includes primary outcome data
Linked to 4 direct semantic evidence topics

Topic contributions

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

Evidence topic

Contributes evidence

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Primary evidence

Evidence relationship

Glycemic Control Treatments and HbA1c

Related evidence

Evidence relationship

Glycemic Control Treatments and Fasting Glucose

Save evidence

Evidence relationship

Glycemic Control Treatments and Insulin Resistance

Save evidence

Core evidence

Study findings

The primary outcomes reported in this study.

Blood glucose

High-Glycemic Index Diet → Blood glucose

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

High-Glycemic Index Diet → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Insulin sensitivity

High-Glycemic Index Diet → Insulin sensitivity

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Plasma Glucose Response Cluster B

High-Glycemic Index Diet → Plasma Glucose Response Cluster B

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Blood glucose

Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) → Blood glucose

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

HbA1c

Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) → HbA1c

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Strong; Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 3 studies

Add to Evidence Tracker

Insulin sensitivity

Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) → Insulin sensitivity

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Plasma Glucose Response Cluster B

Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) → Plasma Glucose Response Cluster B

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 50; Neutral
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

Add to Evidence Tracker

Evidence Library

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Evidence Suggest

Low-glycemic index diet led to a significant decrease in HbA1c by -0.3% (p=0.005).
Plasma glucose response decreased by -0.5 mg/dL in Cluster A (p=0.01).
Insulin sensitivity increased by 0.4 units in Cluster A (p=0.002).

Who this applies to

Adults at elevated risk for Type 2 diabetes.
Individuals with varying responses to dietary glycemic index.

Keep in Mind

Results may not apply to individuals without elevated diabetes risk.
Further research is needed to confirm findings across diverse populations.
The study's short duration may not capture long-term dietary effects.

Between the Lines

The effectiveness of the interventions remains unclear due to limited data.
The study may not be generalizable to all populations at risk for Type 2 diabetes.
Sample size and duration of the study could limit the robustness of the findings.

Evidence Library

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Connected Evidence

Explore related studies, evidence collections, and research questions.

Relationships organized using the Dediabetes Evidence Intelligence™ framework.

This study contributes to evidence on Glycemic Control Treatments and HbA1c, High-Glycemic Index Diet and Fasting Glucose.

Related evidence relationships

Explore in Evidence Explorer

This study contributes to the evidence on the following intervention-outcome relationships.

Diet and Nutrition

Detailed evidence

Glycemic Control Treatments → HbA1c

Diet and Nutrition

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Strong; Score 79 · Based on 3 studies
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: 100; consistent

Based on 3 studies

View evidence

Behavioral & Lifestyle

Detailed evidence

High-Glycemic Index Diet → Fasting Glucose

Behavioral & Lifestyle

Evidence Intelligence™

EvidenceScore™: Emerging; Score 59 · Based on 1 study
ImpactScore™: 100; Very Positive
ConsistencyScore™: unclear; Not enough independent studies

Based on 1 study

View evidence

Included in these evidence collections

Curated evidence collections and hubs this study is part of.

Glycemic Control Treatments Evidence Hub

All studies on Glycemic Control Treatments

3 studies

intervention_hub

Contributes to Glycemic Control Treatments evidence base.

HbA1c Evidence Hub

All studies measuring HbA1c

3 studies

outcome_hub

Measures HbA1c as a key outcome.

Fasting Glucose Evidence Hub

All studies measuring Fasting Glucose

1 studies

outcome_hub

Measures Fasting Glucose as a key outcome.

High-Glycemic Index Diet Evidence Hub

All studies on High-Glycemic Index Diet

1 studies

intervention_hub

Contributes to High-Glycemic Index Diet evidence base.

Explore more in Evidence Explorer

Jump to pre-filtered views in Evidence Explorer.

All studies on Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) and HbA1c

Intervention: Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT)Outcome: HbA1c

3 results

All studies on High-Glycemic Index Diet and Blood glucose

Intervention: High-Glycemic Index DietOutcome: Blood glucose

1 results

All studies on Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT)

Intervention: Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT)

3 results

All studies on High-Glycemic Index Diet

Intervention: High-Glycemic Index Diet

1 results

All studies measuring HbA1c

Outcome: HbA1c

3 results

Questions answered by this study

Generated from the study's connected evidence using Evidence Intelligence™.

Does Glycemic Control Treatments lower HbA1c?

Strong Evidence

Glycemic Control Treatments appears to lower HbA1c.

ConsistencyScore™: Results are consistent across studies.

Ranked evidence signals

1
HbA1c
EvidenceScore™ Strong | EvidenceScore™ 79.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Consistent | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on 4 supporting studies with consistent results and a positive effect signal.

View Full Evidence

Does Glycemic Control Treatments improve fasting glucose?

Emerging Evidence

Glycemic Control Treatments appears to improve fasting glucose.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Blood glucose
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

Only one supporting study is available.

View Full Evidence

Does Glycemic Control Treatments improve insulin resistance?

Emerging Evidence

Glycemic Control Treatments appears to improve insulin resistance.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Insulin sensitivity
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

Only one supporting study is available.

View Full Evidence

Does High-Glycemic Index Diet improve blood glucose?

Emerging Evidence

High-Glycemic Index Diet appears to improve blood glucose.

ConsistencyScore™: Consistency cannot yet be determined from the available evidence.

Ranked evidence signals

1
Blood glucose
EvidenceScore™ Emerging | EvidenceScore™ 59.0 | strong positive | ConsistencyScore™ Unclear | 1 study

Why this answer: This answer is based on a single supporting study.

Limitations

Only one supporting study is available.

View Full Evidence

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Next steps

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Evidence topics

Follow the topics this study contributes to.

Dietary Patterns Evidence Hub Fasting Blood Glucose Evidence Hub Glycemic Control Evidence Hub HbA1c Reduction Evidence Hub

Explore in Evidence Explorer

Open broader Evidence Explorer views for this relationship.

All studies on Low glycemic index treatment (LGIT) and HbA1c All studies on High-Glycemic Index Diet and Blood glucose All studies on High-Glycemic Index Diet and HbA1c All studies on High-Glycemic Index Diet and Insulin sensitivity

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