A Diabetes-Specific Oral Nutritional Supplement Improves Postprandial Glucose Response in Prediabetes

The practical problem

Formulators targeting prediabetes have to watch one number above all: the postprandial glucose spike. Traditional oral nutritional supplements (ONS) often deliver a fast carbohydrate load. That helps with nutrition, but it can send blood glucose upward. For a patient in the prediabetes range, that is exactly the wrong direction.

A new clinical study points to a better formulation path. The paper, published in Nutrition Research and Practice in 2025, tested a diabetes-specific oral nutritional supplement (DSNF) against a standard ONS. The DSNF contained 3 g of allulose per 200 mL. The standard ONS contained none. The difference in glucose response was dramatic.

Background

Prediabetes sits in the gray zone between normal glucose control and type 2 diabetes. Every meal is a test. If a nutritional drink causes a large glucose surge, it may work against the patient’s broader dietary goals.

This is why the study matters. The researchers did not test allulose in isolation. They tested a complete oral nutritional formula. That makes the findings directly relevant to product development.

What the study did

The study compared a DSNF with a standard ONS in people with prediabetes. The DSNF had 3 g of allulose per 200 mL. It also contained fewer available carbohydrates than the standard ONS.

The researchers measured postprandial glucose responses. They used the incremental area under the curve, or iAUC, to capture the full glycemic excursion after each drink. A lower iAUC means a smaller overall blood glucose response.

Key findings

The numbers are hard to argue with. The DSNF produced an iAUC of 1,683.49. The standard ONS produced an iAUC of 4,455.92. That is a roughly 62% lower postprandial glucose response. The difference was highly significant, with P<0.0001.

Metric	DSNF (per 200 mL)	Standard ONS
Allulose content	3 g	0 g
Available carbohydrates	Lower	Standard level
Postprandial glucose iAUC	1,683.49	4,455.92

This is not a marginal improvement. It is a clinically meaningful gap. For a prediabetes-focused product, that gap could be the difference between a helpful nutritional intervention and another hidden glucose spike.

Why allulose matters in this result

The paper cites three mechanisms for allulose’s effect. It inhibits glucose absorption in the gut. It stimulates GLP-1 release. It also promotes liver glycogen storage. Together, these actions blunt the postprandial glucose surge.

For ingredient buyers, this reframes allulose. It is no longer just a low-calorie sweetener. In this formula, it is a functional carbohydrate with a measurable glucose-modulating role.

What it means for manufacturers

If you are developing a diabetes-specific formula, this study gives you a clear benchmark. The winning product did not rely on allulose alone. It paired allulose with a lower available-carbohydrate profile. That combination matters.

Do not read the study as proof that allulose can replace every carbohydrate in a product. Instead, view it as evidence that a complete formula can be built around a lower glycemic load. The allulose dose was 3 g per 200 mL. That is a practical amount to formulate around.

Buyers can also use this study when evaluating allulose suppliers. You are not just purchasing sweetness. You are purchasing a functional ingredient that can support postprandial glucose control in a clinical nutrition product. Ask for consistency in dose and purity. Then design the rest of the carbohydrate profile to match.

FAQ

Does this mean standard ONS products are bad for people with prediabetes? No. It means they produce a larger postprandial glucose response. For someone actively managing glucose, the DSNF is the better option.

How much allulose did the study use? Each 200 mL serving of the DSNF contained 3 g of allulose. The standard ONS had 0 g.

Should allulose replace all carbohydrates in a diabetes formula? Not based on this evidence. The study tested a complete formula, not allulose in isolation. Use allulose as part of a lower-available-carb formulation.

The takeaway for formulators is straightforward. A diabetes-specific ONS with 3 g of allulose per serving produced a 62% lower postprandial glucose response than a standard ONS. That is a design target worth copying.