Johannesburg October 2026 – Ahead of World Diabetes Day on 14 November attention is turning to practical ways people can support their health and reduce their risk. For South Africans living with diabetes as well as those at risk of developing the condition managing blood glucose is about more than simply cutting out sugar. The everyday challenge is finding realistic ways to reduce added sugar while still enjoying familiar foods and maintaining a balanced eating pattern.
The scale of the challenge is significant. According to the International Diabetes Federation’s Diabetes Atlas an estimated 2.32 million adults aged 20–79 in South Africa were living with diabetes in 2024. The country’s age-standardised diabetes prevalence for this age group was estimated at 7.2%.
Canderel has secured the Glycaemic Index (GI) Foundation of South Africa (GIFSA) endorsement across a range of sweetener products and formats in South Africa bringing the brand’s lower-added-sugar message into focus ahead of World Diabetes Day on 14 November.
Nineteen Canderel products have now been endorsed by GIFSA providing consumers with a wider range of products that meet the Foundation’s evidence-based nutritional criteria and can support informed choices when reducing added sugar.
For registered dietitian Mbali Mapholi the focus should be on helping people make manageable changes that can be sustained over time.
“For someone managing diabetes or prediabetes the goal is not simply to remove every food that contains sugar. It is about understanding how different choices fit into their overall eating pattern and identifying realistic swaps that can help reduce added sugar” says Mapholi.
Moving beyond an “all or nothing” approach
Diabetes management can make food choices feel complicated particularly when people believe that managing blood glucose means permanently giving up foods they enjoy.
Mapholi says a more practical approach is to look at the overall meal or eating pattern rather than focusing on individual foods in isolation.
“People can become overwhelmed by lists of foods they should avoid. Instead I encourage looking at where simple changes can be made consistently – whether that is reducing added sugar in beverages choosing less sweetened products or making smarter ingredient substitutions when preparing food at home” she says.
One possible substitution is replacing added sugar with a low- or no-calorie sweetener where appropriate. This can reduce the added sugar in a particular food or drink but it is not a substitute for an overall balanced eating pattern or personalised advice from a qualified healthcare professional.
The GIFSA-endorsed Canderel products give consumers additional options when looking to reduce added sugar. The GI Foundation of South Africa promotes evidence-based nutrition and identifies products that meet its criteria for healthier carbohydrate choices as part of a balanced diet.
Importantly the purpose of a sweetener substitution is to replace added sugar rather than to encourage greater consumption of sweet foods.
“As a dietitian I always emphasise that the bigger picture matters. Replacing sugar can be one useful tool but it works best alongside an overall balanced eating pattern appropriate portions and foods that provide fibre and protein” says Mapholi.
What can a lower-sugar dessert look like?
Reducing added sugar does not mean that people have to stop preparing desserts altogether. It can mean rethinking the ingredients used and how often they are enjoyed.
For people looking for simple options at home Mapholi recommends combinations that include protein- and fibre-containing ingredients such as plain lower fat Greek yoghurt berries oats nuts and chia seeds.
Three options include:
Berry Cheesecake Cups
Made with plain lower fat Greek yoghurt fresh berries and Canderel these provide a simple alternative to a heavily sweetened dessert.
Chocolate Greek Yoghurt Mousse
Unsweetened cocoa lower fat Greek yoghurt and Canderel can be combined to create a chocolate dessert while keeping added sugar lower.
Vanilla Chia Pudding
Chia seeds lower fat milk vanilla and Canderel provide the base for an easy make-ahead dessert with fibre from the chia seeds.
“These types of recipes demonstrate that reducing added sugar does not necessarily require complicated ingredients or completely changing the foods you enjoy” says Mapholi.
Five practical principles for managing added sugar
For people looking to make more informed choices around blood glucose and added sugar Mapholi recommends:
- Look at the whole eating pattern rather than judging individual foods in isolation.
- Make realistic swaps such as reducing added sugar and choosing lower fat and lower GI options where possible.
- Include fibre and protein as part of balanced meals and snacks.
- Be mindful of portions particularly when enjoying treats and desserts.
- Focus on consistency rather than perfection – sustainable changes are more useful than short-term restriction.
“Healthy eating is not about creating a perfect diet. It is about making informed choices that are realistic for your lifestyle” concludes Mapholi. “For people managing diabetes or trying to reduce their risk of developing it having practical options that make lower-sugar and lower GI choices easier can be an important part of that journey.”
