Two new separate studies support the claim that almonds offer health benefits to individuals with type 2 diabetes. The nuts offer another way for diabetics to maintain glucose levels and at the same time, lower their cholesterol.

One of the studies focused on how almonds were able to assist with maintaining proper blood glucose levels. It also pointed out how beneficial they were for helping to control cholesterol levels. The test participants consisted of men, and women who were post-menopausal.

The results of the study were published in Diabetes Care .

The second study determined that when diabetics consumed an ounce of almonds right before eating a meal that was high in starch, they saw their post-meal blood glucose levels reduced by a whopping thirty percent. Non-diabetics who followed the same plan only saw their glucose levels drop by 7 percent.

The study also showed that type 2 diabetics who fasted overnight after consuming a meal containing almonds experienced lower blood sugar levels after the meal.

The second study was published in the journal Metabolism .

Karen Lapsley, chief science officer for the Almond Board of California, commented on the results.

“Those with diabetes are faced with many challenges with their disease management, which is why we are always energized when new research is published that supports our understanding of almonds' role in helping alleviate some of the difficulties,” said Lapsley.

The studies also looked at how regular consumption of almonds helped individuals with type 2 diabetes to regulate their condition. The study used a daily consumption of one ounce of almonds over a period of 12 weeks as a guideline. What researchers found was that participants saw their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels reduced by four percent. The participants also saw their body mass index also reduced by four percent.