Restriction of dietary sucrose was for years the crucial recommendation for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Some recent reports revealed that its introduction into the diabetic diet in a mixed meal does not increase the risk of hyperglycaemia. During a winter camp for diabetic children, 19 non-obese diabetic children (age 10.2 - 16.0 years, diabetes duration 3 - 13 years) were given four different afternoon snacks with an equivalent carbohydrate content - (1) bread and butter (starch, 24 g) or half a portion of bread and butter with 25 g of either (2) chocolate with fructose (starch, 12 g, fructose, 8 g, lactose, 4 g) or (3) ordinary milk chocolate (starch, 12 g, sucrose, 8 g, lactose, 4 gr) - or (4) 3 pieces of „diabetic“ cake Domino (starch, 4 g, fructose, 20 g). The study was arranged in a cross-matched manner. Blood sugar levels did not differ significantly 1, 2 or 3 hours after the different snacks. After the snack (1) blood glucose was slightly higher and after snack (4) slightly lower compared to other snacks. Introduction of sucrose into the diet of diabetic children in the form of mixed meals does not change the glycaemic response. On the contrary, its elimination emphasises the feeling of being ill and increases the risk of non-compliance.

        Key words: type 1 diabetes mellitus, children, diet, sucrose