The Oatmeal Cure

The Power of Oatmeal in Treating Diabetes

Oatmeal has a long history in treating diabetes, even before the discovery of insulin. The oatmeal cure, first introduced by Carl von Nordens, showed promising results in managing diabetes and improving the health of patients. The oatmeal diet was proven to be particularly effective in juvenile and adolescent diabetes. Studies have shown that the benefits of oatmeal in diabetes treatment are attributed to its exclusion of animal protein, which intensifies insulin resistance, and its high fiber content, specifically beta-glucan. The fiber in oatmeal acts as a prebiotic, positively affecting the gut microbiome and leading to improved blood sugar control in type 2 diabetics. Multiple randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that oats can significantly improve short-term and long-term blood sugar control, decrease insulin requirements, and lower cholesterol levels.