Decreased urinary glucose excretion and plasma cholesterol level in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients with guar.

The effect of guar gum in lowering urinary glucose excretion and plasma cholesterol was studied in ten sulphonylurea-treated non-insulin dependent diabetic patients during a four week treatment period. The 24-hour urinary glucose excretion fell gradually and increased again to pretreatment value after withdrawal of guar. The glucose output dropped by 33 and 51% in the 3rd and 4th week of the guar treatment period (p less than 0.01) compared to the mean of the pre-plus postguar level. The plasma cholesterol concentration also fell significantly during treatment with guar (p less than 0.01).