The Basics of a Healthy Diabetes Diet
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The Basics of a Healthy Diabetes Diet
Other Sweeteners
You can add artificial sweeteners to your food and to drinks without adding more carbs.
Items with artificial sweeteners or “sugar-free” foods are not necessarily zero-carbohydrate foods, though. Many have carbs, so check the food label. As long as you're aware of the carbs, you can adjust your meal or medication to maintain blood sugar control.
Some artificial sweeteners -- such as xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol -- have some calories and do slightly raise blood sugar levels.
If you eat too much of any artificial sweetener, you can get gas and diarrhea, the American Diabetes Association notes.
Stevia is another option. It's not an artificial sweetener, and it has no calories.
What About Alcohol?
It’s a good idea to ask your doctor if it’s OK for you to drink alcohol. If they say yes, only drink occasionally, and only when your blood sugar level is well-controlled. Remember, most wine and mixed drinks have sugar, and alcohol also has a lot of calories.