Association of glycaemic index and glycaemic load with type 2 diabetes and related conditions in prospective studies

There is debate over the nature of the carbohydrate-containing foods that should be recommended to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and related conditions. In particular, it is not well established whether glycaemic index (GI) is a relevant dietary factor for the prevention of chronic diseases in the general population. In The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, David Jenkins and colleagues1 report a meta-analysis of large prospective cohorts (≥100 000 participants) on the associations between GI and glycaemic load (GL) and the incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, diabetes-related cancers, and all-cause mortality.