The cover picture shows the renaissance oil on canvas painting, 'The Beaneater (Il Mangiafagioli)'
(c. 1580–1590) by Annibale Carracci (1560–1609). Low-glycaemic index foods, such as beans and other pulses, have been extensively exploited for their ability to improve metabolic control, related to blood glucose and lipids. In a systematic review and meta-analysis in the present issue of Diabetologia (52: 1479–1495),
Sievenpiper et al. report that dietary pulses taken alone or as a part of low-glycaemic index or high-fibre diets may improve markers of longer term glycaemic control in people with and without diabetes. The data indicate that more clinical research is needed to explore these metabolic benefits as part of the dietary strategy to prevent and treat diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
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Cover credit: Galleria Colonna, Rome, Italy