It is currently estimated that over 370 million individuals have diabetes, making diabetes a major public health issue contributing
significantly to global morbidity and mortality. The steep rise in diabetes prevalence over the past decades is attributable, in a large
part, to lifestyle changes, with dietary habits and behaviour as significant contributors. Despite the relatively wide availability of antidiabetic
medicine, it is lifestyle approaches that still remain the cornerstone of diabetes prevention and treatment. Glycemic index (GI) is
a nutritional tool which represents the glycemic response to carbohydrate ingestion. In light of the major impact of nutrition on diabetes
pathophysiology, with the rising need to combat the escalating diabetes epidemic, this review will focus on the role of GI in glycemic
control, the primary target of diabetic treatment and beyond. The review will present the evidence relating GI and diabetes treatment and
prevention, as well as weight loss, weight maintenance and cardiovascular disease risk factors.