Sweeteners
Sugar Alcohols Xylitol and Friends: A Plain Explainer
Sugar alcohols xylitol, sorbitol and erythritol are carbohydrates that taste sweet and carry fewer calories than sugar. They affect blood glucose less than other carbohydrates. In some people they cause gas or loose stools. Xylitol is also dangerous to dogs, so keep products with it out of their reach.
Written by the Glyco Defender facts deskUpdated · 4 min read
The basics01
What are sugar alcohols like xylitol?
Sugar alcohols such as xylitol are sweet carbohydrates with fewer calories than sugar, and they have a smaller effect on blood glucose than other carbohydrates (UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center, Sweeteners).
The name is confusing. They are not sugar and they are not the alcohol in drinks. They are a family of sweeteners found in sugar-free gum, candy, baked goods and some liquid supplements.
The sugar alcohols xylitol, sorbitol, erythritol, maltitol, isomalt and lactitol all end in -ol on a label. Look for that ending, and also for names like "polyol" or "hydrogenated starch hydrolysates" in the ingredient list.
A smaller effect is not zero effect. Sugar-free versions of a food can still hold similar carbohydrate to the regular one, so the label matters (UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center, Sweeteners).
Digestion02
Do sugar alcohols upset your stomach?
Sugar alcohols can upset your stomach: mannitol and sorbitol may cause gas, cramping or diarrhea in some people (UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center, Sweeteners). Xylitol carries less laxative risk when used in moderation.
Products with mannitol or sorbitol must carry a laxative-effect warning. A small serving is unlikely to bother most people, and a large one is where trouble starts. A worked example: two sticks of sugar-free gum a day is a very different load from a whole bag of sugar-free candy eaten in one sitting.
| Sweetener | Digestive note |
|---|---|
| Mannitol, sorbitol | May cause gas, cramping, diarrhea; laxative warning required |
| Xylitol, erythritol | Less laxative risk in moderation |
| Maltitol, isomalt, lactitol | Less laxative risk in moderation |
Your own tolerance may differ. Start small with a new product.
Pet safety03
Why is xylitol dangerous to dogs?
Xylitol is dangerous to dogs because it can cause a rapid, dangerous drop in a dog's blood sugar within 10 to 60 minutes of eating it (FDA, Paws Off Xylitol).
Signs in a dog include vomiting, weakness, collapse and seizures. People do not react the same way, because xylitol does not trigger the same insulin release in humans (FDA, Paws Off Xylitol).
Call a vet or animal poison control right away. Do not wait for signs.
That includes gum, candy, baked goods and any liquid with xylitol in it. Store them where pets cannot reach, and keep a dropper bottle capped and on a high shelf.
Glyco Defender: from $49 a bottle30 mL · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 60-day money-back
See packsYour day04
Where do sugar alcohols show up in a normal day?
Sugar alcohols show up at breakfast, the afternoon snack and bedtime, because sugar-free gum, bars and drinks use them all day.
Reading labels at each point in the day is the easiest habit. Check the sugar line and the ingredient list, not just the front of the pack.
The dial below shows a 24-hour routine with a morning dropperful, a walk, portions and sleep. Watch for sweeteners at each stop, and see the afternoon craving post and sleep and blood sugar post for related habits.
- Morning, about 7:30
One dropperful, in the mouth or in a glass of water. The label sets no time; mornings suit the caffeine. Prescribed medicine stays on its own schedule.
- A walk after a meal
In the DPP, the lifestyle group targeted 150 minutes of activity a week and cut diabetes risk by 58%.
- Plates and portions
Per the CDC, losing 5-7% of body weight helps prevent type 2 diabetes.
- Night, 7 to 9 hours
Guarana and green tea add caffeine, so a morning dropper suits light sleepers better than a late one.
Habits from the Diabetes Prevention Program (NIDDK, Diabetes Prevention Program) and CDC (CDC, Prediabetes); caffeine guidance from FDA (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?). The timing for the drops is only a suggestion; go by your label.
On the label05
Does Glyco Defender contain xylitol?
Yes, Glyco Defender lists xylitol and stevia among its other ingredients, along with water, natural flavors, potassium sorbate and citrus extract.
The label does not print the amount of xylitol. Stevia, in its high-purity form, has had no objection from the FDA as a sweetener (FDA, Aspartame and Other Sweeteners). The xylitol matters most if you have a dog at home, so store the bottle away from pets as well as children, as the label asks for children.
Read the full supplement facts page and the side effects page. If you take medicine, keep taking it and tell your doctor about any new supplement.
90-day supply
3 bottles · 90 days
$177$59 a bottle · about $1.97 a day
Price shows “+ Shipping”
Get 3 bottles
Lowest per bottle
6 bottles · 180 days
$294$49 a bottle · about $1.63 a day
Free US shipping
Get 6 bottlesSales-page prices, October 18, 2026 (Glyco Defender sales page). One bottle is $89. Check your medicines with your doctor first. 60-day money-back guarantee.
Glyco Defender is a dietary supplement, not a treatment. Ask your doctor or pharmacist first if you use insulin, a sulfonylurea or another glucose-lowering drug, a blood thinner, blood pressure or heart-rhythm medicine, an antidepressant or thyroid medicine. Chromium, gymnema and ginseng may add to diabetes medicines and cause lows; guarana and green tea add caffeine. Keep taking prescribed medicine. See side effects and interactions.
FAQ06
Glyco Defender questions people ask
Are sugar alcohols counted as carbohydrates?
Yes, sugar alcohols are carbohydrates (UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center, Sweeteners), so they usually appear in the carbohydrate total on a label. They carry fewer calories than sugar. People who count carbs should ask their care team how to treat them in their own plan.
Is erythritol the same as xylitol?
No. Both are sugar alcohols, but they are different sweeteners. Both carry less laxative risk than sorbitol or mannitol when used in moderation (UCSF Diabetes Teaching Center, Sweeteners). The FDA dog warning we cite names xylitol (FDA, Paws Off Xylitol).
Can sugar-free gum with xylitol hurt a dog?
Yes. Xylitol can drop a dog's blood sugar fast, within 10 to 60 minutes of eating it, causing vomiting, weakness, collapse and seizures (FDA, Paws Off Xylitol). Call a vet or animal poison control at once if your dog may have eaten some.
Who wrote this07
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Learn about our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is run by a U.S. stocking partner for Glyco Defender, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We are paid when you buy through our order links.
Related
More from the Glyco Defender blog
Keep reading
More about Glyco Defender
U.S. stocking partner for Glyco Defender
Ready to try Glyco Defender?
Check your medicines first, then pick a pack. Six bottles give the lowest price per bottle and ship free in the US; every pack comes with the 60-day money-back guarantee.
- Order on the sales page
- 60-day money-back
- Free US shipping on 6