Sweeteners
Overview of natural and artificial sweetener options for people with diabetes
Sugar with other names – HAVE an effect on blood sugar levels
| Name | Form/Found In |
|---|---|
| Sucrose | Table sugar |
| Dextrose (glucose, corn sugar) | Bread, cookies, soft drinks |
| Fructose (fruit sugar) | Health foods and 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, prepared foods |
| Oligofructose | Sweetener bulking agent, emulsifier, cookies, energy bars |
| Polydextrose | Bulking agent in salad dressings, baked foods, candy pudding, prepared foods |
Natural Sweeteners with nearly ZERO calories – HAVE NO EFFECT on blood sugar levels **
May all be used in cooking and baking
| Brand | Ingredient | What It Is/Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Only Sweet www.onlysweet.com |
Stevia | A dietary supplement |
| Sweet Fiber www.sweetfiber.net |
Inulin (not insulin) 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 www.sweetsimplicitysweetener.com ** may have slight effect |
75% erythritol (sugar alcohol) 25% fructose |
Excessive use may cause a laxative effect |
| Zsweet www.zsweet.com |
Erythritol (sugar alcohol) |
Excessive use may have a laxative effect |
Artificial Sweeteners – HAVE NO EFFECT on blood sugar levels
| Ingredient/Brand Name | What It Is/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 ("Natural sweetener/dietary supplement") | Natural sweetener |
| Neotame | Diet soda, other diet foods |
The goal of Destination Diabetes is to be a useful and credible resource for the more than 20 million children and adults who have diabetes in the U.S. and their families. Destination Diabetes provides information on a wide range of diabetes health and wellness topics. Articles are written or reviewed by diabetes advisors who have experience in diabetes education.
