Dr Coy’s sugars and diabetes

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes often occurs in childhood and adolescence. The body’s own immune system attacks the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, so none is produced. This most likely results from an autoimmune reaction, though the precise causes are unknown. Suspected triggers include environmental factors, gluten and viral infections. Because the body doesn’t produce insulin, the blood sugar level has to be regulated through daily insulin injections.

Gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy, with potential health consequences for mother and baby. Diabetic mothers are more likely to need a Caesarean section. Babies born to diabetic mothers have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity. A healthy diet is one way to help manage this.

Dr Coy’s sugars help keep blood glucose stable and safe

For people with diabetes, sugar awareness is often essential, along with regular blood monitoring, a healthy diet and regular exercise. Avoiding too many foods that are high in classic sugars and glucose starch is one way to help reduce the risk of diabetes.

Even ‘healthy’ foods like bread, pasta, potatoes, rice, and grains that we don’t think of as sweet contain hidden sugars in the form of glucose starch. This raises blood sugar levels significantly and forces the pancreas to release more insulin to stabilise it. These foods, as well as foods containing classic sugars, prevent fat metabolism, which can cause weight gain, obesity and ultimately, diabetes.

But sugar can still be part of a healthy diet. Replacing classic sugars with Dr Coy’s sugars such as galactose and tagatose could help limit any negative effects. For example:

Galactose:

Research shows that after consuming galactose, the amount of sugar in the blood rises more slowly than with classic sugars. Galactose provides an even supply of energy to cells, without spikes or dips in blood sugar. This makes it an ideal energy source for people who need to check their blood sugar levels regularly. Studies show that galactose can also induce fat burning, which makes it an ideal sugar for weight loss. Try it as a sweetener in drinks, desserts and ice cream.

Tagatose:

Tagatose helps prevent high blood glucose levels. It improves the blood fat profile by increasing good blood fats (high LDL) as well as decreasing HbA1c, a blood marker that signifies damage caused by high glucose levels in the blood. Diabetes experts strongly recommend the use of tagatose in nutritional diabetes treatment. The European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) confirms that the consumption of drinks containing tagatose instead of sugar, induces a lower blood glucose rise compared to sugar containing drinks.

Trehalose:

Trehalose is a fully digestible natural sugar consisting of two glucose sugars, but with a lower calorie content than classic sugars. It causes a lower blood glucose level and lower insulin burden than classic sugars. Also, it doesn’t block fat burning like classic sugars. Trehalose can supply the brain with glucose in a much healthier way than classic sugars. 

Isomaltulose:

The EFSA has confirmed the effects of isomaltulose for health, stating that consuming foods that include isomaltulose instead of other types of sugar can help to stabilize blood sugar levels.