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| Can I Eat Sugar? |  You have probably heard that diabetics should not have any table sugar. Some health care providers continue to promote this opinion; many others realizing that the average person lives in the real world and sometimes will probably indulge in a bit of sugar. The prevalent part of experts now says that small amounts of sugar are fine, as long as they are part of an overall healthy meal plan. In fact, table sugars do not increase your blood sugar any more than similar amounts of calories from starches which is contained in many foods that we eat. Don’t forget that sugar is just one type of carbohydrate.
Following tips will help you to deal with sugar.
- First of all, read food labels. Learn how to determine the amount of sugar or carbohydrates in the foods that you eat.
- When you eat a sugary food, like cakes, cookies, or candies, replace them by another carbohydrate or starch (e.g. potatoes) that you would have eaten that day. Be sure that you account for this in your carbohydrate amount for the day. If it is added to your meal for the day, then don’t forget to adjust your insulin dose for the added carbohydrates, in such a way you will continue to keep glucose control as much as possible.
- Remember that sugary foods are fattening. Great number of foods that contains a lot of table sugar is high in fat and calories. You, as a diabetic, should eat these foods in moderation.
- You have to check your blood glucose after eating sugary foods.
- Talk to your doctor about how you can adjust your insulin if needed when eating sugars.
Ultimately the total grams of carbohydrates (rather than what the source of the sugar is) is what needs to be accounted for in the nutritional management of diabetic.
Artificial Sweeteners
You can add artificial sweeteners to a variety of foods and beverages without adding more carbohydrates to your diet. Non-caloric artificial sweeteners also greatly reduce calories in your favorite foods.
Remember that foods with artificial sweeteners are not necessarily “no” carbohydrates foods. Many of them have carbohydrates; consequently, you must read the food labels to determine the gram amounts per serving. Foods labeled with artificial sweeteners can affect your blood sugars.
You can adjust your meal or medication to maintain blood glucose control. Sugar free means that no sugar has been added but you must remember these foods still contain carbohydrates which affect your blood sugars.
You can use such artificial sweeteners as:
- Aspartame
- Acesulfame-k
- Sucralose
- Saccharine
Caution: Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid saccharine, and people who suffer from phenylketonuria should not use aspartame.
Such artificial sweeteners as xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol have some calories and slightly increase blood glucose level.
You have to remember that eating too much of any artificial sweetener can cause gas and diarrhea.
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