Diabetes: Spotting Sugar 101

Written by Gloria Tsang, RD
Published in July 2007

(HealthCastle.com) For people with diabetes, avoiding sugar is the most common dietary concern. However, some people may be too strict in their sugar avoidance. In fact, sugars and sweetened foods can be eaten by those with diabetes – as long as they are only eaten in moderation.

How much Sugar?

Health authorities and experts suggest that most people with diabetes can consume up to 10% of their daily energy requirements as items with added sugars without causing harmful effects on blood sugar or the blood cholesterol profile. For an average adult consuming 2,000 calories daily, that means no more than 50 g or 10 teaspoons of sugar per day. Speak to your dietitian about how to fit sweetened foods into your diet.

	How to spot Sugar on food labels Sugar might be “hiding” on the food labels you’re reading. All of the following terms indicate added sugar, so read carefully! white sugar brown sugar icing sugar invert sugar corn syrup high fructose corn syrup maple syrup honey molasses brown rice syrup cane juice evaporated cane juice all fruit juice concentrates, including apple and pear all "ose" including Dextrose, Fructose, Lactose, Glucose, Maltose and Sucrose