An important part of diabetes treatment is empowering yourself through knowledge. Learn how to better manage your diabetes by reading the FAQs answered by Dr. Edelman, a leader in the fields of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism.
Sugar alcohol is a type of reduced-calorie, artificial sweetener found in foods
labeled as "sugar-free" or "no sugar added" and usually provides about half the
calories of sugar and other carbohydrates. Examples of sugar alcohols are erythritol,
hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol
and xylitol. The effect that sugar alcohols have on your blood glucose can vary
so it is difficult to predict how sugar alcohols will affect your blood glucose
levels every time. These sweeteners may be useful for reducing calories and carbohydrates
when used instead of sugar in recipes and foods and beverages such as cereal, coffee
and tea.
Sugar-free foods may be helpful in maintaining a healthy diet, but because a food
is labeled sugar-free, it doesn't mean it is carbohydrate-free. Sometimes sugar-free
foods are high in carbohydrates, so be sure to read nutrition labels carefully.
Typically sugar-free foods have almost as many calories as the regular non sugar
free food!
The nutrients in sugar and honey are similar, but a teaspoon of honey has slightly
more calories and carbohydrates than sugar (honey has approximately 21 calories
while sugar has approximately 15). Since honey is sweeter than sugar, you may be
able to use less to sweeten foods, but you should always factor in the overall calorie
and carbohydrate count when deciding whether to use sugar or honey.
Energy is produced by the body through dietary carbohydrates, including sugars and
starches. The speed in which carbohydrates are broken down and absorbed depends on the
chemical makeup of carbohydrate-containing foods. Simple sugars, such as the ones in orange
juice, and regular soda, pass quickly to your bloodstream. In addition, fast carbohydrates,
or high glycemic index foods including processed foods like cold cereal and white
flour, cause a quick and significant increase in blood sugar levels. Low glycemic
index foods, or slow carbohydrates, such as whole grain oatmeal and beans, are broken
down and absorbed more slowly than fast carbohydrates. As a result, slow carbohydrates
raise blood sugar levels gradually and have less of an effect on blood sugar levels.
Fruits can be high in vitamins, minerals and fiber and are an important part of a
healthy diet. However, fruit contains fast absorbing carbohydrates so it's important
to factor the fruit you eat into your overall carbohydrate count. It's also
important to be mindful of portion size - especially with dried fruit and bananas
since a small portion contains a more concentrated amount of carbohydrates. For
example, two tablespoons of raisins or dried cherries can contain 15 grams of carbohydrates.
As a general rule, people with diabetes should limit the amount of fruit that they
eat but they certainly can be built into your daily dietary plan.
Borderline diabetes is an old term used to describe a "minor case" of type 2 diabetes.
It is impossible to have a minor case of diabetes; you are either living with the
condition or you are not. However, it is possible to have pre-diabetes, in which
a person commonly experiences above average blood glucose levels, but the levels
are not high enough for the formal diagnosis.
Through blood glucose monitoring, healthy eating, physical activity and possibly
a diabetes medication such as insulin or an oral diabetes medication, you can learn
to manage your type 2 diabetes. It's important to speak with your doctor so you
can determine a treatment plan that works best for you.
Sugar numbers (or glucose levels) can vary based on a variety of factors, including
what you eat. Normal glucose levels may vary throughout the day and tend to be at
their lowest just before meals and increase slightly after you eat, which causes
your pancreas to release insulin so that your blood glucose levels do not get too
high. A normal glucose level is currently considered to be less than 100 mg/dL when
fasting and less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating.
A high carbohydrate diet and/or delayed or variable stomach emptying may increase
the potential for blood glucose variability. You should be sure to speak to your
doctor if your blood sugar levels are fluctuating.
Managing type 2 diabetes is a lifelong commitment to blood glucose monitoring, healthy
eating, physical activity and sometimes diabetes medications such as insulin or
an oral diabetes medication. Some recent studies have shown that cinnamon may lower
blood sugar levels (others have shown no effect) and therefore may be a helpful
supplement to your overall diabetes treatment plan. However, more research is needed
to confirm the potential benefits of cinnamon. It's best to speak with your doctor
to determine a comprehensive treatment program that is best suited for you.