Successful Use of a Sucrose-Containing Enteral Formula in Diabetic Nursing Home Elderly

The prevalence of diabetes among the elderly is high (1), and many elderly diabetic patients require formula feeding for nutritional support. Traditionally, sucrose-containing formulas are seldom administered to diabetic patients, since it is assumed that the high content of simple sugars will lead to a rapid elevation in blood glucose levels. However, sucrose actually has a moderate glycemic index (2), and there is no evidence that carbohydrate from sugars is more rapidly absorbed than from starch (3). Also, a high-sucrose diet did not adversely affect glycemia in subjects with type 2 diabetes (4). Finally, the position statement of the American Diabetes Association in 2002 (5) states that the intake of sucrose-containing foods by diabetic individuals need not be restricted.

The prevalence of diabetes among residents of long-term care institutions is ∼18% (6), and patients may require prolonged formula feeding. The use of high-fat, low-carbohydrate commercial formulas for diabetic patients is controversial (7), and their usefulness in prolonged nutritional support may be limited.

The purpose of our study was to examine the effect of a sucrose-containing high-calorie, high-protein, in-house formula on the nutritional state and glycemic control of elderly diabetic patients in a long-term care institution.