Sugars and starch in the nutritional management of diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Nutritional recommendations, long recognized as an important aspect of diabetes mellitus treatment, have also been an area of persistent controversy, particularly regarding the proportions and types of carbohydrate and fat. This review addresses the role of sugars within medical nutrition therapy for diabetes mellitus. Nutritional recommendations for diabetes mellitus treatment were revised recently. The new guidelines do not specifically restrict intake of sugars, although general recommendations are made for including fiber, whole grains, vegetables, and fruits within dietary selections containing starches. For carbohydrates, the principle focus is on overall caloric amounts. In type 1 diabetes the most effective approach to the control of postprandial hyperglycemia continues to be adjustment of premeal doses of insulin on the basis of carbohydrate counting. In type 2 diabetes, in addition to a focus on caloric content of carbohydrate, consideration continues to be given to the role of the glycemic index as a determinant of postprandial hyperglycemia and overall metabolic control. Nevertheless, consensus recommendations do not support widespread use of the glycemic index. An area of some change is a more clear endorsement of including monounsaturated fatty acids. Current recommendations are that monounsaturated fatty acids and carbohydrates combined should provide 60-70% of daily energy intake, with individual flexibility in the respective proportions, whereas intake of saturated fats is limited to < 10% of energy intake. This new emphasis reflects greater awareness of the importance of responding to individual and cultural dietary preferences and the need to address treatment of both hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in diabetes mellitus.