The Power of Oatmeal and its Historical Significance in Diabetes Treatment

Oatmeal has a significant historical significance in the treatment of diabetes dating back to the early 1900s. Before the discovery of insulin, the 'oatmeal cure' was used to save or prolong the lives of many diabetic patients. Adherence to an oatmeal diet resulted in improved health outcomes for diabetic patients, despite initial skepticism from the medical community. The effectiveness of the oatmeal diet in treating diabetes of the young was so remarkable that it was proclaimed in 1909 that no juvenile or adolescent diabetes cases should be deprived of its benefits. The exclusion of animal protein from the oatmeal diet was found to enhance its favorable effects on insulin sensitivity. Research has shown that animal protein intake intensifies insulin resistance, leading to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, while plant-based foods improve insulin sensitivity. Swapping animal protein with plant-based protein sources like beans can significantly improve blood sugar control and other cardiometabolic risk factors. The difference between animal protein and plant protein is attributed to the higher concentration of branched-chain amino acids in animal protein, which can make vegans insulin resistant when supplemented. Insulin resistance, previously thought to stem from fat accumulation in muscle cells, is also influenced by branched-chain amino acids in the diet.