Understanding Dextrose and Its Effects on Blood Sugar
Dextrose, also known as glucose, is a simple sugar that is found naturally in some foods and also added to others. For people with diabetes, understanding how dextrose impacts blood sugar levels is important for managing the condition.
What Is Dextrose?
Dextrose is the scientific name for glucose, which is a simple sugar and carbohydrate. In the body, glucose is an essential source of energy for the cells. The hormone insulin helps move glucose from the bloodstream into the cells.
Many foods contain some naturally occurring sugars with glucose. Dextrose is also commercially made from corn and added to foods and drinks to sweeten them or provide fuel for athletes.
How Dextrose Impacts Blood Sugar
For people without diabetes, blood sugar levels remain in a normal range when you consume foods with dextrose. Insulin rises and falls to stabilize blood sugar.
In diabetes, the body loses its ability to properly produce or utilize insulin. When you eat foods with lots of fast-absorbing carbohydrates like dextrose, blood sugar can spike rapidly.
Over time, high blood sugar levels can increase risks for nerve damage, kidney disease, vision loss and heart disease. Therefore, it's important to be mindful of foods containing added sugars.
Choosing the Best Candy When You Have Diabetes
It is possible to enjoy candy even with diabetes. The key is moderation and choosing candies made with whole foods over products with added sugars when possible.
Candy to Limit or Avoid
The candies that tend to cause the biggest spikes in blood sugar include:
- Hard candies: These have a lot of added sugar and absolutely no other nutrients.
- Gummy candies: Often made mostly from corn syrup with added colors and flavors.
- Chocolate: Has less sugar than gummies or hard candies but is high in saturated fat.
- Candies topped with icing, sugar or honey: Any added toppings bring extra carbohydrates.
Better Candy Options
Some wise candy choices include:
- Dark chocolate: Has antioxidants and less sugar than milk chocolate varieties.
- Jelly beans: These have sugar but also pectin fiber to help slow glucose absorption.
- Licorice: Contains glycyrrhizin, a compound that may support heart health.
- Coconut candy: High in healthy fats that don't negatively impact blood sugar.
Enjoying a homemade candy with natural sweeteners like fruit purees can be another healthier option.
Tips for Choosing Candy With Diabetes
When selecting candy, read nutrition labels and make sure to:
- Pick options low in sugar alcohols, which can cause GI issues
- Avoid anything listing sugar, corn syrup or dextrose as the first ingredient
- Select candies sweetened with stevia, monk fruit or erythritol instead
- Look for kinds with 5 grams or less of net carbs per serving
How Much Candy Can You Safely Eat With Diabetes?
The recommended guidelines for eating candy with diabetes focuses on counting carbohydrates and tracking blood sugar responses.
Carb Counting for Candy
Counting the net grams of carb in candy is important for keeping blood sugar in check. Some general carb counting guidelines include:
- Have no more than 60-75 grams carbs per meal
- Space carb-containing snacks 2-3 hours apart
- Limit carb-heavy sweets to no more than 1-2 times weekly
- Pair candy with a protein like nuts to help stabilize blood sugar response
Test Blood Sugar to Guide Candy Intake
Using a blood glucose meter to check blood sugar before and about 2 hours after eating candy will help give you good data. This can guide if you need to adjust portion sizes.
Have a reference guide handy that lists your target blood sugar levels, such as:
- Under 180 mg/dL two hours after meals
- 70-130 mg/dL before meals
- Less than 180 mg/dL at bedtime
Work closely with your healthcare provider to figure out specific bench marks for you.
Rethink Your Relationship With Candy
When living with diabetes, candy is no longer an everyday food you can eat absentmindedly without consideration for portions. But theres no need to avoid it altogether.
Being more mindful when consuming sweets and continuing to check in with your bodys response to different candies allows room for enjoying the occasional treat when diabetes is well-managed overall with a healthy diet, activity levels, medication and regular testing.
FAQs
What are the best candies for diabetics to eat?
Some of the best candy options for people with diabetes include dark chocolate, jelly beans, licorice, coconut candy, and homemade candies made with natural sweeteners like fruit purees instead of added sugars.
How much candy can a diabetic eat per day?
People with diabetes should limit carb-heavy sweets like candy to no more than 1-2 times per week. When you do eat candy, proper portion is important. Have no more than 60-75 grams total carbs per meal, pair candy with a protein, and avoid mindless snacking on sweets.
Do sugar alcohols like xylitol spike blood sugar?
Sugar alcohols can still raise blood sugar, though not as drastically as regular sugar. They can also cause digestive issues. It's best for diabetics to limit candy sweetened with sugar alcohols and focus on options with natural sweeteners.
What should a diabetic's blood sugar be 2 hours after eating candy?
Expert guidelines advise that blood sugar should be under 180 mg/dL two hours after eating any carb-containing food, including candy. Check your levels regularly after eating sweets to understand your body's response and adjust portions appropriately.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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