Eating the right foods in the right amount and at the right time are essential components of your diabetes treatment plan. Keeping your blood sugar levels within the desirable range of lower than 130 mg/dL before eating and lower than 180 mg/dL two hours after a meal is the best way to prevent, or at least delay, the long-term complications that can occur with uncontrolled diabetes. Many sugar-free products are now marketed to diabetes or health-conscious people. Although they have a lower sugar content, they should still be consumed with moderation.
Nutrition Facts
The nutritional value of a sugar-free chocolate candy bar can vary greatly depending on the type and size you choose. For example, a small 1.2-oz. sugar-free milk chocolate bar contains 170 calories, 18 g of total carbohydrates, 1 g of fiber, 3 g of sugar and 14 g of maltitol. Sugar-free chocolate-covered peanut butter cups provide 180 calories, 27 g of carbohydrates, 6 g of fiber and 7 g of sugar alcohols per 1.5-oz. serving.
Sugar Alcohols and Diabetes
Sugar alcohols are often used to sweeten sugar-free products, including sugar-free chocolate candy bars. Examples of sugar alcohols include isomalt, maltitol, mannitol, xylitol and sorbitol. Sugar alcohols have a smaller effect on your blood sugar levels when compared to regular table sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends counting only half of the grams of sugar alcohols, if a product contains more than 5 g of sugar alcohols, as part of your carb counting. All fiber should also be subtracted from your carbohydrate intake to obtain available carbohydrates, which are more accurate for predicting the effect of a food on your blood sugar levels.
Available Carbohydrate Content
A sugar-free milk chocolate bar that contains 18 g of carbohydrates, 1 g of fiber and 14 g of maltitol would contain 10 g of available carbohydrates, while a sugar-free chocolate-covered peanut butter cup, with 27 g of carbohydrates, 6 g of fiber and 7 g of sugar alcohols, would contain about 15 g of available carbohydrates. This amount of carbohydrates is similar to what is found in a slice of bread or 2 to 3 tsp. of sugar. Although these sugar-free chocolates do not contain added sugar, they still contain available carbohydrates and can raise your blood sugar levels. If you choose to eat sugar-free chocolate candy bars, monitor your blood sugar levels to better understand how these products influence them.
Special Considerations
Sugar alcohols can have a laxative effect in most people if consumed in amounts that exceed 10 g a day. If you decide to include sugar-free chocolate candy bars in your diet, keep the portions small to avoid gastrointestinal problems.
Dark Chocolate
If you want to get rid of your sweet tooth, experiment with dark chocolate. Chocolate containing at least 70 percent cocoa has a lower sugar content compared to milk chocolate and white chocolate. For example, a serving of about 1 oz. of dark chocolate contains 13.8 g of total carbohydrates and 3.3 g of fiber, which is the equivalent of 10.5 g of available carbohydrates.
