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Members responded with urgent, practical guidance to someone experiencing dangerously low blood sugar (3.9 mmol), emphasizing the critical... Read more
@A DiabetesTeam Member
Hello Thakane / Lorena 🇿🇦
Watch out for hidden sugars.
Hidden sugars for diabetics lurk in many unexpected foods, disguised under names like dextrose, 
maltose, 
fructose, 
corn syrup, 
agave, 
honey, 
caramel, and 
fruit juice concentrates,
And often found in savory items like 
pasta sauces, 
ketchup, 
salad dressings, 
canned fruits, and even "healthy" foods like 
smoothies, 
flavored yogurts, and 
non-dairy milks, 
significantly impacting blood sugar despite labels, so always check the ingredient list and serving sizes carefully.
Common Hiding Places 
Condiments: 
Ketchup, 
BBQ sauce, 
salad dressings (even low-fat), and 
pasta sauces are loaded with added sugars, 
notes CommonSpirit Health and Manna Health Products.
Dairy & 
Alternatives: 
Flavored yogurts, 
fruit-on-the-bottom yogurts, 
and many non-dairy milks 
(almond, soy) often have added sweeteners, 
says Clicks and CommonSpirit Health.
Processed Foods: 
Canned fruits (look for "in juice" not "in syrup"), 
soups, and even 
breads can contain surprising amounts of sugar, 
notes CommonSpirit Health.
"Healthy" Drinks: 
Smoothies, even homemade ones, can become sugar bombs with juices, syrups, and yogurts, says Bankmed.
Breakfast Items: 
Muffins, 
cereals (even granola), and 
flavored oatmeal packets are often sugar-dense.
Alias Names for Sugar (Read Your Labels!) 
Syrups: 
Corn syrup, 
high-fructose corn syrup, 
rice syrup, 
malt syrup, 
agave nectar, 
maple syrup.

Suffix "-ose": Dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose.
Other Names: 
Cane juice/crystals, 
fruit juice concentrate, 
molasses, 
caramel, 
maltodextrin, 
agave.
Tips for Diabetics
Read Ingredient Lists: 
Sugar is often listed high up if it's a major ingredient.
Check Serving Sizes: 
A small serving size can make sugar content look lower than it is.
Choose Whole Foods: 
Opt for plain yogurt with fresh fruit, water, and homemade sauces.
Look for "No Added Sugar": On packaged items, says CommonSpirit Health.
🇿🇦🤗🙏
I always have juice boxes in fridge.
That's not good. Having a low blood sugar 3.9 is dangerous. It can cause some bad reactions. When mine goes that low I get a juice box or a candy or a little chocolate bar to bring my sugars back up.
@A DiabetesTeam Member
It’s my pleasure 🙏🤗
@A DiabetesTeam Member
Great advice. Thank you Elizabeth 💕🙏🤗
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