Thus, instinctively, they tend to rely on foods labeled “sugar free”. Quite often, people believe that such foods do not raise blood sugar levels and are calorie free. It is important to remember that a sugar-free label simply means that the food item does not contain sugars in the form of monosaccharides and disaccharides.

The thing that gets ignored is that this “sugar free” food is quite likely to have a high fat and calorie content. These foods that have a high fat and carbohydrate content can be harmful if consumed in excess. The fat and the carbohydrates will increase blood sugar levels since the body metabolism can get affected.

My prescription to all diabetics is to forever stay alert and keep track of carbohydrate and fat content of all food they consume — sugar-free or otherwise. Of course, we must remember that fats and carbohydrates are needed even by diabetics but in a regulated fashion according to their individual diet plans.

As a rule, any food item with 11 to 20 gms of carbohydrates would count as one serving. This will help all diabetics to follow their personalised dietary plans and they may actually get to eat some desert too!

nsingh.rxpress@expressindia.com