Making as small a change to your diet as switching from white rice to brown rice, could significantly reduce your chances of developing diabetes, a new study has found.

According to the Harvard researchers that conducted the study, white rice causes a steep rise in blood sugar, whereas brown rice and other wholegrain foods release glucose more gradually.

The study included nearly 200,000 US people and observed participants for more than 20 years. After accounting for age and other diabetes risk factors, it was found that those who ate five or more 150g servings of white rice were 17 per cent more likely to develop diabetes, compared to those who consumed less than one serving each month.

Although only 2 per cent of the people who took part in the study ate this much white rice, researchers considered the findings rather significant. Based on the results, they estimated that replacing 50g of a typical serving of white rice, with the same amount of brown rice, would cut a person's chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 16 per cent.

Scientists believe switching to whole, unrefined grains should be recommended to everyone in the interest of public health. The findings are likely to cause those working in dietitian jobs to change the type of advice they give to patients, as experts recommend that half of a person's carbohydrate intake should come from whole grains such as brown rice.

Dr Victoria King of Diabetes UK is cited on the BBC website as saying: "The best way to prevent type 2 diabetes is by keeping active and eating a healthy balanced diet that is low in fat, salt and sugar with plenty of fruit and vegetables."