Claire O’Connor, Nutrition Student
I would recommend using Stevia for daily use for diabetics. Stevia is the only all natural sweetner with zero calories, zero carbohydrates and a zero glycemic index. The glycemic index of a substance is a number measuring how much of a rise in circulating blood sugar that substance triggers. A few years ago, I was only able to purchase Stevia in the health food store but now I can buy it at many local supermarkets (i.e. Shoprite). Stevia has been used in South America for the past 400 years and in Japan for the past 30 years without ill effect. However, in a recent article in the Nutrition Action Health Letter (sponsored by the Center for Science in the Public Interest) digesting large amounts of Stevia can cause a problems. When male rats were fed high doses of stevia, sperm production was reduced and energy metabolism affected. The bottom line: use stevia sparingly (once or twice a day in a cup of tea or coffee).
I would recommend using Sucralose or the Splenda Brand for baking for diabetics. People with diabetes may use artificial sweetners because they make food taste sweet without raising blood sugar levels. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Sucralose (Splenda) for us in a variety of foods. Sucralose remains stable when exposed to heat, so it’s great for baking.
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