Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab 2002;46(3):280-287
Characterization of the consumption of alternative sweeteners and dietetic products by patients with diabetes
DOI: 10.1590/S0004-27302002000300011
The consumption of alternative sweeteners and dietetic products is increasing in the last few years. These products play an important role in the diet of patients with diabetes (DM), since they can provide the taste of sweetness, without adding calories. To know the pattern of consumption of these products among individuals with DM, a survey was carried out in a diabetes reference center in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, from January 1998 to April 1999. A questionnaire was applied to a random sample of 389 patients, from both sexes, aged 18 years or more. Data analysis was performed through the software Epi-Info 6.02. The majority of the participants (90.5%) consumes sweeteners, usually chooses products according to their preference (46.3%) and has the diagnosis of DM as the main determinant factor for its use (38%). Soft drinks are the dietetic product most consumed.