Xylitol/Polyols

[SamJB]

Simple question, will these raise my BGs? Packet says they're 100% carbs.

 

[richardinglis]

Taken from Wiki

A sugar alcohol (also known as a polyol,[1] polyhydric alcohol, polyalcohol, or glycitol) is a hydrogenated form of carbohydrate, whose carbonyl group (aldehyde or ketone, reducing sugar) has been reduced to a primary or secondary hydroxyl group (hence the alcohol). Sugar alcohols have the general formula H(HCHO)n+1H, whereas sugars have H(HCHO)nHCO. In commercial foodstuffs sugar alcohols are commonly used in place of table sugar (sucrose), often in combination with high intensity artificial sweeteners to counter the low sweetness. Of these, xylitol is perhaps the most popular due to its similarity to sucrose in visual appearance and sweetness. Sugar alcohols do not contribute to tooth decay.[2][3]

However, consumption of sugar alcohols does affect blood sugar levels. Sugar alcohols may also cause bloating and diarrhea when consumed in excessive amounts.[4]

Some common sugar alcohols:

Methanol (1-carbon)
Glycol (2-carbon)
Glycerol (3-carbon)
Erythritol (4-carbon)
Threitol (4-carbon)
Arabitol (5-carbon)
Xylitol (5-carbon)
Ribitol (5-carbon)
Mannitol (6-carbon)
Sorbitol (6-carbon)
Galactitol (6-carbon)
Iditol (6-carbon)
Inositol (6-carbon; a cyclic sugar alcohol)
Volemitol (7-carbon)
Isomalt (12-carbon)
Maltitol (12-carbon)
Lactitol (12-carbon)
Maltotriitol (18-carbon)
Maltotetraitol (24-carbon)
Polyglycitol

so no they don't but you mustn't eat any more than 25gms a day or you will have a really upset tummy :sick:

 

[smidge]

Hey Sam!

Simple question, will these raise my BGs? Packet says they're 100% carbs.

They're not supposed to according to the manufacturers, but all polyols I've tried raise my BG significantly. Maltitol (which they use in Thorntons Diabetic Chocolate) raises my BG almost as much as sugar. Try an Atkins 'cereal' bar - test before and after - if you get away with that you're probably OK, but my BG goes up significantly after them, maybe up by 5 m/mol or a bit more. Shame because the Thorntons chocolate is really nice and doesn't cause me any of the stomach side effects that people complain about with polyols. I can eat a couple of squares, but to be honest, if I've got to restrict myself to a couple of squares, I might as well have the normal stuff.

Smidge

 

[SamJB]

Thanks for the answers. I made some low carb cakes with them, but have got high BGs from having a cold, so will scoff them in a few days and find out!

 

[the_anticarb]

Do let us know what happened!

 

[hanadr]

I currently have a packet of Xylitol in the cupboard and I have used Erythritol too, but it's pretty expensive.
I've had sweets with sorbitol too and none of these products affects me neither BG nor digestion.
Hana