Sweeteners and Desserts

Submitted by Stella Morgan on July 13, 2007

The terms ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Sweets’ repel each other. Gone are the days, when diabetics restrained from sweets and desserts. With the blood sugar levels in the normal range, sweets are feasible for diabetics. Alternative sources of sweetening include low calorie sweeteners, reduced calorie sweeteners (alcohols) and other kind of sweeteners with calories. Low calorie sweeteners include aspartame, saccharin, sucralose and ascelfume potassium.

The second group of reduced calorie sweeteners includes lactitol, xylitol, maltitol, hydrogenated starch, erythritol, hydrolysates, mannitol, isomalt and sorbitol. The last category comprises of calorific sweeteners, such as, brown sugar, cane sugar, honey, confectioner’s sugar, fructose and molasses. Sugar was completely avoided in the diets of diabetics, previously, as it was thought to increase the blood sugar levels immediately. Foods with sugar are included in your dietary regimen, provided you work them out.

Sweets are generally avoided, as they are loaded with fat and calories, in addition to carbohydrates.

A desire for sweet can be satisfied by preferring a fresh or dried fruit. Share the dessert with any individual, to decrease intake.

Reduce the quantity of the dessert and try opting for low calorie desserts. Reduce the level of fat and sugar during the preparation of sweets. Opt for low calorie sweeteners in your desserts, beverages and sweets.

Sweets are included in the diet, provided, they are used as substitutes for certain items in the meal, rather than forming a meal, as such.

Complete deprivation can also be harmful, as it increases the curiosity and desire. Frustration leads to binge eating, which can prove harmful. Sugar, in addition to sweetness, provides flavor and texture to cooked food. This might be an issue, while adding sweeteners, as they do not suffice this feature. A combination of sugar and sweetener can be used in such cases.
Carbohydrates are present in rice, tortillas, cereals, bread, potatoes, peas, corn and yoghurt. Thus, any of these is reduced, to include a dessert in your diet, thereby, the carbohydrate content remains unaffected. Serving size makes or mars a diet plan. Low or reduced calorie sweeteners are helpful in individuals interested in weight loss. Care is taken regarding the fat content of sweeteners.

Food labels should be read, while buying items related to artificial sweeteners. Innovative recipes can be experimented with sweeteners. Sweeteners are considered safe for humans, and are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Desserts can form a part of a diabetic’s diet, provided, proper care is taken and guidance of a nutritionist is available.