Globally, it is projected that 418 million people will have impaired glucose tolerance by 2025. In the US, an estimated 34 million Americans have diabetes and 88 million, 33% of adults, have pre-diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance is now manifesting in young adults where 20% of those 12-18 years of age have prediabetes. The current prevalence of Type 2 diabetes is over 8%, but it is projected that up to a third of Americans will develop diabetes in their lifetime. Additionally, the total annual cost of diabetes is approximately $327 which accounts for 25% of all US health care costs. Moreover, the costs rose 60% from 2007 to 2017 and this trend is continuing.~Diet is the preferred approach for management for this diet-related chronic disorder. Accumulating evidence suggests almond consumption decreases postprandial glycemia and may evoke a second meal effect, especially when they are consumed at breakfast or as an afternoon snack, which may aid in long-term glycemic control. Additionally, almond consumption can decrease total and LDL cholesterol, resulting in lower peripheral insulin resistance and cardiometabolic complications from type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, there is mixed evidence on the effects of almond consumption on HbA1c, a clinically important endpoint that provides a reliable measure of long-term glycemia and is correlated with risk of complications from diabetes. Thus, the investigators hypothesize a beneficial effect of regular almond consumption on long-term glycemic control in individuals with elevated baseline HbA1c.
This study will examine the effects of regular almond consumption by individuals with elevated HbA1c on long-term glycemic control.