Sucrose in the Diet of Diabetic Children: „The Chocolate Study“

Overview

Restriction of dietary sucrose was for years the crucial recommendation for patients with type 1 diabetesmellitus. Some recent reports revealed that its introduction into the diabetic diet in a mixed meal does not increasethe risk of hyperglycaemia.During a winter camp for diabetic children, 19 non-obese diabetic children (age 10.2 - 16.0 years, diabetesduration 3 - 13 years) were given four different afternoon snacks with an equivalent carbohydrate content - (1)bread and butter (starch, 24 g) or half a portion of bread and butter with 25 g of either (2) chocolate with fructose(starch, 12 g, fructose, 8 g, lactose, 4 g) or (3) ordinary milk chocolate (starch, 12 g, sucrose, 8 g, lactose, 4 gr) - or(4) 3 pieces of „diabetic“ cake Domino (starch, 4 g, fructose, 20 g). The study was arranged in a cross-matchedmanner.Blood sugar levels did not differ significantly 1, 2 or 3 hours after the different snacks. After the snack (1) bloodglucose was slightly higher and after snack (4) slightly lower compared to other snacks. Introduction of sucroseinto the diet of diabetic children in the form of mixed meals does not change the glycaemic response. On thecontrary, its elimination emphasises the feeling of being ill and increases the risk of non-compliance.

Key words:
type 1 diabetes mellitus, children, diet, sucrose