Diane Joy Galos

Rice is a staple in Filipino diets, but for those with diabetes, it can feel like a ticking time bomb. 


However, Filipino scientists are cooking up a game-changing rice variety that could change the way we think about carbohydrates.
    
Researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, Philippines, have partnered with institutions including the University of California, the Max Planck Institute, and Bulgaria’s Centre of Plant Systems Biology to create an innovative rice variety aimed at reducing diabetes.

Using IRRI's rice gene bank, the team screened 380 seed samples over 10 years, focusing on genes linked to lower glycaemic index and higher protein content. This work resulted in a diabetes-friendly rice option.

Over 537 million adults worldwide currently have diabetes, with numbers expected to reach 783 million by 2045. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form and occurs when the pancreas does n’t produce enough insulin, leading to high blood sugar.

Nese Sreenivasulu, a principal scientist at IRRI said, “If we could come up with a diet with low glycemic index properties... it could be a very good intervention to counter growing incidences of diabetes.”

Asia accounts for over 60% of diabetes cases, and most of the world’s rice is produced and consumed in this region. White rice can cause spikes in blood sugar due to its high glycemic index, linking it to type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Lndsey Smith Taillie from the University of North Carolina added, “Global diabetes prevalence is increasing and becoming an increasing cause for concern.” This trend is observed in both high-income and low- to middle-income countries.

For those with diabetes, she added, incorporating rice can be manageable if they are mindful of carbohydrates. 

Taillie called attention to the importance of policies to reduce sugary beverage consumption and improve food labeling.
The new rice variety has yet to be cultivated outside the lab, but there are plans to grow it in India and the Philippines to help combat poverty and hunger in rice-consuming nations.

“The call to action is that we need a comprehensive set of policies that ensures all people have access to healthy foods,” Taillie said.

With this rice-olution on the table, healthier meals might be just a grain away.