SUGAR SUBSTITUTES

There's no reason why people with diabetes should completely avoid sugar.

But using sugar substitutes can help you reduce the amount of calories and

carbohydrates in foods and beverages.

Here are some of the most popular non-nutritive sweeteners, their effect on

blood glucose, and how they can be used:

Acesulfame-KBrand names:

SweetOne®, Sunette®, Sweet-n-Safe®, DiabetiSweet®Times sweeter than sugar:

200Affect on blood glucose: NoneHeat stability: Very stableADI*: 15 mg/kg

AspartameBrand names:

Equal®, NutraSweet®Times sweeter than sugar: 200Affect on blood glucose:

Slight riseHeat stability: Not stable (do not use for cooking or baking)ADI*: 50

mg/kg


SaccharinBrand names:


Sweet'N Low®, Sweet Twin®, SugarTwin®, Sucaryl®Times sweeter than sugar:

200-700Affect on blood glucose: NoneHeat stability: Very stableADI*: 5 mg/kg


SucraloseBrand names:

Splenda®Times sweeter than sugar: 600Affect on blood glucose: NoneHeat

stability: StableADI*: 15 mg/kg


*ADI stands for Acceptable Daily Intake. This represents the daily amount (given

in milligrams per kilogram of body weight) that the FDA believes can be safely

consumed over a person's lifetime. To find your weight in kilograms, divide your

weight in pounds by 2.2.



Sugar substitutes can be beneficial but you still need to be an informed consumer

and read the food labels for calories and carbohydrates. Enjoy some sugar

substitutes but know that they do have limits - and so do their FDA intake levels.

What are your thoughts on sugar substitutes?