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Review
. 2023 Aug 9;15(16):3507.
doi: 10.3390/nu15163507.

Diet and Glycemic Index in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Alessia Quarta  1 , Miriana Guarino  1 , Roberta Tripodi  1 , Cosimo Giannini  1 , Francesco Chiarelli  1 , Annalisa Blasetti  1
Affiliations
Review

Diet and Glycemic Index in Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Alessia Quarta et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

In children with type 1 diabetes, a healthy lifestyle is important to control postprandial glycemia and to avoid hyperglycemic peaks that worsen the inflammatory state of vessels and tissues. Glycemic index and glycemic load are two important indexes which assess the quality and quantity of foods consumed during meals. The main macronutrients of the diet have a different effect on postprandial blood glucose levels, so it is important that diabetic children consume foods which determine a slower and steadier glycemic peak. In this review, we present the results of the most recent studies carried out in the pediatric population with T1D, whose aim was to analyze the effects of low-glycemic-index foods on glycemic control. The results are promising and demonstrate that diets promoting low-glycemic-index foods guarantee a greater glycemic stability with a reduction in postprandial hyperglycemic peaks. However, one of the main limitations is represented by the poor adherence of children to a healthy diet. In order to obtain satisfactory results, a possibility might be to ensure a balanced intake of low-, moderate- and high-glycemic-index foods, preferring those with a low glycemic index and limiting the consumption of the high- and moderate-glycemic-index types.

Keywords: diet; glycemic control; glycemic index; glycemic load; low-glycemic-index diet; type 1 diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of macronutrients according to total daily energy intake.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Glycemic peak after ingestion of high-, medium- and low-GI foods.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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