Sugar substitutes

Sweet taste attracts us, but for people with diabetes, consuming sugar can have serious consequences. Therefore, sweeteners were developed - substances that give a sweet taste, but do not increase blood sugar levels. This makes them attractive to people suffering from diabetes, as well as to those watching their weight and health.

Sweeteners can be natural or artificial. Natural sweeteners are found in many plants, fruits, berries and vegetables, and are called natural sweeteners because they come from natural sources. These include xylitol and sorbitol. Both of these sweeteners can be used in food for diabetes, since they do not increase blood sugar levels as much as regular table sugar.

Xylitol and sorbitol are absorbed slowly by the body and do not require insulin for absorption. However, if blood sugar levels are high, then the use of sweeteners such as sorbitol and xylitol can lead to early onset of changes in nervous tissue, so-called polyneuropathy. Therefore, you can eat them only if you compensate for diabetes.

In addition, natural sweeteners, like other foods, contain calories, so their consumption should also be limited. It is recommended not to consume more than 30 grams of natural sweeteners per day.

In addition to natural sweeteners, there are also artificial sweeteners called sweeteners. They contain no calories and do not raise blood sugar levels. Unlike natural sweeteners, they can be consumed regardless of diabetes compensation. These include aspartame, cyclamate, saccharin and acesulfame-K.

Sweeteners taste very sweet and are therefore consumed in very small doses. For example, cyclamate is 30 times sweeter than regular sugar, and saccharin is 300 times sweeter. Therefore, their use should be limited and the dosage observed to avoid toxic effects.

In general, the use of sweeteners can be beneficial for people who have diabetes or want to control their weight and sugar intake. However, as with any other product, the use of sweeteners should be balanced and limited. When choosing sweeteners, you should pay attention to their origin and dosage, and also consult a doctor or nutritionist.