Tania Buehler1, Lia Bally2, Ayse Sila Dokumaci1, Christoph Stettler2, and Chris Boesch1
1Depts. Radiology and Clinical Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 2Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, Inselspital Bern, Bern, Switzerland
In comparison to healthy subjects, there is scarce data on the influence
of different carbohydrate-types on the metabolism in exercising individuals
with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Based on 13C-MRS, blood
sampling, stable isotopes, and indirect calorimetry the impact of glucose-fructose
and glucose-alone was investigated in T1DM subjects without prior insulin reduction.
Glucose-fructose ingestion showed a shift in fuel metabolism towards increased
fat oxidation and potential glycogen sparing effects. Despite the negative
reputation of fructose it seems to be a more efficient fuel in exercising
T1DM subjects, since blood glucose levels are not immediately elevated due to
its different metabolization.
