For diabetics, avoiding the use of sugar is not only recommended, it is absolutely necessary. In many cases, sugar substitutes are used in place of table sugar, allowing the diabetic to still enjoy some of his or her favorite foods. But are all sugar substitutes safe for use? Here is some information about sugar substitutes, and what should be taken into account before using any of the artificial sweeteners on the market today.

Generally, all sugar substitutes on the market today are considered to be free foods. That is, there is no need to count them as part of your daily carbohydrate intake, an important aspect to many diabetics. Also, none of the current sugar substitutes available contain properties that will raise blood glucose levels. Combined with the calorie free aspect and the fact that all the current sugar free substitutes provide some form of a sweet taste, this sounds like a great way for the diabetic to still be able to enjoy a sugary taste without experiencing a reaction.

Using sugar substitutes in home-prepared foods and beverages is the safest way to go. For example, Splenda® is the brand name for sucralose. Because Splenda® retains its flavor when used in hot beverages and in baking, it is an ideal choice for use in coffee, hot tea, and use in any baked dish that would normally require sugar. Saccharin is sold as Sweet N Low® and Sugar Twin®, and is an excellent choice for use in cold teas and other drinks. This option can also be used with some hot drinks, although there are those that say saccharin takes on a more bitter taste in hot foods. Aspartame is still a popular product, marketed as NutraSweet® and Equal®; it tends to be a better option for use with cold recipes, as it can lose some of its sweet taste in high temperatures.

However, it should be noted that just because a prepackaged food uses artificial sweeteners, that does not make it diabetic-friendly. Many processed foods will contain higher levels of carbohydrates and fat to help enhance the taste. The presence of these additives may in fact make them even worse for the diabetic than processed foods that contain trace amounts of sugar.

In short, all of the sugar substitutes on the market today are safe for use by diabetics. But care should be taken to note any unrelated side effects of using the product. Some people have had allergic reactions to one artificial sweetener, while having no problems with other types of sugar substitutes. Also, keep in mind that some sugar substitutes work better with different applications, so it may be a good idea to keep a couple of sugar substitutes around the kitchen.