Glycemic and insulinemic postprandial response of subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) given meals with low or high glycemic index

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a control group were given meals with either high or low glycemic index (GI). Meals were isocaloric and each type contained 50 g of carbohydrates. COPD patients being treated with theophylline or theophylline+prednisone exhibited impaired glucose curves following a glucose (50 g) load. Their insulin levels were also higher than in the control group. High-GI meals caused a deterioration in the glucose response of COPD subjects, particularly those treated with theophylline+prednisone. In contrast, low-GI lead to a moderate increase in glucose response. A similar effect was observed on insulin levels. Inclusion of low-GI food into the diets of COPD patients may be useful in diet planning, mainly when steroids are used as a means of treatment.