Anti-diabetic functional foods as sources of insulin secreting, insulin sensitizing and insulin mimetic agents

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most widespread diseases in the world and all efforts to find its cure have so far proved unsuccessful. However, management of this disease by the usage of oral antidiabetic drugs and dietary therapy has shown some promise. Since insulin is the primary regulator of diabetes, any food that could enhance the secretion and action of insulin will be useful in the treatment of this disease. Several studies have been conducted on the insulin modulatory potential of some foods and food products, but there is no repository with information on these foods. This paper attempts to integrate available information on functional foods with insulin secreting, insulin sensitizing and insulin mimetic properties. It is hoped that the information provided will encourage future research on these foods with the aim of isolating the active components for functional food ingredients as well as nutraceuticals, and probably drug development.