Does sucrose affect the glucose variability in patients with type 1 diabetes? a pilot crossover clinical study

Nutrition. 2018 Nov:55-56:179-184. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2018.05.009. Epub 2018 Jun 8.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a sucrose-free diet with a sucrose-added diet on glucose variability in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: This was a two-way crossover design study in which patients with type 1 diabetes were monitored by blinded continuous glucose monitoring and were selected to receive a sucrose-free diet (<30 g/d), followed by a sucrose-added diet (>80 g/d) for 2 d each. Intra-day glucose variability was assessed by the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE), the M-value, J-index, glycemic risk assessment in diabetes equation (GRADE), and continuous overlapping net glycemic action (CONGA1-3). Between-day variability was determined by mean of daily difference (MODD). Statistical analyses were performed with a significance level of 5%.

Results: Ten patients with type 1 diabetes were evaluated. The participants were a mean of 26.1 ± 7.1 y of age. The mean duration of disease was 16.5 ± 10.5 y, and patients' mean glycated hemoglobin was 7.4% ± 0.8%. The intra- and inter-day glucose variability indexes did not differ between the diet periods (MAGE: 10.2 ± 5.1 and 10.4 ± 6.8mmol/L, P = 0.98; M-value: 12.9 ± 2 and 15.6 ± 1.3mmol/L, P = 0.29; J-index: 50.9 ± 4.4 and 57.7 ± 3.3mmol/L, P = 0.41; GRADE: 7.2 ± 1 and 4.7 ± 5.3mmol/L, P = 0.07; and MODD: 3.9 ± 1 and 4.3 ± 1.5mmol/L, P = 0.28; for the sucrose-free and sucrose-added diets, respectively). CONGA1-3 were similar for both diet periods (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: The use of a moderate amount of sucrose, as part of a balanced diet, did not affect the glucose variability or insulin requirements in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Keywords: Carbohydrate diet; Continuous glucose monitoring; Glucose variability; Sucrose; Type 1 diabetes.

Publication types

  • Clinical Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects*
  • Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / diet therapy*
  • Diet / methods*
  • Dietary Sucrose / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Insulin / blood
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Pilot Projects
  • Single-Blind Method
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Dietary Sucrose
  • Insulin