The Effect of Daily Consumption of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Blood Glucose Among Diabetic Patients

Saudi Arabia has the highest prevalence (24%) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among the modern nation states in the world. In addition, majority of Saudi diabetic patient do not have their blood glucose controlled. Data suggests that diet, rich in olive oil and nuts, significantly reduces fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin). Olive oil has been associated with weight reduction as well as improvements in lipid profile (increase in high density (HDL) and decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL)). No randomized controlled trial has specifically examined the effect of olive oil as a supplement on blood glucose among diabetics. The study objective is to test the effect of daily consumption (30 mL) of extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) on HbA1c among patients with type 2 diabetes.