Sugar-free foods do not contain sugar, can diabetics eat them at will?

That is not the case.

According to GB28050-2011 National Food Safety Standard "General Rules for Nutrition Labeling of Prepackaged Foods", "sugar-free or sugar-free" means that the sugar content per 100g or 100ml of solid or liquid food is not higher than 0.5g. In other words, sugar-free food does not mean that it is completely sugar-free. As long as the sugar content is ≤0.5g/100mL or 100g, it can be considered sugar-free food.

Although sugar-free foods contain very low levels of refined sugar, they may contain other forms of carbohydrates, such as starch. These ingredients are converted into glucose during digestion, which can affect blood sugar levels. And even sugar-free foods may release sugar quickly if they have a high glycemic index (GI), causing blood sugar to rise.

In addition, sugar-free foods may also contain high-calorie ingredients (such as fats). If you do not control your intake, eating too much will cause the total calories to exceed the standard, which is also not conducive to blood sugar control. At the same time, sugar-free foods may lack necessary nutrients, such as protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, etc. Long-term and large-scale consumption may lead to nutritional imbalance.

It is recommended that diabetics consume sugar-free foods in moderation as part of an overall diet plan, pay attention to a balanced diet, consume adequate nutrients such as protein, dietary fiber, vitamins and minerals, and monitor blood sugar levels regularly, and adjust diet and treatment plans according to changes in blood sugar.

Author | Master of Doubao Food Processing and Safety

Review | Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center