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5 Sugar Substitutes for People Living with Diabetes

Here’s what you can swap sugar for if you are worried about your glucose levels spiking.

DIABETES CARE|Apr. 09, 2025

Sugar rush. Sugar crash. These are the types of energy spikes you want to avoid. But when contain some form of added sugar, it can be hard — especially if you are living with diabetes and trying to stay on top of your glucose levels.

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these five sugar substitute ideas, and remember it's important to keep track of how your body reacts to these, so you can choose the one that works best for you.

As always, consult a medical professional, such as a physician or registered dietitian, before modifying your diet or insulin use.

You'll also want to keep in mind that some sweeteners work better for baking, while others might be tastier in your coffee. Let’s dig in.

1. Stevia

While you can buy stevia sweetener packets, it also grows as a plant — and some make harvesting and drying your own look easy. Originally from South America, the stevia plant has been used by the indigenous Guaraní people for centuries.

It's a common sugar alternative used to sweeten drinks and food. But you’ll want to be sure it doesn’t have added chemicals that can raise your glucose levels.

In pure form, stevia may even and stimulate the production of insulin after a meal.

2. Coconut Palm Sugar

Coconut is a trendy ingredient taking the healthy food and beauty product industries by storm. And it's no surprise, as sticking a straw inside a young coconut gets you a tasty, high-electrolyte treat — and some preliminary research suggests it may even help lower blood pressure, according to the .

As a sugar substitute, coconut palm sugar has a low glycemic index. However, that you should treat it the same as regular sugar because it contains the same number of calories and carbs.

3. Erythritol

What's great about this sugar alcohol — found naturally in many fruits, vegetables and fermented foods — is that it contains very few calories or sugar but doesn’t compromise on sweetness.

Depending on what you're craving, you can find it in powder and granulated varieties. It makes for a great sugar substitute for baking.

Keep in mind that what makes sugar alcohols work for people living with diabetes is that they aren't fully digested by the body. Therefore, if you consume in large quantities or have a sensitive stomach this may not be for you, as sugar alcohols may cause gas, cramps or diarrhea.

4. Advantame

If you'll be baking, advantame is a great choice for people living with diabetes as it retains its sweetness even when heated. This sugar alternative is made from aspartame.

Note: Because it's a whopping than regular sugar, you don't need very much.

5. Yacon Syrup

Ya-what? The yacon plant (pronounced ya-CONE) is a root vegetable similar to a sweet potato but jam-packed with even more nutrients and fiber.

Even better for people living with diabetes is that these plants can be made into a syrup that contains fructooligosaccharides, a kind of starch that doesn't get digested — and hence doesn't raise your glucose levels. Other benefits may include reduced insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels.

Yacon syrup can be a great substitute for sugar-filled ingredients such as honey and maple syrup.

While you certainly need to be mindful of your sugar intake, you don't have to forgo the sweet stuff completely. Opt for one of these sugar substitutes and eat deliciously while keeping your diabetes in check.

This story has been updated and was originally published Aug. 11, 2017.