Effects of moderate sugar intake on glycaemic control of patients with type 2 diabeted mellitus

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Date
2003-11
Authors
Hunter, Elza
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in South African communities is increasing aggressively, due to population and lifestyle changes associated with rapid urbanization. It is estimated that the prevalence of diabetes is due to triple within the next 25 years. Currently 10% of the total energy intake as sucrose is allowed as part of a balanced diabetic diet, according to the Diabetes Education Society in Southern Africa. Health professionals are ignorant and/or sceptical about this guideline and are reluctant to advise the patients they consult with. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 15% of the total daily energy intake as sucrose on the glycaemic control of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. To accomplish this aim, the effects of the inclusion of 15% of the total daily energy intake as sucrose were compared to the exclusion of sucrose in the diets of free-living patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus on glycaemic control (fasting plasma glucose concentrations, serum fructosamine, HbA1cpercentages) and lipid profiles (serum cholesterol, serum HDL cholesterol, serum LDL cholesterol and serum triglycerides). The study was a randomized, controlled, single-centre clinical trail. Only 22 of the possible 401 subjects screened, who had type 2 diabetes mellitus (determined by GAD 65 and C-peptide values), and who volunteered to comply with a prescribed diet for the 16 week study period, participated in the study. At baseline, a food record and validated quantitative food frequency questionnaire was filled in by the researcher. Anthropometrical measurements (weight, height, BMI and body-fat percentage) were measured, and blood samples were analysed. Prior to baseline, subjects were advised to increase their activity level as part of a healthy lifestyle. Lifestyle patterns (smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise and medication) had to be maintained throughout the study period. Individual diets were calculated for all subjects. After a 12 week period during which all subjects were stabilized on a diabetic diet, subjects were randomized into two groups. Group 1, received a sucrose inclusive diet (SlD) and Group 2, a sucrose free diet (SFD), for a four week trial period. The type of control, namely, oral medication and diet alone, stratified these groups. There was, thus, a separate computer-generated randomization list for each of these two strata; randomizing the subjects into a study and control group. During the entire 16 week study period the researcher and' nurse had contact sessions with the subjects (fortnightly and weekly, respectively). A short informative talk to motivate and encourage subjects to adhere to, and gain insight into dietary aspects of type 2 diabetes mellitus, was given by the researcher. A registered nurse measured weight and venous plasma glucose concentrations of all subjects on a weekly basis. The registered nurse measured serum fructosamine concentrations on a fortnightly basis. At the end of the study each subject's body-fat percentage was measured and fasting blood samples (blood lipid concentrations and HbA1c percentages) were analyzed statistically to test for significant differences between the two dietary groups. The habitual dietary intake after recruitment showed that all subjects followed a low carbohydrate, high fat diet. The habitual sucrose intake in Group 1 (SlD) showed a sugar intake of 4.5%, and Group 2 (SFD) of 4.2%, respectively. The mean BMI of subjects in both groups was within the class I, obese range (BMI= 30-34.9kg/m2). Although all subjects in the study showed weight maintenance, both dietary groups experienced reduction in their body-fat percentage. However, Group 2 (SFD) showed statistically significant improvement (95% Cl: -8.5;-0.6) in body-fat percentage (4.5%). The reduction in body-fat percentage of Group 1 (SlD) could be considered as clinically significant (1.1%). No differences occurred in body-fat percentage between the groups. The fact that there was a change in body composition without weight loss may be attributed to the strict compliance and adherence of . subjects to their dietary guidelines and exercise. The mean plasma glucose concentrations for both groups were within the acceptable glycaemic control reference range of 6-8 mmol/I throughout the study period. The mean serum fructosamine concentrations of Group 1 (SlD) remained unchanged during the trial period. The mean serum fructosamine concentrations of Group 2 (SFD) showed statistically significant improvement (95% Cl: -25.3;-3.2) during the trial period. No significant differences were observed between the two groups. Both groups maintained a mean HbA1c percentage within the optimal fasting reference range of < 7% throughout the study period. Group 1 (SlD) showed an improvement (from 6.8% at baseline to 6.3% at the end of the study period) in HbA1c percentage that were close to statistical significance and were clinically significant, while Group 2 (SFO) showed a statistically significant improvement (95% Cl: -2.6;-0.2). It can be concluded that subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus can safely include a moderate amount (15% of the total energy) of sucrose in a balanced diet, without deleterious effects on their glycaemic control. The long term glycaemic control (as measured by the HbA1c percentages) improved with good dietary compliance in both diets that included/excluded sucrose. Results of this study suggest that moderate intake of sucrose (15% of the total energy) had no aggravating effects on blood lipid concentrations of these subjects for a trial period of four weeks. However, the long term effects of sucrose on blood lipid concentrations could not be assessed. This sucrose modification in the diabetic diet may lead to improved adherence by subjects, as it minimizes the sense of deprivation. The inclusion of moderate sucrose in a balanced diet will enhance overall palatability and might improve long term compliance. Compliance to a balanced diet will improve diabetic control. Furthermore, fewer restrictions in the diet of subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus may also lead to a reduction in short and long term complications. More research is needed to determine the long term effects of sucrose on blood lipid concentrations in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. If health care workers continue to be reluctant to advise the inclusion of sucrose in the type 2 diabetic diet, because of personal prejudice or ignorance regarding the benefits of research such as this, it may create confusion and disbelief among diabetic patients concerning the efficacy of the diet. The colloquial concept of diabetes mellitus being merely a "sugar disease", and the misconception that sucrose causes diabetes mellitus, should be dispelled forthwith.
