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Having Your Cake And Eating It Too - Diabetes And Sugar
By M. A. Fulmar

High levels of sugar and diabetes don't mix. If you have diabetes and miss the sugar in your former diet then consider looking into sugar substitutes or sugar-free candies so that you can have the sweetness of sugar and control your diabetes more easily at the same time. For those who are newly diagnosed or are worried about whether or not they may have symptoms of diabetes, you can visit endocrineweb.com for more information on the disease itself.

Sugar Is Not Completely Taboo

Although doctors used to say that people with diabetes couldn't consume sugar and sweets at all, the no-sugar stance has softened. People now understand that the human body breaks complex carbohydrates like starches down into the form of sugar usable by the body, glucose, as part of the normal metabolic process. If you eat grains, corn, or bread for example, it will be converted glucose in the end. It's just a matter of how quickly it enters your bloodstream.

What this means is that you can have diabetes and still enjoy sugar in the form of donuts or chocolate bars. However, you must maintain strict blood glucose levels by cutting back on others foods and taking insulin. Always, always consult your doctor first and ask if your diet can be adjusted and how to go about it safely.

Sweet Sugar Substitutes

You may be leery of going back to pure sugar and want to avoid common sugars like fructose (fruit sugars) or sucrose (table sugar). If you are, consider trying a sugar substitute instead. Common substitutes like Nutrasweet or saccharin can replace sugar in your coffee or tea.

However, neither Nutrasweet nor saccharin is suited for baking or cooking. On the other hand, Splenda (chemical name: sucralose) can be used for making baked goods, but it still doesn't work quite as well as real sugar. Just be aware that some Splenda products do have sugar in them, so read the label carefully.

Another option to consider is a sugar alcohol like mannitol and so forth. While sugar alcohols do partially convert into sugar, unlike Nutrasweet, saccharin and Splenda, the amount is fairly low and much of the sugar alcohol remains in an unabsorbed form. Sugar alcohols are usually used by manufacturers of candies and so forth.

Be warned: If you consume a candy or food product containing a sugar alcohol, it may cause cramping, bloating, or other intestinal upset. In summary, diabetes doesn't mean the end of your life, and it shouldn't keep you from enjoying your favorite things. If you practice moderation, follow your doctor's instructions, and take your medication, you can have your cake and eat it too.

Author Details:
M. A. Fulmar writes about Diabetes and other health matters for various web sites including, The A to Z of and Information Junkie.

Source: Free Health Article Directory

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