Are Sugar-Free Biscuits a SCAM?

Me - Oh, sugar-free biscuits? Healthy option!

My blood sugar - Haha, good joke.

Ever bought a packet of diabetes-friendly biscuits and felt proud of your healthy choice?

You think, Finally! A guilt-free snack!

You eat two. Maybe three. Maybe the whole damn packet (we've all been there).

Then you check your blood sugar...

Wait, what? But they were sugar-free, right?

Some facts that brands don’t want you to know

1. Sugar-Free ≠ Blood Sugar-Friendly

Just because they don’t add table sugar doesn’t mean they don’t add other sweeteners that mess with your glucose levels.

Look at the ingredients if you see maltitol, sorbitol, or fructose syrup, RUN.

These are sugar alcohols that still raise blood sugar, just slower than sugar.

So, instead of a sharp spike, you get a delayed spike.

Sneaky, right?

2. The LOW-CALORIE Trap

Brands slap low calorie on the pack, so we assume it's healthy. But if the biscuits are still packed with refined flour + artificial sweeteners + preservatives, they’re no better than regular biscuits.

Fun fact is Many sugar-free biscuits have higher carbs than normal ones. And for diabetics, carbs = sugar in disguise.

3. The Portion Size Trick

The label says Only 2g sugar per serving! Sounds good, right?

But read the fine print. The serving size is one tiny biscuit.

No one eats just one biscuit. If you eat 5, you get 10g sugar, plus the hidden carbs.

So, What’s a Better Option?
→ Homemade snacks – roasted makhana, chana, or even DIY almond flour cookies.
→ Nuts & seeds – healthy fats + protein = no sugar spikes.
→ Sprouts Chaat
→ Cucumber & Carrot Sticks with Hummus

Just because something is labeled 'sugar-free' doesn’t mean it’s good for diabetics.

Marketers are smart, but you? You're smarter now.

Next time you see diabetes-friendly biscuits, check the ingredient list, not the front of the pack.

Courtesy: Dr. Malhar Ganla, Dr. Pramod Tripathi