
April 20, 2004
Meal Planning, Food and Diet
Question from Buffalo, New York, USA:
My child is on the pump. Since I count carbohydrates, does it really make a difference if I give him a sugar-free cookie or a regular cookie if the carbohydrate value is the same? I know that a regular cookie will raise the blood glucose quicker. Sometimes he will have one after a dinner that always includes a protein.
Answer:
I face this question a lot. The answer is in the number of cookies–too many of either is bad. Why? One, the simple carbohydrates in the regular cookie, which push the glucose up quickly. Two, too many “sugar-free” cookies containing sorbitol cause diarrhea. I would use the “regular” cookies, but limit the quantity. In a mixed meal it really is the best way to give these “treats”.
LD