The Effect Of Consum Ption Of Cassava And Cassava Products On Blood And Urine Glucose Levels In Adult Diabetic Patients

ABSTRACT Diet is one of the very important components in diabetes treatment, and since its main problem is utilisation of glucose, diabetics are advised to carefully select foods rich in carbohydrates. It is worth noting that cassava which has a comparable carbohydrate (wet weight) content (40.8g/100g) to plantain (39.3g/100g) and energy values of 171 cal/lOOg and 169 cal/lOOg (on wet-weight basis) respectively is avoided by many diabetics who eat mostly plantain. The belief is that cassava contains a lot of energy which can worsen their condition. However, no scientific work has been done to prove that. This study therefore investigated the effect of the consumption of cassava or any of its products on the blood and urine glucose levels in diabetics under treatment. Each selected patient who consented to participate in the study was followed for a period of five weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected twice in the week for glucose analysis. Forty patients who participated in the study were all under the care of a physician specialist and a dietician. The mean fasting blood glucose when cassava was consumed compared to when not consumed and the mean urinary glucose when cassava was consumed compared to when not consumed were not significantly different (p>0.05). Total urine and glucose excreted within the 12-hour period in the night after supper were also determined. There was no correlation between urine volume and glucose excreted (r=0.12; p-value=0.99). The mean excretion of urine when cassava was consumed and when not consumed was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Energy consumed from various foods eaten by the patients within the day was also calculated. When the total energy consumed at supper was related to fasting blood glucose, the relationship was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Patients' body weights were positively but not significantly correlated with blood glucose (r=0.25, p>0.05). The univariate effects of age (p= 0.41), sex (p = 9.9) and energy (p= 0.12) on fasting blood and urinary glucose were not statistically significant. These variables [age (p=0.67), sex (p=0.34) and energy (p=0.57)] were found to have no effect on urinary glucose as well. Adjusting for these did not change the results. In conclusion, as long as patients are on treatment, there appears to be no significant rise in blood and urinary glucose levels in adult diabetics who consumed cassava diets and products for a period of five weeks. Consumption of cassava and its products does not appear to worsen the condition of the adult diabetic as long as he/she in on a hypoglycaemic drugs