Lately, it seems as though there is nothing the humble blueberry cannot do. Its antioxidant power reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer and other age-related maladies like Alzheimer's. Blueberries are virtually fat-free, contain high amounts of manganese and vitamin C, and are a good source of natural sugars and fiber.

A new finding, published in the October issue of The Journal of Nutrition, suggests that blueberries may also aid people with prediabetes by making them more receptive to insulin. From the WebMD study summary:

"In the study, researchers led by April Stull, an instructor in diabetes and nutrition from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center at the Louisiana State University System in Baton Rouge, compared 32 obese adults who had high insulin levels but did not have type 2 diabetes. Fifteen participants were randomly assigned to drink a smoothie containing 22.5 grams of blueberry freeze-dried powder twice a day for six weeks, while the remaining participants drank a placebo smoothie that did not contain blueberries."

Although blueberries obviously contain sugar and calories, the study did note that important vital statistics, such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and weight, did not increase or decrease. However, the blueberry smoothies consumed by the test subjects during the study did increase the subjects' receptivity to insulin, thereby improving their ability to regulate their blood sugars.

Compounds in blueberries, called anthocyanins, have antioxidant properties, which may contribute to health benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity, the summary explains.

If you think you may benefit from adding blueberries to your diet, or if you are prediabetic, talk to your doctor about this new study. He or she may work with you to incorporate more of this healthful fruit into your diet.