Afrikaans: Die voorkoms van diabetes mellitus in die Suid-Afrikaanse gemeenskap neem geweldig toe a.g.v. veranderinge in die bevolking en lewenstyl geassosieer met vinnige verstedeliking. Die voorkoms van diabetes sal na verwagting drievoudig toeneem binne die volgende 25 jaar. Volgens die "Diabetes Education Society in Southern-Africa" word sukrose huidiglik as 10% van die totale energie inname per dag toegelaat as deel van "n gebalanseerde diabetiese diet. Gesondheidswerkers is oningelig en/of skepties rakende hierdie riglyn en is teesinnig om pasiënte hieroor te konsulteer. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die effek van 15% van die daaglikse energie inname as sukrose op die glukemiese beheer van pasiënte met tipe 2 diabetes mellitus, te evalueer. Om hierdie doel te verwesenlik is die effek van die insluiting van 15% van die daaglikse energie inname as sukrose vergelyk met die uitsluiting van sukrose in die diëte van vry lewende pasiënte met tipe 2 diabetes mellitus i.t.v, glukemiese beheer (vastende plasma glukose konsentrasies, serum fruktosamien, HbA1C persentasies) en bloedlipiede (serum cholesterol, serum HDL cholesterol, serum LDL cholesterol en serum triglise riede). Die studie was 'n gerandomiseerde, gekontrolleerde, enkel-sentrum kliniese proef. Slegs 22 van die moontlike 401 gesifte proefpersone wat tipe 2 diabetes mellitus (bepaal deur GAD65 en C-peptied waardes) gehad het, en gewillig was om "n voorgeskrewe dieet vir "n 16 week studie periode te volg, het deelgeneem aan die studie. Basislyn data ingesamel sluit onder meer "n voedselrekord en geldige gekwantifiseerde voedselfrekwensie vraelys deur die navorser ingevul in, sowel as antropometriese metings (massa, lengte, LMI en liggaamsvet persentasies) en bloed monsters wat ontleed is. Voor aanvang van die studie is proefpersone aangemoedig om hul aktiwiteit te verhoog as deel van 'n gesonde lewensstyl. Ander lewenstyl gewoontes (rook, alkohol inname, oefening en medikasie) moes gehandhaaf word gedurende die studie periode. Proefpersone se diëte is individueel uitgewerk. Na "n 12 week periode waar proefpersone gestabiliseer is op "n diabetiese dieet, is hulle gerandomiseer. Groep 1, het 'n sukrose insluitende dieet (SlD) ontvang en Groep 2, 'n sukrose uitsluitende dieet (SFD) vir 'n vier week proef tydperk. Daar was dus "n aparte rekenaar ontwerpte randomisasie lys vir elk van die twee strata, sodat daar "n kontrole en studie groep was. Die navorser het bondige praatjies gelewer om proefpersone te motiveer en aan te moedig om hul dieet te volg, sowel as om insig te verleen in die dieet aspekte van diabetes mellitus. Pasiënte is weekliks deur die suster geweeg. Proefpersone se veneuse plasma glukose konsentrasies is weekliks, en serum fruktosamien, twee weekliks bepaal. Aan die einde van die studie is elke proefpersoon se liggaamsvet persentasie en vastende bloed monsters (bloed lipied konsentrasies en HbA1c persentasies) statisties geanaliseer om betekenisvolle verskille tussen die twee groepe te ondersoek. Dit blyk uit die ontleding van gewoontelike diet inname dat proefpersone 'n lae koolhidraat, hoë vet dieet gevolg het. Die gewoontelike sukrose inname van Groep 1 (SlD) was 4.5% en Groep 2 (SFD) s'n 4.2%. Die gemiddelde LMI van beide groepe was binne die reikwydte van klas I obesiteit (LMI = 30- 34.9kg/m2). Hoewel proefpersone