Composition and method for the treatment of dysglucaemia

Abstract

Dysglucaemia is treated and/or prevented by the administration of granulated starch, enzymatically degraded and releasing reducing sugars at a rate, adjusted to the metabolism of the patient, suffering from dysglucaemia. For example nocturnal hypoglycaemia in diabetic patients is prevented by administering to said patients a granulate or tablets comprising granulated cornstarch, and preferably also heat treated cornstarch and a low calorie sweetener. The inventive granulation minimises the available surface area and retards the enzymatic degradation of the cornstarch and ensures a controlled, e.g. a substantially linear release of reducing sugars, such as glucose, and a stable blood glucose level during several hours. The granulate or tablets are low in calories and contain no free sugar.

1 . A method for the prevention of dysglucaemia in a patient, the method involving a minimal supply of calories, wherein an effective amount of starch is administered orally to said patient in granulated form having a reduced surface available for enzymatic degradation, wherein granulation delays the enzymatic degradation of the starch into reducing sugars to a duration and level, adjusted to the metabolism of the patient.  
     
     
         2 . A method for the long term prevention of nocturnal and/or morning hypoglycaemia in patients suffering from insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM), wherein a predetermined amount of starch is administered orally to the patient in granulated form, wherein granulation delays the enzymatic degradation of the starch into reducing sugars to a duration and level, adjusted to the metabolism of the patient.  
     
     
         3 . A method for effective glycaemic control in diabetic patients, the method involving a minimal supply of calories, wherein a predetermined amount of starch is administered orally to the patient in granulated form, wherein granulation delays the enzymatic degradation of the starch into reducing sugars to a duration and level, adjusted to the metabolism of the patient.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patients are patients scheduled to undergo surgical or invasive medical treatment.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patients are diabetic patients scheduled for surgical or invasive medical treatment.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patients are suffering from a chronic disease-selected from the group consisting of viral infections, liver disease, hepatitis, alcohol abuse, cancer, HIV, AIDS, and a combination thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patients are patients on post-operative medication, having undergone surgical or invasive treatment.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the treatment is given in conjunction to insulin treatment.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 3 , characterized in that the treatment is given in conjunction to insulin treatment.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the treatment is given in conjunction to insulin treatment.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the treatment is given in conjunction to insulin treatment.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the treatment is given in conjunction to insulin treatment.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the treatment is given in conjunction to insulin treatment.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said patients are athletes training or participating in an endurance sport.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein said patients are athletes training or participating in an endurance sport.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein said patients are athletes training or participating in an endurance sport.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein said patients are athletes training or participating in an endurance sport.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said patients are athletes training or participating in an endurance sport.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said endurance sport is selected from the group consisting of long distance running, long distance skiing and long distance skating.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the starch is encapsulated in a substance selected from the group consisting of gum arabicum, potassium alginate, guar gum, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose; liquid oils, liquid and hard fats and waxes.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the starch is encapsulated in a substance selected from the group consisting of gum arabicum, potassium alginate, guar gum, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose; liquid oils, liquid and hard fats and waxes.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the starch is encapsulated in a substance selected from the group consisting of gum arabicum, potassium alginate, guar gum, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose; liquid oils, liquid and hard fats and waxes.  
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the starch is encapsulated in ethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the starch is encapsulated in ethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the starch is encapsulated in ethyl cellulose.  
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the enzymatic degradation is delayed to an extent resulting in a linear release of reducing sugars for more than 4 hours.  
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the enzymatic degradation is delayed to an extent resulting in a linear release of reducing sugars for more than 4 hours.  
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the enzymatic degradation is delayed to an extent resulting in a linear release of reducing sugars for more than 4 hours.