In the present study, diet was formulated; the glycemic index of the formulated diet determined and its effectiveness tested in the management of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan 60mg/kg body weight in albino rats. Normal and diabetic control rats received balanced normal nutritive diet while the treatment groups were fed with 30, 70 and 100 % of the formulated diet for a period of 28 days. There was significant decrease (p<0.05)

more »

... in blood glucose level of the treated groups when compared to diabetic control group. High density lipoprotein significantly increase at (p<0.05). There was significant decrease (p<0.05) in triglyceride, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein values of the formulated diet treated groups when compared to the diabetic control group. The group treated with 100% formulated diet showed significantly decrease (p<0.05) of creatinine (7.6 mg/L) and urea (95.94 mg/L) compared to 14.00 mg/L creatinine and 331.56 mg/L of urea for the diabetic control group. The serum albumin was found to increase significantly (p<0.05) compared to the diabetic control group. Thus, the present animal study evidenced the hypoglycaemic, hypolipidaemic properties of the formulated diet suggesting that it could be used in management of diabetes.