From the Guidelines
To increase GDL, it is essential to prioritize the most recent and highest quality study, which recommends ingesting 15-20 g of glucose to raise blood glucose levels, as stated in the 2018 study 1. When considering how to increase GDL, it is crucial to focus on the treatment of hypoglycemia, which requires the ingestion of glucose or carbohydrate-containing foods.
- The acute glycemic response correlates better with the glucose content of food than with the carbohydrate content of food.
- Pure glucose is the preferred treatment, but any form of carbohydrate that contains glucose will raise blood glucose.
- Added fat may retard and then prolong the acute glycemic response. The 2018 study 1 provides the most recent and highest quality evidence, which should be prioritized when making a recommendation.
- The study recommends treating hypoglycemia with fast-acting carbohydrates at the hypoglycemia alert value of 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) or less.
- It also states that the response to treatment of hypoglycemia should be apparent in 10-20 min; however, plasma glucose should be tested again in 60 min, as additional treatment may be necessary. Other studies, such as the 2002 study 1 and the 2014 study 1, provide additional information on the treatment of hypoglycemia, but the 2018 study 1 is the most recent and highest quality.
- The 2002 study 1 recommends treating hypoglycemia with 15-20 g of glucose and states that the response to treatment should be apparent in 10-20 min.
- The 2014 study 1 provides information on nutrition therapy recommendations for the management of adults with diabetes, including the importance of carbohydrate counting and meal planning. However, when prioritizing morbidity, mortality, and quality of life as the outcome, the most recent and highest quality study should be prioritized, which is the 2018 study 1. Therefore, the recommended approach to increase GDL is to ingest 15-20 g of glucose to raise blood glucose levels, as stated in the 2018 study 1.
From the Research
Increasing GDL
To increase GDL (Glutathione), several factors can be considered:
- Vitamin D levels: Studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with low GDL levels 2. Increasing vitamin D levels can help improve GDL.
- Glutathione supplementation: Supplementation with glutathione or its precursors, such as l-cysteine, can help increase GDL levels 2.
- Antioxidant properties: Vitamin D has been shown to exhibit indirect antioxidative properties, which can help reduce oxidative stress and improve GDL levels 3.
- Inflammation reduction: Reducing inflammation can also help improve GDL levels, as chronic inflammation can lead to decreased GDL production 3, 2.
Related Factors
Other factors that can affect GDL levels include:
- Insulin resistance: Insulin resistance can lead to decreased GDL production, and improving insulin sensitivity can help increase GDL levels 4, 3.
- Oxidative stress: High levels of oxidative stress can lead to decreased GDL production, and reducing oxidative stress can help improve GDL levels 2.
- Diet and lifestyle: A healthy diet and lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, can help support GDL production and overall health 5.