Effect of the introduction of dietary sucrose on metabolic control in children and adolescents with type I diabetes.

The effect of sucrose in the diet of children and adolescents with type I diabetes on long-term metabolic control was studied. For a mean observation period of 83 (range 42-127) days, a diet containing 5% of total calories as refined sugar was recommended to 11 children (group A, mean age 15.0, SD 5.4 years), while another 13 children remained on their usual 'sucrose-free' diet (group B, mean age 16.0, SD 5.7 years). The mean observation period in this group was 77 (41-103) days. All children had a dietary assessment at baseline and at follow up using a 7-day food record. At baseline, sucrose intake as a proportion of total daily calories was similar in the two groups (group A 1.4, SD 1.9% vs group B 2.0, SD 2.3%; P = 0.5). At follow-up, sucrose intake increased significantly in group A (5.1, SD 2.5%; P = 0.0008) but not in group B (2.7, SD 3.3%; P = 0.5). Metabolic control assessed by haemoglobin level (HbA1c) was not different between the groups at baseline (group A 8.5, SD 1.2 vs group B 8.8, SD 1.8%; P = 0.7) nor at follow-up (9.1, SD 1.4 vs 9.0, SD 2.5%; P = 0.9). Within group A, the individual change in HbA1c correlated with the individual change in sucrose intake (r = 0.61, P = 0.05), this correlation being strongly influenced by two individuals with an increase in sucrose consumption substantially exceeding 5%. Percentage intake of protein, carbohydrate and fat did not change significantly.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)