The use of maltitol and diabetes control is becoming widespread. Many people don’t even know what it is. So let’s take a look at maltitol, and diabetes management by using it. Maltitol is a reduced calorie bulk sweetener that tastes similar to sugar and has sweetness similar to sugar. It is suitable to use in a wide variety of reduced-calorie foods, sugar-free foods, and in reduced fat foods. It doesn’t cause or promote decay of the teeth.
It is in a family of bulk sweeteners known as sugar alcohol, or polyols. Most people like the taste, and are satisfied with foods that use it as an ingredient. It’s about 90% as sweet as sugar, and has way less calories than sugar. Many hard candies, gum, ice creams, and baked goods use maltitol. And diabetes patients are naturally attracted to using it to help them control their weight.
Is Maltitol Diabetes Friendly?
It can be helpful in controlling the amount of calories consumed, so to that extent maltitol and diabetes are compatible. Maltitol has a lesser effect on blood glucose levels than sugar. But it does still have about 50% of the calories of sugar so it can’t be consumed without being considered. But don’t think that just because a food lists maltitol as an ingredient you can ignore the other ingredients. You still need to be on the lookout for calories and carbohydrates.
Controlling the blood glucose, the lipids, and weight are the three major dietary goals of most diabetics. Since it is slowly absorbed, maltitol and diabetes nutrition control is compatible. Because it is absorbed slowly, the rise in blood sugar and the insulin response associated with consuming glucose is reduced. So foods that substitute sugar with maltitol may let diabetics have a wider choice of foods to include in the diet. In general, if you are looking at a label that lists maltitol content by weight, you can assume 2.4 calories per gram of weight.
Is Maltitol Safe?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted maltitol safe status. It is considered a flavoring agent, formulation aid, humectant, nutritive sweetener, processing aid, sequestrant, stabilizer and thickener, surface-finishing agent and texturizer. The use of maltitol and diabetes hard candy is approved for use at a percentage of ingredients as high as 99.5%.
The Scientific Committee for Food of the European Union has also published a conclusion that it is acceptable for use, without setting any limits. The one side effect noted most often is a laxative effect when consumed in high quantities.
It is not without controversy, but almost nothing is these days so it looks like the use of maltitol and diabetes nutrition management will continue for the foreseeable future. You should contact your own doctor for specifics on how it may affect you. Nothing replaces good, natural, nutritious foods, but Americans demand more and more variety of reduced calories every year, and it looks like maltitol will be a part of satisfying that demand.
