Effects of dietary sucrose intake on glycaemic control in Nigerians with type 2 diabetes

Individuals with type 2 diabetes are routinely advised to abstain from using dietary sugar for fear of aggravating existing diabetic control; yet the supporting evidence for this recommendation is unavailable, hence this study. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of dietary sucrose can affect diabetic control. Adults with stable type 2 diabetes [monthly fasting blood sugar (FBS) of <= 7.00 mmol] for three consecutive months were offered the use of sugar in their tea. Subjects were examined fortnightly in the first 8 weeks, then monthly. At each visit, FBS and other measurements were taken over a 28-week period. The study involved 11 subjects (five females) with a mean age of 61.2 +/- 10.0 years and a body mass index (BMI) of 27.99 +/- 5.54 kg/m(2). Mean FBS values at each period of observations were similar to each other ( p = 0.5, df = 9) and differences between consecutive mean FBS values were also similar (p = 0.33). Specifically, FBS only varied between 5.27 +/- 1.13 and 4.84 +/- 0.88 mmol/l, while body weight remained unchanged. The average daily sucrose consumption was about 11 g with no observable (p > 0.05) correlation between sucrose intake and FBS. The results suggest that dietary sucrose intake of this amount had no adverse effect on glycaemic control and body weight in individuals with type 2 diabetes over the period of observation.