Fig. 1

Pilot study design. We measured preprandial blood glucose4 h after breakfast. During the time-period between breakfast and lunch, we instructed volunteers to refrain from consuming any food or beverage, except water, which was provided ad libitum. Lunch consisted of a typical south Indian meal of rice, vegetable curry with meat or fish to be consumed within 30 m. We measured postprandial glucose 2 h after the start of lunch. On the initial day of the study (Day 1), volunteers followed this routine and we categorized the patients into two groups according to their preprandial glucose levels. Then, for the next 30 days, volunteers consumed PCE (250 mg) 5 min after lunch. We assessed blood glucose on days 12, 24, and 30