In the past, sweeteners such as Aspartame and Sucralose were used by diabetic patients as popular sugar alternatives.  Unfortunately, both these sweeteners contain a number of harmful chemicals and artificial ingredients.  Lately, more health practitioners, nutritionists and those seeking to live a healthier lifestyle are turning to Stevia instead.
So what exactly is Stevia?  Stevia is an all-natural sweetener that contains no harmful chemicals and tastes just like real sugar!  In fact, Stevia is much sweeter than real sugar and artificial sweeteners, so it should be used sparingly.  Most importantly, Stevia is a much healthier alternative to the other harmful sweeteners as it contains a zero glycemic index and zero calories.
Stevia is being recommended more and more to those suffering from diabetes.  Stevia is derived from a South American shrub and is recommended to anyone with diabetes, or those looking for a natural, low-carb sweetener.  The most important benefit for diabetics is that Stevia stimulates the release of insulin and also normalizes the response to glucose, especially in type 2 diabetes.  Stevia is also used as a therapeutic treatment for hyperglycemia.
It was originally discovered in South America for it’s benefits in helping lower blood sugar in diabetics.  Further studies have concluding that Stevia possesses anti-diabetic properties that help reduce blood pressure, control blood sugar levels and even improve the muscle tone and  health of the heart.
Since Stevia has been proven to lower blood sugar, diabetic patients taking insulin and other medications to treat and control their diabetes are advised to consult with their doctor before using Stevia.  The diabetic patient should also check their blood sugar levels often while on Stevia.
Since Stevia is considered an “herbal” product, it is not primarily recommended for pregnant or breast feeding women.  Individuals on certain other medications should also use caution in terms of treatment interactions and establishing is Stevia is safe to mix with their current medications.
Your pharmacist, health care practitioner or doctor should be able to advise you on whether it is safe to take Stevia with your current medications.  Not yet approved by the FDA for use in the United States as an official artificial sweetener or food additive, Stevia can still be found in popular health food stores as a dietary supplement.
Since Stevia has little to no effect on blood glucose, it can be quite beneficial to diabetics, enabling them to enjoy many pleasurable foods without having to worry about adverse side effects and consequences.

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