Overview of Natural and Artificial Sweetener Options for People with Diabetes

Sugar with other names that are not artificial sweetener options – HAVE an effect on blood sugar levels

Common Sugar Names
Name	Form / Found In
Sucrose	Table sugar
Dextrose (glucose, corn sugar)	Bread, cookies, soft drinks
Lactose (milk sugar)	Milk, yogurt, breakfast pastries, whipped topping mixes
Corn Syrup	Beverages, cake, candy, cereal, cookies, syrup, some yogurt
High-fructose corn syrup	Soft drinks, prepared foods
Invert sugar	Candy, soft drinks
Maltodextrin	Thickening agent, sweetener in canned fruit, salad dressing, instant pudding and prepared foods.
Oligofructose	Sweetener bulking agent, emulsifier, cookies, energy bars
Polydextrose	Bulking agent in salad dressings, baked foods, candy pudding, and prepared foods

Natural Sweeteners with nearly ZERO calories – HAVE NO EFFECT on blood sugar levels. May all be used in cooking and baking.

Natural Sweeteners
Brand	Ingredient	Considerations
Only Sweet	Stevia	A dietary supplement
Sweet Fiber	Inulin is a naturally occurring soluble fiber that does not raise blood sugar levels	A vegetable fiber that encourages “good” bacteria in the intestines
Sweet Simplicity	75% erythritol (sugar alcohol), 25% fructose)	Excessive use may cause a laxative effect
Zsweet	Erythritol (sugar alcohol)	Excessive use may have a laxative effect

Artificial Sweeteners – HAVE NO EFFECT on blood sugar levels

Artificial Sweeteners
Name	Found In
Aspartame (Nutrasweet) – “Equal”	Sugar-free, no sugar-added foods, frozen desserts, diet soda
Acesulfame Potassium – “Ace K” or “Sunett”	Chewing gum, diet soda, sugar-free foods, no sugar-added baked goods and desserts
Saccharin – “Sweet n’ Low”	sugar-free, no sugar-added foods
Sucralose – “Splenda”	Sugar-free, No sugar-added baked goods, frozen desserts, ice cream, soft drinks
Stevia is currently not known as an artificial sweetener but is a natural sweetener/dietary supplement	Natural sweetener
Neotame	Diet soda, other diet foods