Natural Sugar Substitutes for Diabetics

To prevent the spike in blood glucose levels that results from eating sugar, diabetics have to avoid eating foods that contain sugar. It is still possible to use sweeteners, even when you want to avoid chemical sweeteners, such as sucralose, aspartame or saccharine. Natural sugar substitutes that are tolerated well by diabetics include stevia, agave and yacon.

Stevia

Stevia is a sweetener made from the leaves of a plant called Stevia Rebuadiana. The leaves of this plant are dried and then powdered, and used as a natural sweetner. In addition to the fact that it does not cause an increase in blood glucose levels, stevia is useful for diabetics, since it has properties that lower blood sugar levels. You can use stevia to sweeten anything that you use sugar for, but be aware that some blends of stevia have a bitter aftertaste. Before using it to sweeten a large dish, check the flavor to ensure that there is no bitterness.

Agave Nectar

The agave is a succulent, or pulp-filled, plant with large spikes. While there are many varieties of agave, the blue agave plant that grows in Mexico is the variety that is preferred by those harvesting agave nectar. The nectar of the agave plant is extremely sweet, because of the fructose it contains. You can sweeten many types of foods with agave nectar, also known as agave syrup. It has a flavor that is similar to honey, while the consistency is not quite as thick. Agave syrup has a low glycemic value, which means that a diabetic can eat foods sweetened with agave without a dramatic increase in blood sugar.

Yacon Root

The yacon plant, which is related to the sunflower, grows naturally in the Andes mountains. Also known as jicama, the yacon plant is grown as a food crop all over the world, including in the United States. While the stalks are eaten, the roots of the yacon plant are used as a sweetener, because of their high fructose content. The fructose in yacon roots is not easily digested, and therefore is not converted into sugar. This prevents it from raising a diabetic's blood sugar levels.