When you have diabetes, treats like chocolate can be hard to work into your meal plan. Many candy manufacturers make sugar-free and low-sugar alternatives that contain maltitol, a sugar alcohol. Maltitol provides sweetness without the blood glucose impact that refined sugar can create. Add chocolate back into your diet with maltitol, but understand the impact and side effects to make an educated choice.
About Maltitol
Maltitol is a sugar alcohol, created from hydrogenating maltose, which is a sugar created from starch. Maltitol is sweeter than sugar, and sweeter than some other sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohols are sweeteners that do not have the same blood glucose impact. Half of the grams of sugar alcohol are not absorbed, causing no blood sugar impact at all.
Side Effects
Maltitol, like some other sugar alcohols, can cause gastrointestinal discomfort. Diarrhea, gas and bloating are common when you consume sugar alcohol in large amounts. Intestinal problems are a result of the gradual rate in which the sugar alcohol content is processed and digested.
Benefits
Maltitol provides only 2.1 calories per 1 g, compared to sugar's 4 calories per 1 g. The lack of refined sugar reduces the blood glucose impact for diabetics, making maltitol-containing chocolate an alternative for diabetics. Maltitol does not promote tooth decay or cavities.
Testing Blood Glucose Impact
Everyone reacts differently to various forms of sugar alcohol. The first time you consume chocolate with maltitol, test your blood glucose within a two-hour span afterward to identify the effect it has on your blood glucose. If your body is sensitive to maltitol, you may experience a slight blood glucose impact.
