Diabetics must be careful to avoid elevating their blood sugar level. In some diabetics, the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin. In others, muscle, fat and liver cells don't react to insulin normally, so the insulin can't move glucose into the cells to fuel them. Others have both problems. Consequently, diabetics must limit the amount of carbohydrates in their diet to prevent elevated blood sugar levels. One effective method is to replace sugar with artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda.
Function
Typically, diabetics must limit their carbohydrate intake to avoid increasing their blood sugar levels. The safest approach is to work with your doctor or dietitian to develop a healthy eating plan that provides your body with all the nutrients it needs without risking your health. You'll likely have to limit or avoid sugary desserts, beverages and similar foods due to their effects on your blood sugar level.
Effect on Blood Sugar
Splenda is the trademark name of sucralose, an artificial sweetener. It doesn't affect the blood sugar level, so it's safe for diabetics to add to their diet. This is especially effective for diabetics who want to consume coffee, sodas, cakes, cookies, candy or any other products that typically contain sugar. Other suitable artificial sweeteners for diabetics include saccharin, aspartame, neotame and acesulfame potassium.
Calories
Artificial sweeteners are low- or no-calorie, which is an added benefit for diabetics. They are so sweet that, even if they do have some calories, it only takes a tiny amount to change the flavor of a food. Sugar has many calories, so eating too many products that contain sugar can lead to weight gain. So artificial sweeteners not only make it safer for diabetics to eat sweet foods, they also can serve as part of a low-calorie diet conducive to weight loss.
Warning
Even though artificial sweeteners such as sucralose won't cause weight gain or elevated blood sugar levels, the other ingredients in the food you eat might do so. In other words, just because a food contains a safe artificial sweetener for diabetics doesn't mean that the food itself is safe. You must examine the nutrition labels carefully to determine if there are any ingredients that pose a risk to your blood sugar levels if you are diabetic and to your weight-loss program if you are on a low-calorie diet.
