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There is good news for people with diabetes who are also
chocoholics – that news is quality sugar free chocolate. More good
news for those same people – you have the option of eating regular
chocolate, too. For most people with diabetes, gone are the
sacrifices that used to go hand-in-hand with a diagnosis of
diabetes. With dietary advice from a registered dietician and the
diabetic food pyramid to work with, people with diabetes can eat the
foods they love, even chocolate.
There are many sugar free candies available, of course, but top
quality sugar free chocolate is relatively new. There were many
problems with the offerings in the past, most of them dealing with
texture and aftertastes. There are nice alternatives, now, with
names we trust and recognize such as Godiva, Hershey’s, Russell
Stover and Dove, for example, making sugar free varieties.
The important thing to remember when deciding on chocolate,
however, is that chocolate is not made of sugar alone. The richness
and creaminess of chocolate comes from fat. So while you can reduce
the amount of calories you are eating, you are still eating some fat
grams and possibly carbohydrates. Make sure to read the label
carefully. Sugar free chocolate is a great treat for people with
diabetes, as it shouldn’t affect the blood glucose levels, a key
consideration.
The sugar in most of these sugar free chocolates is replaced by
what is called a sugar alcohol. In chocolate making, the preferred
sugar alcohol is maltitol. Maltitol and other sugar alcohols contain
less calories than sugar, do not cause tooth decay, they convert to
glucose more slowly, don’t require insulin to be processed and don’t
cause spikes in blood sugar. Those last two reasons are why these
choices are good for people with diabetes; the caloric difference is
negligible in most brands.
With all of the benefits, there has to be something on the
negative side. There can be intestinal problems associated with
sugar alcohols, especially for those who eat more than the
recommended amounts. The sugar alcohols do not digest fully and the
parts that remain undigested in the intestines sometimes ferment and
attract water to the intestinal tract. The result can be
indigestion, bloating, gas and diarrhea. If you are predisposed to
intestinal tract issues, you might want to stick to treating
chocolate as a special treat and use your exchanges to reward
yourself occasionally.
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