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Sugar Intake

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Franwithaplan

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Why are diabetics told “avoid sugar”?
Does this mean avoid excess sugar in the diet, or all sugar - ever
What about sugar substitutes ie saccharin, aspartame, xylitol
Agave syrup, fructose…
And why are they better ? - If they are

Tahnks Fran
 
Welcome to the forum Fran. Diabetes is an inability of the body to cope with glucose metabolism properly.Sugar turns into glucose in the body therefore sugar use by diabetics must be very small or even not at all.Most of us don't use sugar at all some use sugar substitutes but some of these substitutes are also sugars but under a different name.It is worth giving up sugar just so we can keep our diabetes under control.
 
avoid sugary drinks primarily.

Sweet things with meals is usually OK (for type 1) as we calculate for it and adjust the insulin dose.

the sugar in drinks gets to your blood sugars very very very quickly, which is why you shuold avoid those, but sugar in meals and food takes a bit longer to act usually becasue there's fats and proteins and other stuff to digest as well.

What you really want to concentrate on when looking at food, is the carbohydrate content, not the sugar.

Carbohydrates are converted to glucose in the body and that is what increases your blood sugar levels. Count your carbs and adjust your insulin accordingly.

A lot of people go for the low carb option. Less carbs = fewer and smaller BS spikes.
 
Thanks Sue
So... - your advice - avoid all sugar...

This then brings me on to things that have sugar naturally, ie fruit and veg,
and things that have added sugar, you know refined foods, not that I eat a lot of refined foods (but then define "a lot"), but bread has sugar in it, even my homemade bread has honey in it, so how far does one go?
I get a lot of my sweet craving satisfied by fruit or fruit juice, I’m not into chocolate or cakes or biscuits a great deal, but do indulge occasionally; I know enough about myself to know that I do need some form of sweetness regularly, so what to do?

Fran
 
Are you using a blood testing meter,Fran? By testing before and 2 hours after a meal you can determine how that meal has affected you.Everyone is different so I can't give any hard and fast rules.Some diabetics can eat fruit without it affecting their blood sugar levels and some,like me,can't.If you get Collins Gem carb counter book it will tell you how much carb there is in fruits and vegetables.Personally I eat a lot of veg.except for potatoes of course which are full of starchy carbs.
 
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