9 Best Sweeteners For Diabetics

A normal reading for glucose monitoring can be very difficult to achieve especially when everything around us revolves around sweet food or drinks. Due to that, many diabetics have been searching for alternatives to sugar use.

But worry not as there are plenty of choices that can be used as a replacement for sugar. Here we would like to share with you the 9 best sweeteners that you can try if you are diabetic.

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9 Types Of Sugar Replacement

When it comes to sweeteners, there are a lot of choices out there in the market with some having unique traits over the other. The following are some of the sweeteners that are commonly used around the world:

1. Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that comes from the plant, Stevia rebaudiana. The plant is sometimes known as candyleaf, sweetleaf or sugarleaf. This product has a sweetness level of 300 times more than regular sugar.

One only needs to use a tiny bit of stevia to sweeten their food or drinks. The good thing is that it is free from calories and does not increase your blood sugar level. However, you might come to realize that it is rather pricey than other sweeteners on this list.

2. Sucralose

Different from stevia, sucralose is an artificial sweetener that has a sweetness level of 600 times more than regular sugar.

It is sweeter than regular sugar but it has little to no calories. It is among one of the most popular artificial sweeteners to be used.

3. Acesulfame Potassium

Acesulfame potassium or also known as acesulfame K or Ace-K is an artificial sweetener with a sweetness level of up to 200 times than regular sugar.

It is commonly used in the making of well-known carbonated drinks. Manufacturers mostly combine it with other sweeteners to reduce the bitterness that appears after drinking them.

4. Neotame

Neotame is a type of low-calorie artificial sweetener with a sweetness level of 7,000 - 13,000 times of that regular sugar.

The Food and Drug Administration(FDA) approved the use of neotame in 2002 as a sweetening and flavoring agent for all types of food except meat and chicken.

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5. Allulose

Allulose is a low-caloric natural sweetener that can be found in certain fruits and vegetables like tin food, raisins, and jack fruit.

It is around 70% of the sweetness level of regular sugar but comprised only 10% of the calories of white sugar. This sweetener does not increase your blood sugar level if taken orally.

6. Tagatose

Tagatose is a type of fructose with a sweetness level of more than 90% of sucrose. It is present in small amounts in some fruits like apples, oranges, and pineapples.

Some people with diabetes can benefit from taking tagatose, especially those following a low glycemic index(GI) diet. However, this alternative replacement is far more expensive than other low-calorie sweeteners and might be difficult to obtain in regular supermarkets.

7. Aspartame

Aspartame is another popular synthetic sweetener with a sweetness level of 200 times that of regular sugar.

It has been in the American market since the 1980s and it is the most common sweetener to be used in carbonated drinks worldwide.

8. Saccharin

Saccharin is sold in the supermarket with various brands to choose from.

It does not contain any calories at all with a sweetness level of 200 - 700 times more than white sugar.

9. Monk fruit

This might be the most peculiar sweetener on this list but it is quite known in China as monk fruit or Lo Han Guo. The Chinese have used it for centuries long as a traditional medicine in food to help with the digestive system.

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Some manufacturers made zero-calorie or carbohydrate-free sweeteners from this monk fruit. It has a sweetness level of 250 times more than white sugar and does not affect a person's blood sugar level.

Conclusion

The sweetening agents stated above are considered a better replacement for sugar, especially for diabetic patients since it does not increase their blood sugar level.

Most of the sweetening agents here have been proven to not give any serious side effects if taken accordingly and in moderation.

If you are still unsure of this, then it is best to ask your doctor or dietitian about the greatest approach to your diet.

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