Effect of the addition of simple sugars to mixed meals on the glycemic control of insulin treated diabetic patients.

In order to evaluate the long term effects of a daily intake of simple sugars upon the glycemic control, 10 insulin treated diabetic outpatients received, according to a randomized cross over design, a conventional or a sucrose-enriched isocaloric, isoglucidic diet (about 20 g sucrose per day, given as desserts and/or soft drinks during or after mixed meals) for 3 months each. The daily insulin doses remained identical during both diets: 0.58 +/- 0.07 vs 0.58 +/- 0.06 U/kg body weight (mean +/- SEM) after conventional and sugar-enriched diet, respectively. The percentages of short acting insulin were also similar: 50 +/- 4 vs 49 +/- 4%. The mean glycemic profiles after lunch and dinner were comparable with both regimens. Moreover, glycosylated hemoglobin levels were 10.0 +/- 0.3 vs 9.9 +/- 0.4% after conventional and sucrose enriched diet, respectively. Plasma cholesterol and triglycerides remained unchanged. In conclusion, a relatively small daily intake of sucrose for 3 months has no clinical and/or metabolic side effects. Therefore, it seems no longer justified to completely ban sucrose from the diet of diabetic patients.