Sugars

 What's the difference between sugar and sugar alcohol?  I bought a Jello dessert that has 0g sugar and 5g sugar alcohol.  Does it affect your blood sugars like regular sugar does for diabetics?  If you're a dumper will it make you dump?

Sugar alcohols are fake sugars that the body does not absorb. So they go through you rather than stay in your system. As a result, if you have too much of them, you could end up with the runs as they have a laxative effect. Whenever they take sugar out of something, they have to put something into it, so always watch the amounts. You'll learn what your body can tolerate.  So you always want to start with small amounts. Some people are VERY sensitive to sugar alcohols.

Many SA's end with  "itol".

Dawn

They are a hydrogenated carb that is rendered incompletely digestible and therefore results in a smaller insulin response in MOST individuals (read: not all) and usually (depending on the type) a lower caloric value. They are used for a number of reasons, notably to mix with sweeteners and to negate the artificialness of the sweet flavour, and to better simulate mouthfeel in baking, canady and toppings, anything that needs a more syrupish feel.

As Dawn said they can cause gastrointestinal upset (gas, the runs, bloating etc) if eaten in large amounts, or even in smaller amounts with sensitive folks.

Sugar Alcohols can cause dumping, though I believe much less frequently than sugar would.