Introduction: Diabetes mellitus has become a global public health problem, characterized by increased intake of western style diets and decline in physical activities which are pro-inflammatory. Food diversity, nutrient profile, glycemic index and lower content of salt sugar and Tran’s fat are an important consideration for a healthy anti-inflammatory diet which may be advised for prevention of diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This clinical observation aims to examine the effects of a millets based functional food rich intervention diet on coronary risk factors among subjects with known diabetes. 

Method: After permission from the review board of a hospital, hospital records of 65 subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus were drawn for this study. Of 65 patients with diabetes, 5 were excluded and remaining 60 were administered millet-based functional food rich intervention diet (millets 60%, soya bean 20%, brown rice 10%, peanuts 8% and flex seeds 2%). Clinical data, dietary intakes and physical activity were assessed by validated questionnaires. Blood pressures were measured by sphygmomanometer. 

Result: Treatment with millet based intervention diet for 12 weeks was associated with a significant decline in fasting and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, Hb 1c indicating that this diet can prevent diabetes. Total cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides showed a significant decline compared to baseline levels. Pro-inflammatory cytokines; C-reactive proteins, TNF-alpha and interleukin-6 also showed significant reduction after treatment with intervention diet compared to baseline levels. In association with these changes, there was a significant decline in systolic and diastolic blood pressures, parameters of oxidative stress; TBARS, MDA and diene conjugates with an increase in antioxidant vitamins; A,E and C and beta-carotene. Underlying these changes, all subjects received an 11 fold greater amount of millet-based intervention diet which increased from mean 21.36±3.8g/day to 235.20±23.6 (p<0001).Among females (n=33), there was a significant increase in hemoglobin and serum calcium and magnesium indicating that millet based diet can also prevent under nutrition.

Conclusion: It is possible that millet-based intervention diet can cause a significant decline in blood glucose, Hb1c, oxidative stress, blood pressures, blood lipoproteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines with an increase in antioxidant vitamins, magnesium, calcium and hemoglobin. Randomized, controlled intervention trials, would be necessary to confirm our findings.