Sugar-free foods are favored by a large number of diabetic patients because they have a smaller impact on blood sugar. However, for diabetic patients, it is of great significance and must be accurately grasped how to correctly understand, consume, and choose sugar-free foods.
Sugar-free foods = sugar-free?
Sugar-free foods refer to foods that do not contain high-glycemic-index sugars such as sugarcane sugar and beet sugar, as well as starch hydrolysates (such as glucose, maltose, fructose, etc.), but use low-calorie sweeteners (such as xylitol, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, saccharin, etc.) to compensate for the taste.
China's national standard "General Rules for the Labeling of Prepackaged Foods for Special Dietary Uses" stipulates that "sugar-free" means that the sugar content in solid or liquid foods does not exceed 0.5% (i.e., 0.5g) per 100g or 100ml. These foods often contain a large amount of low-glycemic-index dietary fiber, so the blood sugar rises more slowly after consumption compared to other foods containing the same amount of carbohydrates. Therefore, these foods are not "sugar-free" in the true sense.
Cannot replace medication
Some "sugar friends" believe that sugar-free foods only contain low-calorie sweeteners and no sugar, are specially produced for diabetic patients, and are helpful for improving blood sugar, so they can be eaten as they please, and even stop or reduce the dose of hypoglycemic drugs. This is a wrong approach.
Sugar-free foods can only ensure that blood sugar does not rise rapidly in a short period of time, but they still contain a large amount of high-calorie components such as starch and fat.
A US study found that people who drink large amounts of sugar-free or low-calorie beverages for a long time are more likely to gain weight than the average person. Therefore, eating sugar-free foods must reduce the intake of staple foods to maintain daily energy balance. Diabetic patients can refer to the "Equivalent Calorie Food Ingredient Exchange Table" for calculation.
Among sugar-free beverages, tea drinks are the most recommended, including green tea, scented tea, oolong tea, barley tea, etc. Diabetic patients can drink tea drinks without sucrose, and drinking tea is also beneficial for lowering blood lipids. In addition, although moderate consumption of sweeteners has no effect on the human body, it is necessary to choose sweeteners scientifically. People with frequent diarrhea should not eat foods containing sugar alcohols.
In addition, there are reports abroad that aspartame may cause more than 80 kinds of adverse reactions. Children and pregnant women should not eat products containing chemically synthesized sweeteners. Therefore, sugar friends can eat sugar-free foods, but they cannot be unbridled; they must master moderation. In addition, sugar-free foods have no therapeutic effect and cannot replace the use of hypoglycemic drugs.
Check the ingredient list when purchasing
Sugar-free foods have certain nutritional value, and reasonable consumption can enrich the diet types of diabetic patients and improve their quality of life. However, there are many types of products on the market, and the quality is uneven, with a qualification rate of only 80%. So, how to choose genuine sugar-free foods?
First, choose sugar-free foods produced by large and medium-sized manufacturers, which are reasonably formulated and nutritionally balanced. Do not buy "three-no products" just because they are cheap.
Second, when purchasing sugar-free foods, sugar friends should focus on the ingredient list. See what sweetener the product uses to replace the relevant sugar, and whether it contains dextrin, maltose, starch syrup, corn syrup, etc., all of which belong to starch hydrolysates. You can prefer products containing oligosaccharides and sugar alcohols, and try to choose fewer products containing sweeteners such as "aspartame", "saccharin", "acesulfame potassium", etc.
Finally, be more cautious about foods labeled "sucrose-free" and do not eat them blindly; check the ingredient list for white sugar or glucose. Sugar friends should be discerning and beware of word games in products.
Sugar-free foods bring more choices to the diet of diabetic patients and improve their quality of life; but they cannot rely on sugar-free foods and relax on total control. Only by deeply understanding their characteristics, and choosing them reasonably and accurately, can they be used to the fullest and benefit from them.