Xylitol and Insulin: Understanding the Impact on Blood Sugar

Xylitol is not an artificial sweetener because your body already produces it from other foods. And dentists recommend it for its protection against tooth decay according to the xylitol organization. Best of all, xylitol does not increase blood sugar levels for diabetics and keeps insulin release low.

Xylitol

• Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that looks a lot like sugar, but it is found in certain foods like berries and mushrooms. It was discovered in 1891 and has been used as a food additive since the 1960s according to Sweet Life.com. For food manufacturing, wood sugar is used.

Glycemic Index

• Xylitol has a low glycemic index (effect on blood sugar levels) compared to other carbohydrates. In a study reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the glycemic index for xylitol was 7 compared to 100 for glucose. This means the energy from this sugar substitute is released more slowly.

Effect on Insulin Release

• In a study conducted by Hassinger et al published in Diabetologia in 1981, xylitol showed a significantly lower insulin release than did sucrose. The need for insulin after consuming sucrose was much higher than for xylitol.

Dosage

• The recommended dosage from xylitol is four to 12 grams per day. You can get this from xylitol-sweetened chewing gum, xylitol tablets, oral hygiene products and in foods like ice cream that have had xylitol used as an additive.

Reduced Calories

• According to the Calorie Control Council, xylitol has fewer calories than sugar by a third. It is about 2.4 calories per gram. At the recommended dosage of four to 12 grams per day, that is between nine and 29 total calories.