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No Sugar Products Using Sugar Alternatives.
A DiabetesTeam Member asked a question 💭

What are your opinions on products stating "no sugar added", when in fact they use ulternative sugars. I feel these alternative sugars can be just as harmful to diabetics.

posted October 14, 2020
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A DiabetesTeam Member

You have to really read the labels when they say "no sugar added".

That doesn't mean "no sugar", just no extra added. So it still may have a "dangerous to diabetics" level of sugar - that's point number one. No sugar added jams still may have a high "natural" sugar count as an example.

Next, they may be adding some form of artificial sweetener or a sugar alcohol.

Most artificial sweeteners are diabetic friendly. There is a lot of (unproven/undocumented) theories about whether they are bad for you but all the major health organizations classify them as GRAS (generally regarded as safe).

Many sugar alcohols, but not all, are at least somewhat diabetic friendly. You can look up their GI (Glycemic Index) to see how they "may" effect you.

Erythritol (GI of 1) and Xlyitol (GI of 12) are two common ones added to "no sugar added" food products. For perspective, table sugar has a GI of 65 and the sugar that your Liver dumps has a GI of 100.

Generally (and each individual is different), sticking with a product that has a GI under 20 is at least a safe starting place. So if that "no added sugar" product was "enhanced" with Dextrose (GI of 100), you would be better off if it had "added sugar" which is only a GI of 65 :)

Many of the Atkins (treats) uses a sugar alcohol called Maltitol which has a GI of 35. So while it won't rot your teeth and is zero carbs if you are simply on a "diet", a GI of 35 "could" blow your blood sugar numbers up (it does mine so I have to treat those products carefully - still better than a "real brownie" but I can't eat a bunch).

It would be really helpful if the Government departments that have instituted the Nutrition Labels would also add one more category - "diabetic friendly". Then we wouldn't need google to try and figure out whether "no sugar added" products containing "Maltodextrine" would kill us or not - and they will with a GI of 110 which makes our own liver look like a "lower sugar option" :)

posted October 14, 2020 (edited)
A DiabetesTeam Member

The key word is "added". They may not ADD sugar, but sugar can still be there.

posted October 14, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

I think it misleads people, the true culprits are Carbs, so even if no sugar added written does not mean there is no Carbs, Carbs (except for Fiber) gets converted into sugar during digestive process. I think education should be based on Carbs and not sugar. To know how much sugar you really are taking in, you need to take Carbs 10 minus fiber 3 which then = 7 Net Carbs = sugar, this is what we truly should be looking for, Net Carbs instead of added sugar or not. Since counting Carbs I managed to control my sugar levels, I am off diabetic medications for now because of dietary changes, but as we all know diabetes is progressive and one day I might need to get back on medication, or if illnesses or injuries arise it might happen also while my body heals. I no longer look at sugar contents, I look at Carbs minus the Fiber

posted October 14, 2020
A DiabetesTeam Member

When I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2 back in 2013, I was told by my pharmacist and my dr not to touch the aspartame. It wasn't good for me. But they also told me because I have type 2, not to cut my sugars out all together , but watch them and watch the carbos. So the juice or anything that says no sugar added is gross, I tried them.

posted January 9, 2021
A DiabetesTeam Member

When there’s that other sugar in it, i will not touch it at.. way to sickly sweet for me and leaves awful taste in my mouth

posted December 19, 2020

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