Rice Production: While most of the population of Asia is fond of eating rice, 60 percent of the world's diabetes patients are also found in this region.

Diabetes and Rice: 90 percent of the production and consumption of rice is in the Asia-Pacific region. While most of the population of Asia is fond of eating rice, 60 percent of the world's diabetes patients are also found in this region. Many doctors also advise diabetes patients to avoid rice. Meanwhile, a reputed research institute in the Philippines has claimed that it has developed a new variety of rice that reduces the risk of diabetes. 

Dr. Nese Srinivasasulu, the chief scientist of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) of the Philippines, said that this new variety will soon be produced in India as well. According to reports, IRRI has planned to deliver this variety of rice to the countries of Asia and Africa by 2025. 

How will it reduce the risk of diabetes?

53.7 crore adults in the world are diabetic patients. This number is estimated to increase to 78.3 crore by 2045. The risk of diabetes is highest due to wrong lifestyle, obesity, and genetics. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient amount of insulin hormone and the cells develop insulin resistance. This increases the level of sugar in the blood. 

Glycemic index or GI is a way of measuring how quickly a food item increases the blood sugar level in the body and causes diabetes. If the GI of a food item is less than 45, it means that it is not increasing the sugar level in the blood. (IRRI) has developed a similar variety of rice whose GI is very low this. This means that including this new variety of rice in the diet does not increase the sugar level in the blood. Hence, there will be protection from the risk of diabetes. According to the scientists of IRRI, this new variety also has a high amount of protein.