Comparison of the glycaemic effect of fructose, sucrose and starch-containing mid-morning snacks in insulin-dependent diabetics.

Capillary blood glucose levels were measured every 30 min for 2 h after four different 20 g carbohydrate mid-morning snacks of foods containing predominantly fructose, sucrose or starch in eight insulin-dependent diabetics and eight normal control subjects. In the diabetic subjects, there was no significant difference in the glycaemic effect of the four different snacks. This study does not support the view that fructose is a useful alternative sweetener for diabetics or the view that sucrose should be excluded from the diet of insulin-dependent diabetics.