You don’t need a lot of money to be happy. You just need sweets – good ol’ sweets! Admit it or not, chocolates infuse you with good vibes. That’s a scientific fact! Eating chocolates causes the brain to release endorphins, chemicals that make you utter “Ah! What a good day it is!” with every bite.
But if you’ve got diabetes, eating sweets seem counter-productive. The more you indulge yourself with sweet goodness, the more you’ll have to take medicine for diabetes. That’s hard.
Being an awesome person as you are, you deserve a treat. But don’t worry you can still enjoy “sweets”! No, I don’t mean you stuff yourself with doughnuts and cookies and gummy bears as much as your body can handle – ‘coz that’s really not a good thing to do.
What we have for you are some healthy alternatives.
Saccharin
This artificial sweetener has been around for over 100 years. Yes, it’s that old. Dubbed as the "best researched sweetener," it was discovered by a researcher working on coal tar derivatives. Ironic, isn’t it? Coal tars and sugar substitutes? Yet, saccharin is definitely a good choice to sweeten up your pancakes and oatmeal as it does not contain any calories and does not raise blood sugar levels.
While it is 200 to 700 times sweeter than table sugar, saccharin has a bitter aftertaste. It is also known as Sweet and Low, Sweet Twin, Sweet'N Low, and Necta Sweet.
Acesulfame Potassium
Another alternative sweetener for your cakes and candies! Acesulfame potassium is a calorie-free artificial sweetener safe for diabetics. Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners, including this and saccharin, generally don't raise blood sugar levels because they are not carbohydrates. However, you should consult with a doctor or dietitian as it requires a certain amount of daily intake. It has set an acceptable daily intake (ADI) of up to 15 mg/kg of body weight/day, as well as saccharin.
Stevia
Satisfy your sweet tooth in a totally guilt-free way! Well known for its capacity to not add any single calorie to your body, stevia is 300 times sweeter than your usual sugar. It is sold as Truvia, PureVia, SweetLeaf, and Stevia in the Raw.
Unlike other sugar substitutes, it is an alternative natural sweetener derived from the leaves of the plant species Stevia rebaudiana.
Sucralose
Popular for its use in baking, sucralose is sold under the brand name Splenda. As it is 600 times sweeter than sugar, granulated Splenda can be directly substituted for sugar in recipes. But what sets it apart from sugar is it’s not carbohydrate. Thus, it does not raise blood sugar levels.
Now, heat that oven and bake some cutesy cupcakes. You’re free to do it!
Xylitol
An alternative which tastes like sugar but with 40% fewer calories – that’s what xylitol is. As if this is not good enough, this sweet substance helps stabilize your blood sugar.
Aside from being a sugar substitute, xylitol has also been clinically proven to fight dental cavities. Isn’t that a wonderful way to give in to your sweet cravings without worrying about your cavities and blood sugar?
When choosing sugar substitutes, it’s best to be informed. Naturally sweet substitutes, such as fruits instead of brown sugar, can be a healthy alternative for your snacks, juice and morning meals. We also recommend you to read ingredient labels and nutrition facts so you can evaluate the appropriate sugar level for your body.