Question about sugar alternatives for diabetic

The_Warhammer · 02-19-2009, 09:44 PM

I'm working on a recipe for a friend that has quite a bit of sugar in it. The person is borderline diabetic. I'm trying to find alternatives to sugar. I found the following on a website about sugar:
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Sugar Substitutes
Sucralose. This is the newest approved sugar substitute and is made from a process that begins with sugar. It is about 600 times sweeter than sugar. Sucralose is extremely stable and does not break down in cooking.
Acesulfame-K is 200 times sweeter than sugar. Acesulfame K is stable at normal temperatures and does not break down in cooking. (Common brand name is Sunette.)
Aspartame. This approved sweetener is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It contains the two amino acids, phenylalanine and aspartic acid. It is an excellent sweetener with no aftertaste. Aspartame cannot be used in baking, because it breaks down with heat. Persons with PKU (phenylketonuria) should avoid its use. (Common brand names are Nutra-Sweet and Equal).
Saccharin. Used around the world since the turn of the century, it is 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is very stable in foods, but it imparts a bitter aftertaste.
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I'm thinking sucralose, but how does it affect a daibetic's sugar levels?

Anyone have any wisdom to impart? Thanks all.

mikepence · 02-19-2009, 11:47 PM

There is a Splenda blend for baking, that is part Splenda, part sugar, just for what you are trying to do.

rpaul11 · 02-20-2009, 05:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikepence

There is a Splenda blend for baking, that is part Splenda, part sugar, just for what you are trying to do.

I think there is a splenda also that is pure splenda that you measure just like you do sugar...ie 1 cup sugar you use 1 cup of the splenda.....or am I way off base on this...been a while since I had the bulk stuff. I just buy packets of it

Rhinoclan · 02-20-2009, 06:06 AM

Stevia is a great substitute. All natural. I've bought it as just plain stevia, or as brand name Truvia. 1 packet = 2tsps of sugar. In fact, I just made vanilla creme brulee using it...turned out great.

Iron Barbarian · 02-20-2009, 06:09 AM

x2. It is a lot sweeter then sugar.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhinoclan

Stevia is a great substitute. All natural. I've bought it as just plain stevia, or as brand name Truvia. 1 packet = 2tsps of sugar. In fact, I just made vanilla creme brulee using it...turned out great.

The_Warhammer · 02-20-2009, 10:46 AM

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

I'll check the Splenda. So it would be less of an impact on someone who is near diabetic?

namtrag · 02-20-2009, 10:55 AM

Stevia comes in a bottle too, with a little eye dropper thingie. It's cheaper that way, just put a couple of drops is your tea of coffee.

RDFinders · 02-20-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by namtrag

Stevia comes in a bottle too, with a little eye dropper thingie. It's cheaper that way, just put a couple of drops is your tea of coffee.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhinoclan

Stevia is a great substitute. All natural. I've bought it as just plain stevia, or as brand name Truvia. 1 packet = 2tsps of sugar. In fact, I just made vanilla creme brulee using it...turned out great.

you have to watch the form you purchase. it is 100 times sweeter than sugar and will not provide the baking properties that sugar does. sugar helps baked goods to brown and also provides bulk. with stevia if a inert powder isn't mixed with it, you will have the sweetness, but your goods will be flat as a pancake.

DaddyR · 02-20-2009, 12:12 PM

Setting aside its appeal to chemophobic tree-huggers, can anyone give me an opinion of stevia based solely on its TASTE?

Of the alternative sweeteners listed in the OP, the only one I really like is sucralose aka splenda. But I've never tried stevia, which of course is actually the most recently approved by the FDA for adding to food.

I couldn't care less about it being "natural". Does it TASTE as good as or better than sucralose? Or is it as yucky as most of the other sweeteners mentioned?

RDFinders · 02-20-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaddyR

Setting aside its appeal to chemophobic tree-huggers, can anyone give me an opinion of stevia based solely on its TASTE?

Of the alternative sweeteners listed in the OP, the only one I really like is sucralose aka splenda. But I've never tried stevia, which of course is actually the most recently approved by the FDA for adding to food.

I couldn't care less about it being "natural". Does it TASTE as good as or better than sucralose? Or is it as yucky as most of the other sweeteners mentioned?

it is a very intense taste. very sweet. otherwise it taste good. i prefer it to all the others. the liquid is super strong. like 1-2 drops in a bowl of cereal or 1 drop in a cup of coffee.