[Carbohydrates and dietary fiber in the diabetic diet].

Dietary fibre has a blood-glucose reducing effect, as is manifested by a diminished glycemic index. In 1980 the consumption of dietary fibre in Switzerland is 22 g/day in comparison to 27 g in 1956. Thirty-five patients with diabetes (15 with insulin and 20 without) were treated with a high carbohydrate-high fibre diet (55% of total calories) for a period of 12 months. There were no changes in postprandial blood glucose values, HbA1, cholesterol or bodyweight (in insulin-treated patients the weight decreased p less than 0.05) despite a high carbohydrate diet.