You can think of added sugar as any sweetener added to an ingredient or recipe before it’s eaten. For example, many processed foods, even frozen meals, contain sugar usually not present. This is one reason why doctors advise avoiding processed foods.
Some ingredients to look for on food items that will indicate added sugar include high fructose corn syrup, white sugar, nectars, and notes of sweeteners.
Fruits, vegetables, and dairy (milk, yogurt, and cream) contain natural sugars. When you purchase fruit like bananas, strawberries, etc., they have a sweet taste without adding anything to them.
It is essential to have some sugar in your diet as a person with diabetes. However, the aim is to reduce added sugar foods and incorporate more naturally sweet foods.
There is a debate on whether some added sugars like maple syrup, agave syrup, etc., are healthy even when added to meals (making them added sugars). While this is a valid concern, it’s best to assess these options’ quantity in your diet with a doctor.