Sugar alcohols are one type of reduced-calorie sweetener. (They don't contain alcohol.) You can find them in ice creams, cookies, puddings, candies, and chewing gum labeled "sugar-free" or "no sugar added," Sugar alcohols provide fewer calories than sugar and have less of an effect on blood glucose than do other carbohydrates. Examples include:
• Erythritol
• Glycerol
• Isomalt
• Lactitol
• Maltitol
• Mannitol
• Sorbitol
• Xylitol
Researchers have learned that the effect that sugar alcohols have on blood glucose can vary, so it is difficult to know exactly how these substances will affect your blood-glucose levels every time you eat them.
Some people prefer to use the regular version of a food and cut back on the serving size instead of buying the sugar-free version. Talk with your doctor or with a registered dietitian to determine how best to incorporate foods and drinks containing sugar alcohols into your food plan if you choose to use them.
Source: American Diabetes Association
Good Neighbor Pharmacy Health Connection, November 2013
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