Sweeteners and diabetes: What is your best option?

In recent years, Mexico has experienced a significant increase in the number of patients with diabetes, both adults and children, making it urgent to adopt a healthy and nutritious diet, as well as to engage in some form of physical activity. However, we know that adopting a new lifestyle can be overwhelming, and you may not know where to start. So, if you have been diagnosed with diabetes, in addition to consulting your doctor, it is important to educate yourself about this condition so that you can make the best decisions regarding your health. At kiwilimón, we care about your health, which is why you can find amazing diabetic recipes and informative articles that will help you improve your quality of life. On this occasion, we will discuss the best sweeteners for diabetics, so you can choose the best option for you. You can also read: Can diabetics eat fruit? What is diabetes?Before delving into the topic of diabetes and sweeteners, we will explain everything you need to know about diabetes, a disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the United States (NIDDK) states that diabetes is a disease that occurs when the blood glucose level, also known as blood sugar, is too high. Subsequently, these high sugar levels can cause a range of health problems. Although there are several types of diabetes, the most prevalent are type 1 and type 2, but there is also gestational diabetes, which affects pregnant women. Type 1 diabetes: According to the NIDDK, the immune system begins to attack the pancreas cells responsible for producing insulin. Although it affects people of all ages, it is most commonly seen in children and young adults. Type 2 diabetes: In the case of this type of diabetes, the NIDDK explains that it is not due to an autoimmune problem, as the body does not produce insulin or does not use it properly. This is the most common type of diabetes and is more prevalent in adults and the elderly but can also affect children. You can also read: The healthiest foods for diabetics Sweeteners and diabetes: What is your best option?Sweeteners, also known as sugar substitutes, are widely available for diabetic patients and are characterized by having minimal or no calories, but also by being extremely sweet, requiring only a small amount to sweeten all types of beverages and dishes. The portal WebMD indicates that these types of sweeteners “do not affect your blood sugar levels. In fact, most artificial sweeteners contain less than 20 calories and 5 grams or less of carbohydrates, but remember that other ingredients in foods that contain artificial sweeteners can still affect your sugar levels.” However, it also clarifies that “some studies have found that substituting sugar-sweetened foods and beverages with artificially sweetened options may not be as beneficial as once thought, especially when consumed in large amounts.” You can also read: The best teas for diabetics What does our nutritionist say?Nutritionist Jennifer Asencio, who specializes in diabetes and kidney diseases, explained to us what the best sweeteners for diabetics are, so pay close attention! According to the nutrition expert, “you can use stevia or Splenda, which are processed, either of those two is a good option for diabetics, however, stevia is natural, it can be in leaf form, it can be the one that comes already crushed, in leaf form it is a bit healthier, or it can be in packets or you can have the stevia plant, many people do it this way and pick a leaf when they want to sweeten certain things.” Regarding the daily recommended amount, she says that “they should not exceed 6 packets of sweeteners per day, because they also have other repercussions, as it is now known that a bit of insulin is secreted if these sweeteners are abused.” As for more natural options, she mentions that “the monk fruit is quite popular, it is natural and does not leave that bitter taste that stevia does. It has slightly more calories, but the difference is minimal.” On the other hand, “some people use fructose, but it is not highly recommended because it is made from fruit sugar, however, it has many fewer calories than regular sugar, but it still contains sugar. If they end up using it because it is the only option, they should take a very small portion.” Finally, the nutritionist points out that the best thing is to get used to your palate to be less sweet.