The
polyol isomalt (
Palatinit) is a very low glycaemic
sugar replacer. The effect of food supplemented with
isomalt instead of higher glycaemic ingredients like
sucrose and/or
starch hydrolysates on metabolic control in patients with
type 2 diabetes was examined in this open study. Thirty-three patients with
type 2 diabetes received a diet with foods containing 30 g/d
isomalt instead of higher-glycaemic
carbohydrates for 12 weeks.
Metformin and/or thiazolidindiones were the only concomitant oral
antidiabetics allowed during the study. Otherwise, the participants maintained their usual diet during the test phase, but were instructed to refrain from additional sweetened foods. Before start, after 6 weeks and 12 weeks (completion of the study), blood samples were taken and analysed for clinical routine parameters, metabolic, and risk markers. Thirty-one patients completed the study. The test diet was well accepted and tolerated. After 12 weeks, significant reductions were observed for: glycosylated haemoglobin,
fructosamine, fasting
blood glucose,
insulin,
proinsulin, C-peptide,
insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and oxidised
LDL (an
atherosclerosis risk factor). In addition, significant lower nonesterified
fatty acid concentrations were found in female participants. Routine blood measurements and blood
lipids remained unchanged. The substitution of glycaemic ingredients by
isomalt and the consequent on reduction of the glycaemic load within otherwise unchanged diet was accompanied by significant improvement in the metabolic control of diabetes. The present study is in agreement with findings of previous reported studies in human subjects demonstrating beneficial effects of low glycaemic diets on
glucose metabolism in patients with
diabetes mellitus type 2.