Eating Foods in a Different Order May Blunt Blood Sugar Spikes

WHO:

Fox News - The research team studied mice, including mice with type 2 diabetes and severe insulin deficiency.

Fox News - Corresponding author Dr. Daisuke Yabe is affiliated with Kyoto University.

Fox News - Huma Chaudhry, a Chicago-based registered dietitian and founder of Dose of Nutrition, commented on the study.

Fox News - Researchers said further studies are needed to test meal sequencing in people.

WHAT:

Fox News - In a study published in the journal *Diabetes*, mice given olive oil 15 minutes before glucose had a smaller early rise in blood sugar than mice given glucose first or glucose alone.

Fox News - Researchers observed the effect in mice with type 2 diabetes and severe insulin deficiency, and tested other dietary fats, suggesting the response may not be unique to olive oil.

Fox News - Researchers found that fat before sugar slowed stomach emptying and limited the initial rise in circulating blood sugar.

Fox News - Fat-first feeding triggered early increases in glucagon and GLP-1; researchers said the hormones appeared to work together to limit the rise in glucose.

Fox News - Chaudhry said previous human research suggests eating vegetables or protein before carbohydrates may moderate post-meal blood sugar; she said more research is needed on olive oil specifically.

Fox News - Chaudhry said, “We can't assume the same results would occur in humans,” and cautioned that olive oil should not be treated as a supplement or “quick fix.”

Fox News - Chaudhry said food order may influence blood sugar alongside meal quality and balance. She recommended meals containing vegetables, protein, healthy fats and carbohydrates.

NY Post - One example is eating an olive-oil-dressed salad before chicken and pasta, which can raise blood sugar when eaten together.

WHY:

Fox News - Yabe said meal sequencing changes how a meal is eaten without requiring people to avoid entire food groups.

Fox News - Researchers said the order nutrients reach the gut may activate a coordinated hormone-and-nerve response that changes how quickly the stomach delivers glucose to the intestine.

HOW:

Fox News - In the experiment, mice were fasted overnight and received olive oil and glucose separately, 15 minutes apart; the article notes this differs from a typical balanced meal.

Fox News - Chaudhry suggested starting with a leafy-green salad dressed with olive oil before pasta, or pairing eggs with toast at breakfast. She said foods do not need to be separated by a set interval.

(UPDATED November 6, 2026 22:09 UTC)

Olive oil before sugar blunted the early blood-sugar rise in mice, researchers found. Fat slowed stomach emptying and prompted hormones that helped limit glucose increases. Human benefits remain unproven; researchers say meal sequencing needs testing in people.