hul massa gehandhaaf het tydens die studie, het beide groepe 'n verbetering in persentasie liggaamsvet getoon. Die verbetering (4.5%) in liggaamsvet persentasie van Groep 2 (SFD) was egter statisties betekenisvol (95% Cl: -8.5;-0.6). Die verbetering van Groep 1 is egter van kliniese belang (1.1 %). Geen verskille in liggaamsvet persentasie tussen die twee groepe is gevind nie. Die verandering in liggaamsvet persentasie met die instandhouding van liggaamsmassa kan moontlik toegeskryf word aan streng kontrole en dat proefpersone by hul dieetriglyne en oefen patroon gehou het. Die gemiddelde plasma glukose konsentrasies van beide groepe was deurentyd binne die aanvaarbare reikwydte vir glukemiese beheer (6-8 mmol/I). Die gemiddelde serum fruktosamien konsentrasies van Groep 2 (SFD) het statisties beduidend verbeter (95% Cl: -25.3;-3.2) gedurende die proeftydperk. Geen betekenisvolle verskille tussen die twee groepe is opgemerk nie. Beide groepe se HbA1c persentasies was binne die optimale vastende rykwydte van < 7% gedurende die studie tydperk. Groep 1 se verbetering (vanaf 6.8% met aanvang tot 6.3% teen die einde van die studie) in HbA 1c was baie na aan statisties beduidend en van kliniese belang, terwyl Groep 2 (SFD) "n statisties beduidende verbetering (95% Cl: - 2.6;-0.2) getoon het. Die gevolgtrekking kan gemaak word dat pasiënte met tipe 2 diabetes mellitus "n matige hoeveelheid sukrose (15% van die totale energie) met veilighied in "n gebalanseerde dieet kan insluit sonder nadelige effek op glukemiese beheer. Die langtermyn glukemiese beheer (soos gemeet deur die HbA1c persentasies) het verbeter met goeie dieetkontrole in beide diëte wat sukrose ingesluit/uitgesluit het. Die resultate van die studie dui aan dat die matige insluiting van sukrose geen nadelige effek op hierdie pasiënte se bloed lipied konsentrasies gehad het nie. Die lang termyn effek van sukrose op bloed lipied konsentrasies kon egter nie bepaal word nie. Die sukrose modifikasie in die diabetiese dieet kan lei tot beter dieet kontrole aangesien dit die gevoel van uitsluiting verminder. Dit kan ook die smaaklikheid van die dieet verbeter en kan moontlik die lang termyn kontrole verhoog. Gebalanseerde dieet kontrole verbeter glukemiese beheer. Minder beperkings in die diëte van pasiënte met tipe 2 diabetes mellitus kan komplikasies op kort en lang termyn verminder. Meer navorsing is nodig om die lang termyn effekte van sukrose op bloed lipied konsentrasies in pasiënte met tipe 2 diabetes mellitus, te bepaal. lndien gesondheidswerkers as 'n gevolg van persoonlike vooroordeel of oningeligtheid teësinnig bly om sukrose in te sluit in "n tipe 2 diabetiese dieet, nadat voordele aangedui is uit navorsing soos die, kan dit onder diabete lei tot verwardheid en wantroue in die effektiwiteit van dieet. Die wanopvatting in alle daagse terme dat diabetes bloot "n "suiker siekte" is en dat sukrose diabetes mellitus veroorsaak, moet gestaak word.
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Keywords
Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Sucrose, Glycaemic control, Plasma glucose, Serum fructosamine, HbA1c percentages, Compliance, Blood sugar monitoring, Sugar -- Health aspects, Diabetes -- Nutritional aspects, Dissertation (M.Sc. (Dietetics))--University of the Free State, 2003
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