Effects of Low Fructose Diet on Glycemic Control in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Background and Diabetes is one of the most common and chronic diseases in the world. The prevalence and incidence of this disease is rising in most societies and also in Iran. New research suggests that added sugar, especially fructose, is the main trigger for diabetes and pre-diabetes, even more potent than other carbohydrates. This study aimed to determine the effects of low fructose diet on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.
In a randomized clinical trial, 40 patients with type 2 diabetes (40-70 years of age) were recruited from Qazvin Diabetic Society. Patients in treatment and control group followed a low fructose diet with at last 12 g glucose per day and regular diabetic diet for 8 weeks, respectively. At the beginning of the study and at the end of week eight, the anthropometric, fasting blood glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and HbA1c indices were measured.
The mean age and duration of diabetes in patients were 53±7.5 and 8±2, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in qualitative variables (sex, smoking, and medications) and quantitative variables (age, duration of diabetes, and body mass index) at baseline. Anthropometric indices were improved in this study but the changes were not significant. At the end of the study, fasting blood glucose levels decreased in both groups but there was no significant difference between the two groups (P= 0.143). The mean HbA1c changes at the end of the study were significantly greater in the intervention group (P= 0.005) but the changes in other glycemic factors were not significantly different between the two groups.
It seems that patients with type 2 diabetes have better glycemic control with limited use of fructose.