Yes, people with diabetes can enjoy sugar BUT in moderation. If you’re one of those people who thinks using a sugar substitute is a license to use as much as you possibly can – you’re wrong.
“The best bet is to use a very minimal amount of real sugar as part of a balanced diabetic diet,” says Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, of Nutritious Life, a nutrition practice based in New York City. That being said, sugar substitutes offer sweetness while controlling carbohydrate intake and blood glucose. There are many sugar substitutes to choose from, but they’re not all calorie-free and they vary in terms of their impact on blood sugar.
“The major difference between the sugar substitutes is whether they are nutritive or non-nutritive sweeteners,” says Melissa Mullins, MS, RD, a certified diabetes educator with Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Va. “Non-nutritive sweeteners provide no calories and no changes in blood glucose levels, which is perfect for people with diabetes.”
Truvia, the newbie among sugar substitutes, is one brand of the sweetener derived from the leaf of the stevia plant, native to Central and South America. Truvia is calorie-free and has been shown to have little to no impact on blood sugar, which is why it is an excellent sugar substitute for diabetic people. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of certain stevia extracts as a sweetener in foods and beverages, and other brands, including Pure Via and Sun Crystals. There have been anecdotal reports of side effects associated with over-consumption of stevia, including headaches and gastrointestinal symptoms, but to date there is no solid scientific research to back this up.
Derived from the sap of the agave plant, agave nectar is a form of sugar, but it is low on the glycemic index. This means that agave is absorbed more slowly by the body, causing a relatively lower spike in blood sugar and less of a sugar rush than other forms of the real thing. “Its low glycemic index makes it a good sugar substitute for diabetic people,” says Glassman. One caveat: agave has about 60 calories per tablespoon, making portion control essential. However, Glassman notes,”agave is 1.5 times sweeter than sugar, so you can use less.”
TUNE IN: Free Diabetes PINK Podcast Saluting Breast Cancer Survivors Living With Diabetes http://ning.it/PUQy9B
See Mr. Divabetic’s nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! You must decide which one you’d serve, which one you’d taste and which one you’d trash.
Before you decide to “trash” a veggie for good, why not try to eat it raw? Raw veggies can be more appetizing than their cooked counterparts to people who aren’t crazy about vegetables. The flavors of raw veggies can be milder than those of cooked ones.
Saturday, October 13, 2012, 11 AM – 4 PM
Jefferson Alumni Hall , First Floor Eakins Lounge 10th and Locust Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107
FREE ADMISSION
Register: 1-800-JEFF-NOW
Look who’s on the red tomato carpet with Mr. Divabetic at Plus Night Out -NYC
Meet Mr. Divabetic on his quest to glamorize good health at Divabetic – Makeover Your Diabetes outreach event in Philadelphia, PA, the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo in Pittsburgh, PA and the Taking Control Of Your Diabetes Conferences & Health Fairs in San Diego, CA and Austin, TX.
The happy healthcare host, Mr. Divabetic plays his nutrition game, Serve, Taste or Trash! with the vendors and patrons at Central Farm Market in Bethesda, MD. You might be surprised by the results.http://youtu.be/OgeIVhmiEAo
For sponsorship opportunities and upcoming outreach event details visit: www.divabetic.org and Divabetic’s Facebook’s Group and Fan pages.
