If you have Type 2 diabetes, you might use artificial sweeteners to replace blood glucose-raising regular sugar in your diet. One such sugar substitute, stevia, which has been widely used as a dietary supplement but only recently received approval as an artificial sweetener. One reason for the delay was concerns over stevia's impact on blood glucose levels, a concern that ties in with the plant's reputation as a potential treatment for diabetes. However, the specific component of the plant approved for food use doesn't appear to have an effect on diabetes.
Stevia
The all-natural sugar substitute stevia comes from the South American plant Stevia rebaudiana. It can be used to sweeten foods and drinks without adding extra calories. Stevia is about 200 to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. The main component of the plant used to create artificial sweeteners is called rebaudioside A. Rebaudioside A received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2008 and is now available as a sugar substitute. Other components of the plant, including stevioside, the other major bioactive chemical component of the plant, have not yet been approved as food products.
Type 2 Diabetes
A type 2 diabetic has a problem controlling blood glucose levels, either because his insulin production is too low or because his body cannot effectively use existing insulin. Because of the problem with insulin, blood glucose levels rise too high. High blood glucose can lead to complications over time, including nerve damage, kidney damage, eye problems and heart disease. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, in which the pancreas produces no insulin, Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled through diet and exercise. Stevia may be part of this diet.
Stevia and Blood Sugar
Some components of stevia have been linked to a decrease in blood glucose levels, but not the component approved for food use in the U.S. studies involving rebaudioside A have failed to find an effect on blood glucose. However, the other component in stevia plants, stevioside, might have a beneficial effect, according to a 2004 study in the journal "Metabolism." In that study, a 1 g dose of stevioside taken with a meal reduced the amount of blood sugar rise after that meal in Type 2 diabetics.
Considerations
While the rebaudioside A component of stevia has not been found to improve blood glucose response, it also does not have a negative effect. Replacing sugar in a diabetic diet with a no-calorie artificial sweetener, such as stevia, can help prevent the blood glucose spikes that occur when a diabetic eats sugar.
References
- MayoClinic.com; Stevia: Can it Help with Weight Control?; Katherine Zeratsky; November 2010
- Drugs.com; Stevia; 2009
- American Dietetic Association: Stevia; Julie Upton; June 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Diabetes; March 2011
- "Metabolism"; Antihyperglycemic Effects of Stevioside in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects; S. Gregersen, et al.; January 2004
