Diabetes is a term that is used to describe symptoms involved with various degrees and forms of insulin resistance. There are two types of diabetes -Type 1 and Type II. Type 1 diabetes occurs most often in children or young adults and accounts for 5-10% of the diagnosed diabetes patient population. There are currently more than 194 million people with diabetes worldwide and at least 50% of all people with diabetes are unaware of their condition. By 2025, it is estimated that this number will rise to over 300 million.

Globally, the U.S. has the highest prevalence of diabetes. The number of Americans with diabetes had risen to 18.2 million in 2003 and those with metabolic syndrome (obesity, CVD and/or diabetes symptoms) are estimated to number 47 million. An estimated 41 million Americans have ‘pre-diabetes’, or impaired glucose tolerance, in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal and lead to high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Flax lignans play a very important role in reducing the risk of diabetes. In volunteers who consumed 50g of carbohydrates following an overnight fast from bread containing flaxseed or wheat, or mucilage soluble fiber extracted from flaxseed, significant improvements in glucose absorption were observed. The consumption of 40g of ground flaxseed for a 2-month period also reduced postprandial (after the meal) blood glucose, insulin, and serum lipid levels.

Kelley Fitzpatrick
Director of Health & Nutrition
Flax Canada