Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. It regulates blood sugar levels by promoting the uptake of glucose into cells. In type 1 diabetes mellitus, the pancreas cannot produce insulin, so insulin must be administered regularly. In insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes mellitus, insulin has a limited effect. If insulin no longer works at all, the blood sugar level is permanently elevated – this is type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Oat flakes are low in sugar. The insulin-sparing effect of oats' own beta-glucan has been scientifically proven and the following statement is approved for oat products: "Consumption of beta-glucans from oats as part of a meal contributes to the reduction of the blood glucose rise after that meal." As a prerequisite for this claim, a food must contain at least four grams of oat beta-glucan per 30 grams of available carbohydrates per serving.
