Is brown sugar good for diabetics? (2024)

FAQs

Is brown sugar good for diabetics? ›

Despite slight differences in taste, brown and white sugar have a very similar nutrient profile and effect on blood sugar levels. Therefore, brown sugar does not provide any benefits to people with diabetes. Everyone — but especially people with this condition — should moderate their sugar intake for optimal health.

Despite slight differences in taste, brown and white sugar have a very similar nutrient profile and effect on blood sugar levels. Therefore, brown sugar does not provide any benefits to people with diabetes. Everyone — but especially people with this condition — should moderate their sugar intake for optimal health.

“It doesn't matter if it's called sugar, evaporated cane juice, high fructose corn syrup, or malt syrup,” Mills says. “They're all sugar, and all of them will elevate blood glucose.”

Brown sugar when consumed in limited quantity is safe and well-tolerated by most healthy adults. However, if consumed in large amounts may increase the risk of weight gain, yeast infections and diabetes.

Used sparingly, honey can be part of a healthy, balanced diet for people living with diabetes. But it's good practice to get into the habit of limiting honey and any added sugar as much as possible. More than focussing on an individual ingredient, think about what you eat for each meal as a whole.

What is the safest sweetener for those with diabetes? The safest sweetener to use is a natural sweetener like pure stevia extract without fillers or monk fruit. However, it's best to use these in moderation.

A blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L) is low and can harm you. A blood sugar level below 54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L) is a cause for immediate action. You are at risk for low blood sugar if you have diabetes and are taking any of the following diabetes medicines: Insulin.

Outside of pure stevia, I recommend using either raw honey or pure maple syrup. These sugars are not processed and they contain trace amounts of vitamins and minerals. At the end of the day, it is important to understand what sugar is doing to your body.

Water is the best all-round drink. If your family likes flavoured waters, make your own by adding a squeeze of lemon or lime, or strawberries.

Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar. One study found that people who drink more water lower their risk for developing high blood sugar levels. And remember, water is the best. Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more.

What fruit should diabetics avoid? ›

Fruits are an essential part of a nutritious diet. They are high in fiber, nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants that promote overall health and support disease prevention. People with diabetes can eat any and all fruits, provided they do so in moderation, including: apples.

For people with diabetes, the use of brown sugar has no healthier effects than white sugar. Users should note that any added sugars should be limited as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet. Excess sugar intake is strongly linked to the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and fatty liver disease.

Sucrose is the main component of brown and white sugars and can cause blood sugar level spikes. Sucrose has a high rating on the diabetic glycemic index. Both types of sugars can increase your blood sugar just as much as some carbs.

Dates can be dried and ground to make a sugar substitute. Because it comes from a whole fruit, it also adds fiber and nutrients to your recipes. Dates are especially good as a brown sugar substitute, as they keep some of the moisture from their fruit form.

If you're avoiding refined sugars, date sugar may be a perfect brown sugar replacement. It's created from dehydrated dates and has a similarly sweet, more caramel-like flavor to brown sugar. Try ⅔ cup of date sugar for every cup of brown sugar for a healthy brown sugar substitute.

Brown sugar makes baked goods moister than white sugar because of the molasses content, says Pichet Ong, pastry chef and author of The Sweet Spot: Asian-Inspired Desserts.

Their main differences are their taste and color. Brown sugar contains slightly more minerals and marginally fewer calories than white sugar. However, the nutritional differences between the two are insignificant.