Purpose <p>We investigated to what extent natural variations in test-meal oral processing, eating rate and bolus properties influence postprandial glucose responses, while also considering the role of insulin and glucagon.</p> Methods <p>Healthy participants (<i>n</i> = 33, age: 27.3 ± 5.7 y, BMI: 23.7 ± 2.0&#xa0;kg/ m²) consumed a mixed meal with a fixed carbohydrate load while being video-recorded to assess their eating rate (ER) and oral processing behaviours. Bolus samples at the point of swallowing were collected to determine saliva uptake and particle characteristics. Blood samples were collected before and over a 3-h postprandial period to measure glucose and plasma insulin, glucagon, C-peptide concentrations. Participants were grouped into Slower- or Faster-eaters based on their ER for the test meal.</p> Results <p>Slower-eaters (<i>n</i> = 17) consumed their meal 53% slower than Faster-eaters (<i>n</i> = 16)(<i>p =</i> 0.001), with 1.4 times more chews/g and 91.2% longer oro-sensory exposure time (OSE time). Slower- and Faster-eaters did not differ in their total postprandial glucose (PPG) responses. Early (0–30&#xa0;min) and total (0–180&#xa0;min) glucose iAUC values were higher in Slower-eaters (20.21% and 55.27%, respectively), but not reaching statistical significance. In contrast, Slower-eaters showed significantly higher insulin and C-peptide responses. Higher total insulin iAUC was associated with higher OSE time (<i>R</i> = 0.41) and more chews/bite (<i>R</i> = 0.44). Despite differences in bolus properties between Slower- and Faster-eaters, no significant associations were found between bolus properties and PPG or insulin responses.</p> Conclusion <p>Enhanced chewing and prolonged oro-sensory exposure during slower eating may stimulate postprandial insulin release, contributing to modulating glucose homeostasis.</p>