Sweeteners Add Quality to the Lives of People with Diabetes

The term diabetes is used for metabolic disorders which cause an increase in the level of blood sugar. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas produces either too little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone that maintains blood sugar at a more or less constant level. The level of blood sugar normally increases after eating, when carbohydrates are digested, broken down into smaller components (such as glucose) and transferred into the blood stream.

In healthy people, when the level of blood sugar increases, insulin is secreted and enables the body to absorb sugar from the blood into the cells. Among people suffering from diabetes, this mechanism does not work properly. Their blood sugar level may vary considerably, depending on what they eat, so they have to manage their diet (and sometimes also inject insulin).

Like everybody, people with diabetes should have a diet rich in complex carbohydrates and fibre. Too much fat adds to their tendency to obesity and too many proteins may harm their kidneys (which in any case are under more strain than those of other people). Complex carbohydrates are found in cereals and vegetables.

The importance of low calorie sweeteners in the diabetic diet is undisputed. People with diabetes may, however, consume moderate amounts of sugar. If the sugar contained in food products stays for a longer time in the stomach and intestines (as is the case, for example, with chocolate), then people with diabetes may also enjoy some of these products.

Low calorie sweeteners offer people with diabetes the pleasure of the sweet taste without negative side effects. On the one hand, sweeteners have no impact on insulin and blood sugar levels and, on the other hand, they do not provide calories. Drinks, mueslis and fruit products prepared with sweeteners are ideal for people with diabetes. Moreover, low calorie foods help this group of people in the important task of controlling their weight.