You think diabetics can eat sweets? Scientific understanding of “sugar alternatives”Sugar is often a diet that is strictly controlled by diabetics, but this does not mean that it has to go away. With the development of food technology and the widespread use of sugar substitutes (settling agents), more options are available for diabetics. So, is the sugar replacement really safe? How do we use it in science?What’s a sugar substitute?Sugar substitutes are low-calorie or no-calorie sweets used to replace traditional sugar, providing sweets without a significant increase in blood sugar. Depending on the source and nature, sugar alternatives fall into the following main categories:
Artificial sweeteners such as Aspartame, Acesulfame-K and Saccharin. These sweeteners are high in sweetness but have virtually no calorie and do not affect blood sugar.
Natural sweeteners: such as stevia and Rohango extracts, which come from natural plants and are pure and low in heat.
3. Sugar alcohols: e.g., wood glucoseol (Xylitol), lactose sugar (Erythritol). These sweets have both sweet taste and some heat, but they have less effect on blood sugar due to slow absorption.
Effects of sugar alternatives on blood sugarUnlike traditional sugar, most sugar substitutes are not directly metabolized to glucose by the body and therefore have a less significant impact on blood sugar levels. For example, the natural sweetener is almost unincorporated, while the sugarol sweetener acts less well because of slow metabolism.What do you need to know about sugar alternatives?
Appropriate use: Although sugar substitutes have a small effect on blood sugar, excessive use may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, such as gas or diarrhoea. In particular, sugarol sweeteners are more likely to cause these problems.
2. Select the appropriate type: The metabolic and sweet properties of the different sugar alternatives differ. Patients who need to completely avoid sugar can choose either artificial sweeteners or natural sweeteners, or high-temperature sugarol sweeteners if they need to be used in baking.
3. Avoid dependency: While sugar substitutes offer sweet tastes, overdependence may increase the appetite for sweets and instead discourage long-term dietary control. Patients should try to gradually reduce the need for sweetness and fundamentally improve eating habits.
4. Food labels: When buying sugar-containing foods, care should be taken to read the table of ingredients to understand the specific composition and content and to avoid ingestion of invisible sugar.
Is the sugar replacement safe?Currently, most of the approved sugar alternatives are subject to rigorous safety tests, as long as their use at the recommended dose is safe. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set a daily acceptable intake (ADI) for sweets such as Aspas and sweet glycol, which is difficult to achieve in a normal diet.Concluding remarksSugar alternatives offer the possibility for diabetes patients to enjoy sweet tastes, but the right choice and appropriate use are critical. Through the scientific use of sugar substitutes and the combination of healthy diets, diabetics can find a balance between blood sugar control and the enjoyment of delicious food, and lead more diverse lives.
