Therapeutic value of barley in the management of diabetes.

The alleged beneficial properties of barley in the treatment of diabetes were investigated. Rates of growth, water and food (digestible energy) intakes, and blood glucose concentrations were measured before and after the induction of diabetes in rats fed diets containing either barley or wheat. No differences were found in healthy animals, but in the diabetic state the blood glucose concentration, water consumption and weight loss was significantly lower in the rats fed barley. It is suggested that a factor other than the fibre content of the cereals may be responsible for the difference in response.