Does sugar free candy sound too good to be true? Foods advertising the words “sugar free” can masquerade as healthy foods for diabetics, but do not be deceived. In order to determine how we incorporate it into a diabetic diet, we need to take a closer look at the nutrition label. The gentleman below wrote in to www.FOODPICKER.org questioning sugar free candy. If you are curious too, check out my response.
Q: My doctor recently diagnosed me with type 2 diabetes. I know it is important to watch my sugar intake. Is sugarless candy really sugarless?
A: Sugar Free candy is made with 1 or more of two types of sweeteners: 1) sugar alcohols, like sorbitol, maltitol, xylitol, mannitol, erythritol, and 2) artificial sweeteners, like sucralose (Splenda), acesulfame K, aspartame, saccharin, and neotame. You will notice that the sugar alcohols end in suffix “ol” identifying it as such.
Sugar alcohols do not raise blood sugar as much as pure sugar or starch, however, the effects can vary depending on what type of alcohol. According to the American Diabetes Association, if a product has more than 5 grams of sugar alcohols (as seen on the food label),
Sugar alcohols occur naturally in plant foods. Artificial sweeteners are simply that…artificial OR man-made.
Sugar free foods can be a better option for diabetics, but the absence of sugar does not mean the absence of carbohydrate. For example, a sugar free cookie might not contain carbohydrates from sugar, but will contain carbohydrates from other ingredients like flour. Before munching on a sugar free food, a diabetic should consider the total carbohydrates in the food per serving and work that into their overall meal plan. Also to consider…calories, saturated fat, trans fats (hydrogenated oils), and sodium. Does the food have any nutritional value? Does it provide any vitamins, minerals, fiber or protein?
Lastly, sugar alcohols can have a laxative effect and cause GI distress. If eaten in moderation (small amounts), there should be no or minimal symptoms, but overindulgence of foods containing sugar alcohols may cause some uncomfortable problems.
An occasional sweet treat or indulgence is perfectly fine and normal. And for diabetics, a sugar free option may be a better choice than the regular counterpart. But when choosing foods to incorporate into a diabetic diet, look to include foods that will provide nutrients and benefit your health.
