Diabetes affected 8.3 percent of the U.S. population as of 2010, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. Diabetes has a major impact on the health of many Americans, leading to numerous possible complications including hypertension, stroke, kidney disease, eye problems, neuropathy and amputation. Selecting sweeteners carefully helps you manage your blood sugars, but as a diabetic you will want to avoid maltose. Studies have shown that maltose has the potential to interact with your blood glucose-monitoring device.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a group of disorders affecting how your body uses blood glucose. Excess glucose in your blood is caused by your body's inability to use or produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone secreted by your pancreas to move glucose through your body, where it is an important source of fuel for your muscle, tissues and brain. Glucose accumulates in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Symptoms of hyperglycemia include increased thirst, urination and fatigue.
Maltose in Foods
Maltose, otherwise known as malt sugar, is a sugar that is the product of fermenting starch in grains by yeast or enzymes such as in beer and breads. Two glucose molecules form to make maltose. Maltose is a naturally occurring sugar that is approximately half as sweet as sucrose and is used as an additive to many food products and medicines.
Simple Carbohydrates
Maltose is a natural sugar, making it a simple carbohydrate. Maltose is broken down into glucose quickly for use as energy in your body. Your body processes all sugars in the same manner, unable to distinguish one form of sugar from another. Your body digests sugars in one step, absorbing them into the blood stream quickly. For diabetics, this can result in excess glucose in the blood.
Interaction with Blood Glucose Monitors
Maltose interferes with some blood glucose monitors, according to warnings by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Medications containing maltose, and those with ingredients that are broken down into maltose in your body, have resulted in false high blood glucose readings. For some cases studied, this has resulted in hypoglycemia, coma and death. According to a review of studies published in the journal "Pharmacotherapy" in 2007, further research is required. However, the article notes that a common finding among studies to date shows that diabetics are more likely to excrete maltose in their urine. Avoid using blood glucose monitoring systems known to be vulnerable to interference from maltose if you have diabetes.
References
- Diabetes in Control; Maltose, Galactose, and Xylose May Yield Falsely Elevated Glucose Readings; 2005
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse: National Diabetes Statistics, 2011
- dLife; Can You Use Maltose Syrup in a Diabetic Diet and if You Can How or Where Can I Get It?; Liz Quintana, Ed.D., R.D., L.D., C.D.E.,C.P.T.; 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Sweeteners - Food Sources; David C. Dugdale, III, M.D.; 2009
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Fatal Iatrogenic Hypoglycemia: Falsely Elevated Blood Glucose Readings with a Point-of-Care Meter Due to a Maltose-Containing Intravenous Immune Globulin Product; Ann Reed Gaines, Ph.D., M.T., et al.
- Mayoclinic.com: Diabetes
