Is stevia good for diabetics?

Stevia, also known as meethi tulsi in India, is a plant whose leaves are about 200 times sweeter than sugar. Not only is it much sweeter than sugar, but its leaves also carry a leafy bitter aftertaste. After extracting & removing the bitter aftertaste, what’s left is pure natural sweetness.

Stevia has a load of benefits like being 0 calories. Technically, it does have calories but our bodies don’t absorb them and pass said calories out in the stool, thus the sweeteners become 0-calorie sweeteners.

Now, we get a lot of questions from people asking us ‘is stevia safe for diabetic patients’ or ‘does stevia raise blood sugar’. Let’s take a look at it.

Is stevia suitable for diabetics?

The short answer: yes it is. Stevia is safe for diabetics to use as it doesn’t raise blood sugar levels or spike insulin.

Stevia dissolves easily and thus can be used in many food items. Be they beverages, hot and cold drinks or sweet treats like desserts and baked goodies. However, one thing to keep in mind is stevia sweeteners do not caramelize like sugar and thus are not as versatile as sugar. 

Studies to date have shown that there are no known side effects of stevia sweeteners. As long as you consume it in moderation and use it to replace your sugar calories, you’ll be fine and can easily manage your diabetes. Consumption of anything mustn't be done in excess. You can check out one such study here.

It is also important to check that your stevia-based sweetener isn’t being mixed with other things that can harm you. Usually, a diluting agent is used to drop the sweetness levels of stevia to that of sugar as stevia in itself is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. But other than the diluting agent, no other harmful additives should be added.

Conclusion

Stevia sweeteners are safe to consume for diabetics. They are also 0 calories which can help in maintaining weight and blood sugar. However, one has to remember to not overdose on sweeteners. They should be consumed in moderation and kept in a healthy balance like any other food. Always rely on credible science and research to choose the product you do and carefully check the label, site, and product for any misinformation or misgivings. It is important to keep abreast of anything you put in your body.

Sweetifying health : )

FAQs

1. What does stevia taste like?
   Stevia is 200 to 300 times sweeter than sugar. As such, the sweetener is diluted to reach sugar levels of sweetness. The leaf itself has a bitter aftertaste but good brands have been able to remove it and make it negligible.
2. Does stevia have any calories?
   Technically yes, it does have calories. But it gets passed out of our bodies in stool without getting absorbed. That makes it a 0-calorie sweetener.
   
3. Can stevia help manage diabetes?
   Yes, as it is a 0-calorie sweetener and has no glycemic index, it will not raise your blood sugar or spike your insulin, making it helpful in your diabetes management plan.
   
4. What should I look for in a stevia-based sweetener?
   You should see that it contains high-purity stevia leaf extract as only those are allowed by reputed regulatory bodies like the US FDA.
5. How is stevia processed?
   First, steviol glycosides are extracted from stevia leaves, then they are processed to remove bitterness, and diluted to reach sugar levels of sweetness.