Key Takeaways
- True sugar allergies are rare, and most people who react to sugar have an intolerance instead.
- Sugar intolerance can cause symptoms like stomach upset, diarrhea, and headaches. If you do have an allergy to sugar, you may experience symptoms like hives and itching.
- If you have symptoms after eating sugar, you may need to limit or avoid sugar and consult a healthcare provider.
A true allergy to sugar is possible in theory but extremely rare. Some people experience allergy-like symptoms when consuming sugar. However, it is more likely a sugar intolerance than an allergy.
Sugar intolerance or sensitivity describes difficulty digesting certain types of sugar and does not involve the immune system reaction that happens with an allergy. In some individuals, sugar can cause various symptoms, including digestive issues and migraines. Most people can manage their symptoms with simple dietary changes.
This article discusses sugar intolerance and whether it is possible to be allergic to sugar. It also goes over symptoms and how you can manage a sugar intolerance.
Intolerance vs. Allergy
When you first ingest a food you’re allergic to, your body creates an antibody called immunoglobulin E (IgE). On subsequent exposure, your immune system reacts by binding the allergen to IgE on mast cells or basophils, causing an allergic reaction.
Some studies suggest sugar allergies are possible, but there’s no evidence of sugar-specific IgE in those with severe allergy-like reactions.
In contrast, food intolerance occurs when your digestive system can’t break down certain foods. This may happen due to enzyme deficiencies or sensitivities to specific chemicals or additives in the food.
A key difference between an allergic reaction and intolerance is that someone with intolerance may consume small amounts of the problematic food without issues.
Sugar Intolerance vs. Glucose Intolerance
Sugar intolerance and glucose intolerance are not the same thing. Sugar intolerance is a dietary intolerance to certain types of sugar. Glucose intolerance refers to metabolic disorders that result in higher-than-normal blood sugar levels.
Types of Sugar
It’s hard to escape sugar—it’s in a lot of the foods that you probably eat on a daily basis, with the obvious being foods like fruit, desserts, sodas, pastries, ice cream, and dairy products. But, you may not be aware that it’s also an ingredient in many other favorite foods like sports drinks, cereals, bottled condiments, salad dressings, and more.
Sugar acts as one type of fuel source for the body’s cells, so it plays a significant role in providing your body with energy. Sugars are carbohydrates, and there are several forms of sugar, including:
- Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar found in fruits, high-carbohydrate vegetables, and honey.
- Glucose is a crucial source of energy for the body and requires insulin to utilize it.
- Galactose is a sugar present in dairy products.
- Lactose, a sugar found in dairy products, is comprised of glucose and galactose.
- Maltose is formed when two glucose molecules are joined together, and it primarily occurs in grains like malt.
- Sucrose, also known as “table sugar,” is a combination of glucose and fructose, and it comes from plants like sugarcane and beets.
- Xylose comes from wood or straw, and it undergoes an enzymatic process to convert it to the sugar substitute we know as xylitol.
Fructose and lactose are among the most common causes of sugar intolerance.
There is evidence that fructans, a carbohydrate composed of chains of fructose, may be the real cause of non-celiac gluten intolerance, given that they are found in high concentration in wheat and rye.
Symptoms of Sugar Allergy or Intolerance
If you have a true sugar allergy, you might experience certain symptoms when you eat sugar, such as:
- Hives
- Congestion
- An itchy, tingling sensation in your mouth
In severe cases, you could experience anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction to food exposure. Although unlikely with sugar, typical anaphylaxis symptoms from other foods can include:
- Tightening of the airway
- Significant drop in blood pressure, leading to shock
- Swelling or closing of the throat, making breathing difficult
- Loss of consciousness
- Rapid heart rate
Seek emergency medical care immediately if you have any symptoms of anaphylaxis.
While symptoms like stomach cramps and vomiting can occur with an allergy, they are more often signs of sugar intolerance. Common symptoms of sugar intolerance include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal bloating
- Gas
- Headaches
- Migraines
Other symptoms that have been linked to sugar intolerance include:
- Fatigue
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Fainting episodes
Sugar intolerance is associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). People with IBS may benefit from a low-FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) diet, which limits sugars that are easily fermentable in the small intestine.
Treatment
Many people can manage a sugar intolerance by changing their diet, avoiding sugar, or significantly reducing its intake. To identify which types of sugar are problematic, you may want to keep a food diary so that you can track the foods you eat and identify how they make you feel.
For example, if you note that each time you put ketchup on a hamburger, you feel ill, that may be a clue that your body’s not tolerating the sugar that’s present in the product.
Another example is with dairy products. If, after you eat ice cream or drink a glass of milk, you experience an onslaught of digestive problems, that may be an indication that you’re lactose intolerant.
Foods to Avoid
If you know you have an adverse reaction to sugar but can’t pinpoint a source, you may need to avoid it altogether. Sugar-containing foods include, but aren’t limited to:
- Agave
- Bread
- Cakes, cookies, and other pastries
- Candy
- Cane juice or sugar cane
- Cereal
- Condiments with added sugar
- Corn syrup
- Fruit
- Fruit juices
- Fruit roll-ups
- Granola bars
- High fructose corn syrup
- Honey
- Jellies, jams, and preserves
- Molasses
- Nut milk and nut butter that is sweetened with sugar
- Salad dressings, marinades, pasta sauces, or barbeque sauces that contain sugar
- Sodas
If you’re lactose intolerant, you’ll need to avoid dairy products like:
- Butter
- Cheese
- Ice cream
- Milk
- Pudding
- Cream-based soups, sauces, or other food dishes made with cream
- Yogurt
Sugar Substitutes
If you believe you are sensitive to sugar, you may be able to eat sugar substitutes instead. Keep in mind that sugar substitutes are much sweeter than natural sugar, so use them sparingly.
Common sugar substitutes found in diet sodas and other no-sugar products include:
- Equal or NutraSweet (aspartame)
- Splenda (sucralose)
- Sweet’N Low (saccharin)
- Stevia
Although the FDA generally considers artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose to be safe, their use is controversial. Some research has linked artificial sweeteners to health effects like weight gain and increased risk of diabetes.
If you are sensitive to lactose, try lactose-free dairy products such as lactose-free milk, yogurt, and ice cream.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you experience unusual symptoms when you eat sugar, consult with a healthcare provider. The treatment for sugar intolerance will depend on the level of severity of your reaction, but your healthcare provider can use a variety of testing measures to confirm a diagnosis.
Also, your healthcare provider may recommend you consult with a nutritionist to create a healthy diet plan around any limitations you may have.
Food Allergies Doctor Discussion Guide
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