You can easily find corn sugar at various shopping centers. This type of sugar is often used as a replacement for diabetics. Is this type of sugar really safe to be consumed by diabetics?

What is corn sugar?

Corn sugar is made from starch or corn flour which is processed into two forms, dextrose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). In biochemical structure, dextrose is synonymous with glucose, which is the type of sugar in human blood. While HFCS has been chemically altered, because 55 percent of the structure has been replaced by fructose and the remaining 45 percent is glucose. This later structure is quite similar with white sugar.

Both dextrose and HFCS are often used in commercial products to give sweetness to various foods and drinks.

Dextrose is usually used as a sweetener in cakes, cookies and chips. While HFCS is found in syrup, carbonated drinks and packaged beverages.

Dextrose can be used as a food neutralizer which tastes very spicy or salty, or can be used to extend an expiration date of a product. In fact, bodybuilders choose dextrose as a post exercise supplement to restore depleted glycogen.

Not only used for previously mentioned purposes, corn sugar is also used to overcome certain medical problems.

Utilization of corn sugar for medical purposes

In the medical world, corn sugar is used in the form of dextrose solution and often used by doctor to deal with emergency conditions. It can be used in the case of low blood sugar or part of the treatment in overcoming dehydration.

In addition, dextrose can also be combined with other nutrients such as amino acids and be used as calorie supplementation for patients who can't tolerate any oral intake, and need intravenous supplementation.

While in tablet form, dextrose is often given to diabetics who are prone to suffer from hypoglycemia due to the use of anti-diabetic drugs or insulin. This tablet is used if any signs of hypoglycemia appear so that blood sugar levels can return to normal in a short time.

Is it safe for diabetics?

The two forms of corn sugar, dextrose and HFCS, are the types of sweetener which contains calories and rapidly increase blood sugar levels. Therefore, consumption must be limited, especially among diabetics.

Experts argue that for diabetics, sweeteners that are originally come from pure sugar like corn sugar and white sugar can only be consumed as much as one teaspoon or about 5 grams per day.

Alternatively, you can use non-calorie artificial sweeteners and does not increase the blood sugar levels, such as of xylitol, eryhtritol, sorbitol, aspartame, sucralose, or stevia.

Although corn sugar is often labeled as healthy sugar, keep in mind that the metabolism of diabetics is not similar with that of normal people. The body of diabetic is not able to process sugar as quick as most healthy people, as a result they are susceptible to excessive blood sugar levels, and the bad effects of high blood sugar levels can ensue.

Please keep in mind, corn sugar is contained in many processed foods and beverage. So you also need to pay attention to the total amount of carbohydrates in your food consumed daily.

As recommended by diabetes experts who are members of the Indonesian Association

Of Endocrinology (Perhimpunan Endokrinologi Indonesia/PERKENI), diabetics need to limit their consumption of carbohydrates to 45-60 grams in one meal.

In other words, if you eat any meals containing corn sugar, consumption of other carbohydrate sources needs to be reduced. The goal is that the total amount of carbohydrates consumed remains the same in one day.

So, diabetics can still consume any type of sugar, including corn sugar, as long as the consumption is limited. If you have diabetes, do the above-mentioned tips so the total amount of carbohydrates intake is still within recommended range.

[NP/RH]

Reference:
https://www.healthline.com/health/dextrose#precautions
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322243.php
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/biochemistry-genetics-and-molecular-biology/dextrose-equivalent