Diabetes is a disease in which the body cannot properly make or use insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. Neurovascular events such as stroke can result from uncontrolled blood sugar levels. A stroke can produce aphagia, or difficulty in swallowing. Dietary control is key to regulating blood sugar levels in diabetics. Food thickeners are added to liquids and food to make them easier to swallow. They are safe in a diabetic diet when used properly.
Aphasia Symptoms
Aphasia symptoms include coughing, weight loss, difficulty in swallowing, choking during meals, poor saliva control and difficulty in speaking after eating. Food thickeners added to liquid and other thin or runny foods can help diabetics with aphasia swallow more easily without choking and maintain better control over food and saliva. An easier eating process means that diabetics with aphasia may be less likely to lose weight in an unplanned way.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates in the form of sugar and starches can dramatically raise diabetic blood sugar levels. Carbohydrate counting during meals is one way that diabetics control their carbohydrate intake. Food thickeners are often comprised of corn syrup and starches that will raise blood sugar levels, so it is important to count the carbohydrates found in the thickeners as well as the carbohydrates in food to which the thickener is added. The amount of thickener carbohydrates is listed on its food nutrition label.
Fiber
Unlike sugar and starches, however, fiber can actually lower diabetic blood sugar levels. The American Diabetes Association recommends subtracting half of the grams of fiber in food when the total number of fiber grams is 5 or higher. For example, if the food to which the thickener is added has 10 g of carbohydrates and the thickener has two grams of carbohydrates, then total carbohydrates equals 12 g. If fiber in the food and thickener equal 6 g, then six is subtracted from 12 for a total of 6 g.
Processed Foods
Processed foods may contain thickeners which help to maintain the consistency and flavor of the foods. However, processed foods, even when they are touted as health foods, can be an unhealthy choice for diabetics because the carbohydrate and calorie counts of these foods go up when such food thickeners as corn syrup and corn starch are added. Diabetics must pay close attention to carbohydrate and fiber content if they choose to eat processed foods.
