General Chat

To those on who are diabetic or just on a low sugar/carb diet,I went shopping on Saturday and bought some cookies for my Type 1 diabetic daughter.
It said in big writing on the front Sugar Free!
Well after looking on the back of the box,I discovered it actually contained a lot of carbs but 0.5g of sugar.
Now sugar is just one of many carbs like bread,potatoes,rice etc.

So if you are insulin dependent,then you will be counting you allowance carefully every day.This product to is very misleading as to a diabetic,it would be heaven to eat a biscuit and not worry about the contents.

I have Tel the company for some feedback but awaiting a reply.
Surely this kind of advertising is against the rules?
Technically it has virtually no sugar but it still has carbs which affect your blood sugar level.
Has anyone else noticed these sugar free products?
Florence in the Hebrides

We used too scrutinise food and drink labels and also found that no added sugar meant they put other sweeteners in so not always good for diabetics.

It should make it clear that it is low sugar, it is definitely not sugar free.

I'm type 2 and since a few days ago have become insulin dependent . Sugar and carbs shown separately on all products so I have found. I always look for sugar content - ignore carbs. Cant see wot problem is, they've said sugar free they aint said carbs free. As I'm terminal I dont bother much re carbs and oncologist says not to diet anyway

I'm lactose-intolerant, and now am also gluten-intolerant.

It's a bit difficult finding prepared food, especially snacks, that are both.

and many of them have lots of sugar in them, which I'm trying to keep at a low level because I seem to quickly get up into the pre-diabetic range, with consequent warnings from the doctor to "cut it out"!

I don' add sugar to any food ........ it all comes from what is in the manufactured food. I'm sure my doctors don't realise just how hard it can be to find low or no sugar, or even low or no salt!

Ron 2, sugar is a Carb and carbs dictate what your blood sugars are. So if you are on insulin you simply cannot just look at sugars and ignore the carbs otherwise your levels will shoot up. I am assuming then you have to check your blood sugars 3-4 times a day? If so you will know from the levels whether you are in control of your sugar level.
I am just saying that its unfair to see sugar free on a product only to see the carb content is high so that kind of product is a def no no for diabetics.

Sylvia, it is very hard as i am dairy and egg free and cannot eat most cakes, sponges etc.

Daughter also picked up some sugar free Frutella sweets but oh my the carb content was dreadful and full of sorbitol which is a laxative.

Really you are better eating the usual foods and restricting the amount then wasting money on all these"sugar free" products.

I just think to the untrained eye, its very misleading with the wording.

Reduced sugar and then underneath may still contain carbs would be more on a truthful statement.

Florence in the hebrides

Low in sugar usually means high in fat and additives

Florence ................

the problems of what is in foods is a good reason to make as much as you can from scratch, then you can control it easier.

The only yhing I find really hard is making snacks such as the odd sweetie!

I have found Nature's harvest crunchy Oats ' Honey good for me .......... but it probably is not good for a diabetic! As long as I don't add extra sugar to tea, cereals etc, then this doesn't seem to be a problem otherwise for me.

Yes all those cereal snack type bars are actually laden with sugar yet because they contain grains etc you may think that a bar of whatever is healthier than a packet of crisps.. They are also very expensive snacks.

I do make most things from scratch partly because of my own allergies and as you say, I know exactly what goes into my own food and def no additives!

Sugar free polo mints have to be the worst. If you ate 1/2 a packet you would certainly spend a lot of time in the bathroom!

Florence in the hebrides

Yus Florence my sugars out of control - pre tea and jab 23.4 2nite. Part of it down to nil exercise, was having bad day, prepped/cooked lunch, then asleep in my chair til 1830hrs. Not a happy bunny. Got a telefone appt with diabetes specialist tomorrow and no doubt my insulin will be increased - currently 6 units a.m and 4 units p.m. My morning pre breccies reading usually twixt 13 and 16. I'm not into salads nor fish or fancy stuff like that so diet is a problem. I'm 80 anyway - cant live for ever

Oh dear Ron, they are very high, however i personally think you need insulin at lunch and another long acting one in the evening to stabilise ur your sugars all night. 24 is extremely high and any higher could put you at risk from a diabetic coma.

I wouldnt dream of lecturing you about diet but if you have sugar in tea or coffee, just switch to sweeteners and see the difference, they do work.

Good luck with the specialist tomorrow.

Florence in the hebrides