Natural sweeteners and diabetes

Fresh honey and honeycombs on wooden cutting board. Light floral and dark honey in glass jars

Myth: Switching to less refined sweeteners like honey in place of white sugar can be a strategy to help manage diabetes.

Reality: Any caloric sweetener contains sugar and carbs that will impact your blood sugar.

The good news: You can enjoy sweeteners like honey, maple syrup and more—in moderation. What these sweeteners offer over white sugar is more intense flavors. This means a little can go a long way. Using just a touch of natural sweeteners can help enhance whole foods without having a big impact on your blood sugar level.

Here are five natural sweeteners and how you can use them in diabetes-friendly meals and snacks:

Comparison table of different sweeteners, including honey, agave, maple syrup, date syrup, and blackstrap molasses, with details on flavor, carbs, and uses.

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Diabetes and nutrition

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