People headed for Type-2 diabetes can prevent the occurrence of the condition by regularly eating pistachios.

Pre-diabetic individuals that ate around two ounces of pistachios everyday showed remarkable decrease in blood sugar and insulin levels, said a study in Spain by scientists from the Universitari Hospital of Sant Joan de Reus in Reus, and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.

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There was also a vast improvement in their glucose and insulin processing. Inflammation dropped significantly.

Participants were divided into two groups. The first was required to consume around 57 grams of pistachios a day.

The other group was given olive oil and other fats to match the caloric intake of the first group.

The study ran for four months.

By the end of the four months, the group that consumed pistachios had lowered fasting blood sugar levels, insulin and hormonal markers of insulin.

The other group, on the other hand, saw an increase in all indicators.

Their weights did not see a significant change, however.

The study focused on pistachios. But previous studies have also shown that nuts in general have decreased the likelihood of heart disease, as well as lowered cholesterol levels.

"Although pistachios were examined in this work, I believe that any beneficial effects on glucose metabolism are shared by all nuts, as they have a general composition with lots of bioactive compounds liable to beneficially affect biological pathways leading to insulin resistance and diabetes," said Dr. Emilio Ros, director of the Lipid Clinic of the Endocrinology and Nutrition Service at Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. Dr. Ros was not involved in the study.

Dr. Ros said the only deterrent to adding pistachios and other nuts to one's diet is an allergic reaction to the food group.

He noted that if a person isn't allergic to nuts, a "handful" of nuts a day is recommended.

The study was funded by the American Pistachio Growers and Paramount Farms.