A Review of the Effects of Dietary Fiber on Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic disease with a high incidence worldwide, and its effective control has become a major public health concern. The urbanization phenomenon accompanying the rapid economic development, along with widespread sedentary lifestyles and high-calorie dietary patterns, have led to a sharp increase in the affected population, especially among those under the age of 40. In recent years, dietary fiber has received extensive attention due to its potential role in regulating blood sugar, improving insulin sensitivity and intestinal health. This review aims to summarize recent advances in research on the impact of dietary fiber on T2D, with a focus on its classification, intake levels, mechanism of action and intervention effects. Existing evidence suggests that dietary fiber has therapeutic benefits for T2D, including improvements in blood glucose and insulin levels, as well as a reduced risk of disease onset. However, at present, there are still problems such as poor population compliance and high heterogeneity in intervention studies. Therefore, more high-quality research needs to be carried out in the future to clarify the optimal intervention model of dietary fiber in diabetes management.