Background

2 diabetes is currently one of the most challenging problems facing national healthcare systems worldwide [1]. Nutritional therapy (as part of life-style interven-tion), with or without additional drug treatment, repre-sents an effective option for managing this disease [2]. Formulating a universal diet for type 2 diabetes patients can be difficult, since cultural preferences and economic conditions influence patient acceptance of, and adher-ence to, recommended diets [3]. In general, consumption of healthy, plant-based diets which are low in saturated fat and refined carbohydrates but high in whole grains, vegetables, legumes and fruits, coupled with appropriate exercise regimens, is recom-mended for patients with type 2 diabetes [4-7]. Add-itionally, reduction in the intake of carbohydrates with a * Correspondence