Upon completion of the assessment, those at risk of pre-diabetes will be provided weekly meal plans catered to their individual needs.
“This newly launched resource hub features a pre-diabetes risk assessment tool, personalised health tips, and tailor-made meal plans. These tools are critical in supporting the broad spectrum of Malaysians, potentially at risk of pre-diabetes, take back control of their health before the onset of Type 2 diabetes.
“We are working very closely with Associate Professor Dr Barakatun Nisak Mohd Yusof, Deputy Dean and Dietitian, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, UPM for this website,” Rachel Liu, Medical Affairs Executive and Dietitian at Nestle Health Science Malaysia told NutraIngredients-Asia.
Part of the meal recommendations will include Nutren GlucoSmart – a new glucose control food supplement formulated by the company.
A powder stick pack, the product can be sprinkled and mixed with food and beverages without altering the taste.
The active ingredient responsible for glucose control is a proprietary white mulberry leaf extract trademarked Reducose by British life science company Phynova.
“Nutren GlucoSmart is recommended as part of the meal plan to efficiently decrease glucose response after the meal,” Liu said.
Reducose is able to lower the glycaemic index (GI) in foods as well as reducing blood glucose level spikes.
In fact, it is able to reduce glucose spike after a meal by up to 40 per cent.
“The results from our clinical study demonstrates that the maximal efficacy is achieved when the product is mixed with food rather than when it is consumed separately or just before the meal, hence the importance of having the product in a format that can be sprinkled over food,” Liu said.
The product also contains fibre and vitamin D. It is available in a 2-gram stick pack for convenience.
For everyone
The product is suitable for both healthy and diabetic individuals.
“Everyone will go through a blood glucose roller coaster several times a day. The quality of your food will determine the extent to which your blood glucose level increases.
“If you take in a lot of glucose, your body will produce insulin, which brings to your blood glucose level to a low and makes you hungry and grab for a snack and from there, your blood glucose goes up again. You end up sitting on this blood glucose roller coaster several times a day.
“Reducose can help transform the body’s blood glucose level fluctuations from a roller coaster that’s wild, rocky, and unhealthy to one that’s slower, gentler, and healthier,” Wouter Claerhout, chief marketing officer at Phynova said.
This is importance because a constantly high blood glucose level can cause the body to produce more insulin to absorb glucose. In the long run, this can lead to insulin resistance and health problems such as type II diabetes.
“Some people take great care preparing meals that are healthy at home. However, as soon as they dine outside, they do not really know what is in their food. We found from consumer research that people are worried about hidden carbs and the hidden sugars.
“This product is like their secret friend which is by their side when they need it. It fits into their purses, pockets, and suitcases etc,” Claerhout said, adding that Phynova has been working on the science behind the ingredient Reducose for over 10 years.
Diabetes rate growing
The prevalence of pre-diabetes in Malaysia has jumped 2.5-fold between 2015 and 2019.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2019 by the country’s Ministry of Health, the prevalence of pre-diabetes had risen about 2.5 times from 8.8 per cent in 2015 to 23.6 per cent in 2019.
Adult diabetes cases on the other hand, has increased from 13.4 per cent to 18.3 per cent in the same period.
Pre-diabetes is characterised by a fasting blood sugar level of between 5.6 and 7.0 mmol/L and could progress into type II diabetes – where fasting blood sugar level is above 7.0 mmol/L.
