Explorative, Pilot Study With Cross-over Design on the Metabolic Response of Orally Applied Slow Released Carbohydrates in Diabetes Type 2 Patients

Epidemiological studies have shown that postprandial hyperglycemia is associated with atherosclerotic diseases. Therefore, therapeutic strategies to reduce postprandial hyperglycemia are desirable. An effective way to improve postprandial glucose level is the use of carbohydrates with low glycemic index. Isomaltulose is a reducing disaccharide occurring naturally in honey and sugar cane juice, including products derived thereof. It is an isomer of sucrose and composed of glucose and fructose linked alpha-1,6 instead of alpha-1,2.

Isomaltulose has been reported to be digested more slowly than sucrose. Due to this property, lower and slower increases in blood glucose responses are expected for isomaltulose than sucrose. Early studies have demonstrated attenuated glycemic and insulin responses after isomaltulose ingestion than after sucrose. This study was performed to describe the postprandial glucose metabolism more comprehensively after bolus administration of different doses of isomaltulose compared to sucrose in type 2 diabetic patients.