Blood Sugar Response to Different Traditional Nigerian Diets Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Nsukka, Enugu State

Understanding the glycaemic impact of commonly consumed traditional diets is essential for culturally appropriate diabetes dietary management in Nigeria. This study assessed postprandial blood glucose responses to three traditional Nigerian diet combinations among type 2 diabetic patients in Nsukka, Enugu State, South East Nigeria. Forty-five patients with confirmed type 2 diabetes were enrolled in a crossover dietary study design. Participants consumed three standardised test meals on separate days: oha soup with fufu, egusi soup with eba, and vegetable soup with boiled yam. Blood glucose was measured at fasting, then at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes post-meal using a calibrated glucometer. Glycaemic index was calculated and compared across meal types using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results indicated that the oha soup with fufu combination produced the highest postprandial glucose peak at 60 minutes, while vegetable soup with boiled yam yielded the lowest two-hour glucose excursion. Eba-based meals produced intermediate responses. All three meals exceeded recommended postprandial glucose targets in the majority of participants. The study concludes that meal composition significantly influences postprandial glycaemia in diabetic patients in Nsukka and that vegetable-rich, lower-glycaemic traditional foods should be promoted. Culturally sensitive dietary guidelines for diabetes management in South East Nigeria are recommended. Keywords: glycaemic response, traditional diet, type 2 diabetes, postprandial glucose, Nsukka.