Sweeteners and diabetes

I keep hearing about stevia, I don't like it, but some people swear by it. It isn't sugar, its a naturally sweet leaf. No idea - it isn't that sweet in MNTBHO!

I went to the doctor last week,and i had a blood test,he ask if i had eat anything & i told him NO but that i did drink some coke ,and his next question was (was it a diet or regular coke & it was a regular coke...I explained to him that i use to drink diet drinks but that my 11 year old granddaughter told me to drink reg cokes instead of diet because diet cokes had artificial sugar with was not could for you..He told me that all the test that had been taken on rats proved that to be untrue..He said a person would have to drink 3 0r 4 cases of cokes per day to have any effect on you.He said diet drinks and that artificial sugar like equal was not Bad at all..He highly recommended me to drink & eat artificial sugar..So thats all i know.My doctor is close to 70 years old & has been a doctor since his youth & i do trust his judgement....He sai that is all he dinks is diet cokes or drinks and uses artificial sugar...

My mom is a diabetic. She was told that she could have sugar real sugar but only in moderation and when her blood sugar wasn't high. I don't like the taste or the after taste of most artificial sweeteners. I have heard of something called Stevia and I was telling my mom we should check it out. I don't know much about it bit others said it was good and great for diabetic's. It is best just to cut back or eliminate sugar if you can but if you can't using artificial sweeteners can help for those who like it. Like everything else nothing comes without health hazards.

I have used Stevia as a swetener for years because it is a natural herbal supplement here is some information on it: Stevia has many excellent properties. The body does not metabolize the sweet glycosides from the stevia leaf or any of its processed forms - so there is no caloric intake. Stevia doesn't adversely affect blood glucose levels and may be used freely by diabetics. A Godsend to Diabetics The availability of artificial sweeteners has been of enormous benefit to diabetics. However, there's always been a concern that over consumption of these synthetic sweeteners may cause some unknown harm to the body. Could stevia substitution be a good alternative in diabetics? We believe so. Stevia leaves have been used as herbal teas by diabetic patients in Asian countries. No side effects have been observed in these patients after many years of continued consumption (Suttajit, 1993). Furthermore, studies have shown that stevia extract can actually improve blood sugar levels (Alvarez, 1981, Curi, 1986). http://www.stevia.com/

I have diabetes, and I am a lifelong lover of sweets! So I have had to curb my enthusiasm for sweets, desserts, etc. Also don't forget that carbohydrates turn to sugar after they are eaten. So you need to count carbs also. However, the very best sweetner I have found (and the only one I can use) is Splenda. It comes in individual packets for coffee, tea, etc. and it also comes in bulk bags. It is completely safe, as it is made from sugar, but is NOT sugar.........not a chemical, but natural. And you can bake with it......by using one half sugar and one half Splenda. In most things it takes less Splenda than sugar to sweeten. This product is approved by the hospital and nutritionists who led classes which I attended after I was diagnosed about a year ago.

I would be asking your doctor these questions. I have tried stevia and was not very impressed. I have also tried natural cane sugar which isn't too bad. I really think the key is moderation, but don't take my advice. I'm no doctor and I certainly never give out medical avice for something as dire as diabetes. Go to your doctor.

I don't have diabetes, but just about all artificial sweeteners make me not feel well. Stevia seems be better, but has a little bit of an aftertaste, too. I hardly use that one, too. I have pretty much stopped eating anything sugar free and mostly rely on fruits and regular sugar for my sweets. But, that wouldn't be practical for a diabetic.

Carbohydrates are as bad as pure sugars for your blood sugar level. You need to do everything in moderation, however, because carbohydrates fuel your body. You already choose more whole grain foods and high fiber fruits and vegetables. I can tell that from the posts you make. Stevia is a plant based sweetener. US government will not let it be called a sweetener, but rather it is called a food additive. I can get it at the grocery, or at a health food store. It is extremely sweet and some studies actually show that it balances blood sugar levels. Name brands I have seen are sweet leaf and nutria. I think anything is healthier than artificial sweeteners, which are just made from chemicals. I will sweeten some things with honey, molasses, or maple syrup, because they have nutrition as well as sweetness.If you want to know about Stevia you can do a search online. I have heard that agave nectar is a good way to sweeten, but I have not researched it or tried it.

Up till now I am not a diabetic. I do take tests regularly. I do enjoy regular sugar with tea or coffee. When I tried sweeteners I could not get used to it and resorted to the regular sugar once again.

My step-dad is a diabetic. He has to watch what he eats also. They keep changing what is good and bad for him all of the time. He still eats sweets but it is in moderation.

All I know is if you are diabetic you should control your intake of sweets. Because anything that is too much is bad for the health. I don't have any idea regarding the artificial and natural sweeteners.

I don't know what's safe for diabetes but I recently did an in-home taste test with Splenda and believe me, the latest version of it is wonderful! Hardly any aftertaste and what there was of it was faint but rather pleasant. I'd say, though, you need to train yourself to not expect sugar sweetness. I made some spice cake last week using a little flour, some oat cereal, a cut up apple, egg whites and currants. I forgot to use any sweetener! It was pretty good, though, what a surprise! I'll keep making it that way, without sweetener. Now I need to try that in other things.

Hm! I've never heard of them being off limits for diabetics, & in fact, when I have to be in the hospital, they ALWAYS provide me with them, knowing I'm on a diabetic diet! Of course, I'm open to hearing updates on any info re diabetic safety, but I DO hope this is incorrect. Cutting out those altogether would sink me...I just MUST have sweets on occasion! I use the blue or the yellow kind--NEVER the pink (it has a horrid, bitter aftertaste--especially when used in hot foods or drinks!). My diabetic nurse/coach has given me many tips, but SHE never mentioned this, either. She's also, as am I, not a fan of the so-called "healthy foods" PYRAMID, which is HEAVY on carbs, which are VERY bad for a diabetic! Maggiepie