It's possible to be allergic to any substance, but if you develop adverse reactions after consuming sugar, you are most likely experiencing an intolerance, not an allergy. If you're allergic to sugar, you will develop minor to severe reactions in various places in your body that could, in extreme reactions, lead to death. If you notice side effects from eating sugars of all kinds, call your family doctor and allergist for further evaluation. An allergy or intolerance to sugar will require a sugar elimination diet to remove the substance from your diet.
Allergy to Sugar
All food allergies are diagnosed by identifying which substances cause the creation of immunoglobulin E antibodies. Antibodies are disease-fighting agents that are produced when the immune system identifies an intruding substance. IgE antibodies are only created during an allergic reaction, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The creation of these antibodies causes a chemical chain-reaction to occur throughout your body. An allergic reaction typically causes hives, itching, asthma, sinus congestion, skin rashes and digestive complications.
Sugar Intolerance
Sugar intolerance is commonly confused with an allergy to sugar. Sugar intolerance does not involve your immune system but is rather the inability of the digestive system to break down and digest sugar. Your digestive system lacks the appropriate enzyme that commonly digests fructose and sucrose after ingestion. When sugar cannot be absorbed into the blood stream, you will experience a sudden drop in blood sugar levels, fatigue and lightheadedness. If this condition is left untreated, it can cause serious complications, such as malnourishment, liver failure and weight loss, according to MedlinePlus.
Other Allergens
If you experience an allergic reaction that you assume is to sugar, it may be the result of another ingredient in the food you're consuming. For example, the most common food allergies are related to wheat, soy, dairy, nuts, eggs, peanuts and fish, according to MayoClinic.com. Your doctor may recommend a challenge diet to determine which foods are triggering your reactions. A challenge diet removes all the suspected foods that may be triggering your symptoms and then re-introduces each one, one at a time. A challenge diet is not intended to diagnose a medical condition but rather to help narrow down which foods are causing your symptoms.
Treatment
The only treatment for a sugar allergy or sugar intolerance is to eliminate sugar from your diet. Removing sugar from your diet needs to be implemented under the guidance of a registered dietitian and your doctor.
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