Dubai: As the number of diabetics increase in the UAE, the diabetic food market is trying to catch up.
However, despite the availability of diabetic packaged foods with reduced sugar or artificial sweeteners, health professionals urge diabetics to instead adjust their diet of normal food.
According to figures from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), 20 per cent of the UAE population is diabetic and another 18 per cent at high risk.
Against this incidence, health professionals have noticed the emerging diabetic packaged food trend. Foods including confectionary, diary, beverages and flour are manufactured to reduce sugar/carbohydrate content.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Mohammad Farghaly, Head of Acute and Chronic Care, Primary Health Care Sector at the DHA, said that behavioural intervention in the form of natural diet and exercise is a safer alternative.
He cautioned against ‘suitable for diabetic’ foods unless advised by a diabetic educator.
He stressed the importance of diabetic education programmes to ensure glucose control. The programmes teach patients how to achieve food control.
He said, “There are well-known diabetic education programmes available. Patients can learn how to shop at a supermarket. The focus should be on low glycaemic index foods instead of high which can make blood sugar levels go up.”
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Sonia Gupte, General Practitioner at iCare Clinics, said that diabetic food is fast becoming a frequently used term, making diabetics believe they can enjoy anything from chocolates to ice-cream as long as the label says ‘sugar free’ or ‘suitable for diabetics’. She said the medical community is concerned about labelling food as ‘diabetic’ as it could mislead people with diabetes into thinking that the food is essential or suitable.
She said, “Diabetic food may offer no additional health benefit. Hence diabetics shouldn’t rely on food labelled ‘for diabetic’.”
She also said the nutrition labels with claims like ‘no sugar, low-sugar, naturally sweetened, no added sugar’, etc, should be read carefully.
“Sugar is only one form of carbohydrate. So when a product claims to be sugar-free, it doesn’t mean that it is carbohydrate-free. It could be low in calories, but still contain carbs that affect blood glucose levels,” said Dr Gupte.
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