Question:
Sugar

Can someone PLEASE explain the sugar thing.... I know that eating regular sugar will cause dumping. I read labels all the time. So what is Malitol, sugar accohol,? So what is safe and what is a "WOW". You see all kinds of SUGAR FREE stuff but what can you do and what can you NOT DO....? If it has fruit juice (all natural) is that a safe sugar? Thanks for helping me understand all this. Vickie, Texas    — purplepassion555 (posted on January 22, 2009)

January 22, 2009
Sugar is sugar to put it plainly. There is a difference between complex and simple sugars but in the practical world I find it easiest to just use this simple view of my sugar intake. I avoid anything with more than 6% sugar or sugar alcohol. Anything more seems to cause me to dump, and if it doesn't I don't want to know because it will most likely put weight on me. As for fruits and juices I try only those with no sugar added. I am 10 months out and I still can't eat some fruits without dumping but I can eat most fruits. Nick
   — NNicholas

January 22, 2009
Any type of sugar can cause dumping. Sugar alcohol gives me horrible gas. Also, watch out for fruits and juices, even if it's no sugar added. They tend to have high sugar contents and, even if it's natural sugars, you might still get sick from it. I like Splenda the best. Look for products with that lable. Good luck.
   — maria09elena

January 22, 2009
YOu are right...there are all kinds of sugar! Some come from corn(dextose), fruits (fructose), sugar cane (sucrolose), maple syrup, honey, milk (lactose)
   — .Anita R.

January 22, 2009
OOPSIES! LOL This is the second time this week I posted before I finished my post! Sorry! My point is that most anything ending in "ose" is sugar! And there are all kinds! Like someone said...Sugar is sugar...although some hit your blood quicker which is not good to do all the time (to make a complicated story short) than others...Try to look for things with low sugars...I can handle some sugar myself...but fruit juices hit me fast and hard...I get no sugar added juices (NSA) and dilute 2 oz with water and add a natural sweetener (stevia) because I am very sensitive to some artifical sugars...and milk sugars too...The Artifical sugars like sugar alcoh"ols" They end in "ols"..Like mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, lactitol, etc...are simliar to sugar and to alcohol (without the alcohlic influence...Another complicated story) But these sugars do not spike the insulin levels in your body quickly but rather slowly which is better. But for me...They cause me late dumping and pain...So you do your best to eat natural foods, but be aware that many foods do have natural sugar..some more than others..and watch the sugar and sugar alcohol levels too especially if you find that sugar alcohols give you any discomfort...I mostly stick to fruits as my desserts/treats, but for a sweetener I use all natural "Stevia" from a plant...The brand I use (Nu-Naturals) has a little maltodextrin (from corn) but has zero calories, sugar, or carbs...I love it..It's sweeter than sugar so a few drops goes a LONG way...or there is powder form too and two packets sweetens an entire pot of tea. It all boils down to carbs and which are the good carbs and the bad carbs... "glycemic index". Here is a cool site that I like as a reference because it is HUGE list...and explains in a little more detail too! It's from Austrailia, so there are a lot of foods that we don't have here and many that we do! You can look for your own chart too with a search for glycemic index charts... http://www.mendosa.com/gilists.htm
   — .Anita R.

January 23, 2009
Tough nI am not yet "switched" (duodenal switch), I have had some education about what to do and what not to do in terms of my own bariatric surgery. Malitol is indeed one of several alcohol sugars used in so-called "sugar free" products. What was taught to me in terms of reading labels to stay clear of sugar alcohols is this: If an ingredient ends in "ol", it may be a sugar alcohol which may also cause dumping. It may not in some cases, but the instructors say - "When in doubt, rule it out".
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 23, 2009
Hello! I typically only have juices, drinks, and sweets which use Splenda brand (sucralose). I am allergic to Nutra-sweet and Sweet and Low. I also check labels and use the 6% rule as well. I do not have dumping episodes. I am 2.4 yrs out from Lap RNY - at goal weight. Good luck!
   — waferqueen

January 23, 2009
It is not a guarantee that you will get dumping syndrome with sugar from having either the Gastric Bypass or the Duodenal Switch procedure performed. Sugar is not the ONLY thing that will CAUSE dumping syndrome. Some people get it from eating FATS. Others get it from their NERVES, still OTHER people get it, and they just don't know WHY. Some people have it from one trigger (ie: sugar, fats, or nerves)and some people get it from a combination of two or more. EACH person is DIFFERENT. Dumping syndrome is often quite painful, and can basically be described as severe cramping accompanied by nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal gas. The severity of the symptoms varied depending on the patient. There is no way of TELLING before hand who will be affected in what way. Some people go into their procedure HOPING that they GET dumping syndrome, and they are disappointed when they do not. Others hope that they do NOT get it and are disappointed when they DO. Those that HOPE to get it, often want the syndrome to HELP them CONTROL themselves. They hope that the discomfort of dumping syndrome will KEEP them from eating the unhealthy foods that got them FAT to begin with. Sometimes that works. Sometimes it doesn't. Often those people will find OTHER foods to replace the foods that they can no longer eat. It is usually BETTER to try to make an effort to steer clear of bad habits without relying on gimmicks to act as a crutch. I do not mean to be critical. I'm a weight loss patient too. It could be said that I had to "rely on a crutch" just by having my surgery performed. I have also made a conscious CHOICE to avoid sugars and most fats. My diet has DRASTICALLY changed since I have had my surgery. I have not HAD the Gastric Bypass OR the Duodenal Switch but have had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy instead. There is no chance of dumping syndrome with this procedure. I have studied all of the most popular weight loss procedures currently available, and I found that this was the best one for ME. I have lost 110 pounds with the VSG since March 2, 2008. I had been experiencing "Dumping Syndrome" PRIOR to having the VSG because I had a spastic colon. The VSG REVERSED those symptoms for me. The reversal was likely due to the change in diet that came along with the surgery, but the results were quite noticeable, none the less. If you want to find out MORE about the various surgical options available to you, check out my profile page at http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/hubarlow/. Look for my post titled "Surgical Comparisons." If you do not s on my main profile page, look for it in the March 2008 archives. I hope this helps. Hugh
   — hubarlow