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Eating Well

Sugar alcohols, (also known as polyols) are neither sugars nor alcohol. You can recognize polyols in an ingredient list because most of them end in "ol"-Lactitol, Mannitol, Malitol, Sorbitol, Xylitol, as well as Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, and Isomalt. Sugar alcohols are used to sweeten various foods, such as: candy, chewing gum, baked goods, ice cream, and fruit spreads; they are also found in toothpaste, mouthwash, cough syrups, and throat lozenges.

Sugar alcohols are a category of carbohydrates that have a lower calorie count than other carbohydrates. They provide, on average, two calories per gram, whereas other carbohydrates contain four calories per gram. Sugar alcohols are used to replace sugars, fat, or bulk in the production of lower calorie foods. Sugar alcohols are absorbed more slowly than other sugars and cause a smaller rise in blood glucose levels.

However, because sugar alcohols aren't completely digested in the stomach, if you eat too much of them, you may experience side effects such as diarrhea, intestinal cramping, or gas. One recommendation is to eat no more than 20-50 grams of sugar alcohol in a day, which is the amount found in 12-33 pieces of sugar alcohol-sweetened candy. (Above information obtained from The American Diabetes Association's 101 Nutrition Tips for People with Diabetes).

A newsletter, written by Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE explained that to the United States FDA (Food and Drug Administration), sugar-free means less than 0.5 grams of sugars per serving. To the FDA, sugars are defined as all one-unit sugars, such as glucose and fructose; and two unit sugars, such as lactose and sucrose. Sugar alcohols don't fit this definition, so the FDA allows food manufacturers to label foods with sugar-alcohols to be labeled "sugar-free" or "no added sugar."

She further recommended the following guidelines:

• Polyols contain fewer calories, but they are not calorie free. On average, they contain 2 calories per gram.
• Do not use foods with polyols to treat low blood glucose (hypoglycemia), because they won't raise blood glucose quickly enough.
• When you read a nutrition label, note that sugar alcohols are included in the Total Carbohydrate. If a manufacturer uses the "sugar free" or "no added sugar" claim, they must list the grams of sugar alcohols.
  

Finally, since individual responses can vary, be sure to consult your diabetes team to see if sugar alcohols are right for you.