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Sugar-Free For Diabetes: What Does It Mean?

”No added sugar” and ”Sugar-free” are popular terms that can be seen on various food packages these days. However, don’t misjudge both these types of products to be healthy or diabetes-friendly. One needs to analyze the constituents further to understand the effects on a diabetic. On the other hand, it is important to understand what does sugar-free really mean. Sugar-free for diabetes does not necessarily mean calorie-free and diabetes is all about the management of calories.

FDA labels and regulations: sugar-free v/s no added sugar

Current FDA food labelling regulations define sugars as the units of sugars used in foods. Examples of these units of sugar include refined sugar, dextrose, fructose corn syrup, honey syrup, brown sugar, and others. Thus, a food labelled as sugar-free for diabetes contains less than 0.5 grams of these sugars and may contain a lesser number of calories as compared to their sweetened counterparts.

Various terms are used by FDA such as sugar-free, zero sugar, no sugar, and sugarless. Some products such as canned fruits are also labelled as ‘no sugar added.’ However, these products contain their natural sugars, but no artificial sugar is added during processing.

Various categories of artificial sweeteners or sweetening ingredients in sugar-free foods

Terms such as sugar-free or no added sugar do not give us information on how much artificial sweeteners are added. Most labels claim they contain artificial sweeteners; however, it is necessary to know what kind of sweeteners are present and what are their implications for diabetics.

There are two kinds of ingredients that are used as artificial sweeteners:

Sugar alcohols: They are called polyols; they are neither sugars nor alcohol. These do contain fewer calories and are digested slowly by the body, thus causing a slower release of sugars in the blood. Common names for these polyols are isomalt, sorbitol, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, and xylitol.

Sugar substitutes: These contain no calories or carbohydrates and do not cause a rise in blood sugar levels. Sugar substitutes approved by the FDA include aspartame, neotame, saccharin, stevia, and sucralose. Most of the sugar substitutes are made from these compounds.

Whenever you come across products in stores that say ‘sugar-free’ they usually fall into either one of these categories.

Sugar-free foods sweetened with more than one type of sugar alcohol

Sugar-free foods that contain one or more sugar substitutes that contain other ingredients with calories and carbohydrates.

Sugar substitutes used that do not contain other ingredients with calories and carbohydrates.

Whatever type of sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners you consume always be aware of how many calories or carbohydrates they contain. Always eat them in reasonable portions and follow a healthy meal plan.

Diabetics should avoid any sweetened foods; however, the substitution of jaggery for sugar and limited usage of jaggery is better than sugar-free products.

Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD

Also Read: Turbinado Sugar: Understanding Its Health Impact and Uses

Are sugar-free foods for diabetic patients good?

So, the real question remains, are these sugar-free substitutes good for patients with high blood sugar? Over time, there have been many sugar substitutes, and the one people choose to use is their personal choice. They are safe for people with diabetes, and they can be used to reduce both your calorie and carbohydrate intake. Sugar substitutes also can help curb those cravings you have for something sweet.

These sugar substitutes can be consumed in moderation. It is important to remember that only a small amount is needed since the sweetening power of these substitutes is (at least) 100 times stronger than regular sugar.

Read More: 10 Harmful Effects of Sugar

Disclaimer: The information provided here is for educational/awareness purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional and should not be relied upon to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The reader should consult a registered medical practitioner to determine the appropriateness of the information and before consuming any medication. PharmEasy does not provide any guarantee or warranty (express or implied) regarding the accuracy, adequacy, completeness, legality, reliability or usefulness of the information; and disclaims any liability arising thereof.

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