Blood glucose and plasma insulin responses to fat-free milk and low-lactose fat-free milk in young type 1 diabetics

Abstract

The blood glucose and plasma insulin responses to test milk samples were studied in eight insulin-dependent diabetics. After an overnight fast, the subjects (aged 20-45 years) were given a breakfast containing two Weetabix biscuits (20 g carbohydrate) with 500 ml of either regular (S) fat-free milk (25 g lactose) or 500 ml of a new low-lactose (D) fat-free milk (3.75 g lactose and 4.25 g fructose). The regular morning insulin dose was omitted. Mean basal plasma glucose level was slightly higher before S milk (11.4 vs. 10.1 mmol/l). The peak increment in plasma glucose was higher in S milk (9.4 vs. 6.6 mmol/l). The rise was 83% above basal (S) vs. 65% (D). Although the final mean plasma glucose concentration was not significantly higher 3 h after S milk compared with D milk (17.9 vs. 14.3 mmol/l) the incremental area under the plasma glucose curve was much greater (p less than 0.001) with S milk than with D milk (1266 +/- 295 units vs. 909 +/- 242 units). No galactose was detectable in any sample and there was no difference in plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate levels. The results suggest that the low-lactose fat-free milk (D) may be suitable for diabetic diets and weight reducing diets due to the lower contribution of energy. The results suggest that fat-free milk does not exert a fast action on blood glucose concentration and therefore fat-free milk and especially low-lactose fat-free milk may also prove to be suitable for diabetic diets.