Keep the Sweetness and Ditch the Health Problems With Smart Sugar Substitutes
Diabetes can definitely put a damper on dessert. Your blood sugar level becomes your top priority, which means refined sugar (with its high glycemic index) is something to avoid. If you’re at all like the rest of the population, you appreciate a little sweetness now and again, and the fact that sugar is off-limits will probably leave you grumpy and unsatisfied.
Fortunately, there are a few sugar substitutes to satisfy your sweet tooth without sending your blood sugar through the roof. However, there are also some artificial sweeteners that seem pretty good on the surface, but are actually terrible for your diabetes. Get to know which sugar alternatives are best for your blood sugar so you can stay on track with your diabetes management.
1. Stevia
Naturally-derived and over 100 times sweeter than sugar, stevia might be the answer to your diabetic problems. Stevia is old news in South America, where it’s been used for centuries, but it’s starting to make waves in North America now, too.
The best thing about stevia? It has no calories or glycemic impact! It’s also incredibly versatile: the powder can be stirred into tea and coffee, baked into desserts, and used in all sorts of other recipes as you would use sugar. However, you should be careful not to overdo it on the stevia, because regular consumption can make you crave sweet things more intensely and frequently.
With eight main drug classes for oral diabetes medications, each may work differently for patients. Talk to your doctor about which is right for you.
