Monounsaturated Fatty Acids Prevent the Deleterious Effects of Palmitate and High Glucose on Human Pancreatic Beta-Cell Turnover and Function.
This article finds that monounsaturated fatty acids (i.e. olive oil, nuts, avacodos…) not only protected the beta cells of the pancreas (the cells that produce insulin) from damage, but also increased their proliferation. This would make monounsaturated fatty acids absolutely essential for treatment of both diabetes and Syndrome X.
Diabetes — Abstracts: Maedler et al. 52 (3): 726