Stevia and Diabetes

In studies, Stevia has been shown to have no effect on blood glucose levels. In addition, Stevia has been shown in recent studies to have a beneficial effect in normalizing blood sugar levels and naturally increasing insulin. In the South American country of Paraguay, Stevia is used as a treatment for both Diabetes and hypoglycemia.

Stevia for Diabetes - Advantages and Uses

The Stevia plant has certainly drawn an amazing amount of interest in North America during the last few years. This plant came under intense scrutiny because of the keen interest in organic food products. When it was announced that the leaves of this plant can be used as sweetening agents people wanted to know more.

These leaves have been commonly used in South America, Japan, Asia and Europe for many years. People in many of these countries have used the Stevia plant as a sugar replacement and to treat diabetes. The extracts from the plant do not elevate the blood glucose level and can be safely used by both diabetics and non-diabetics. The Paraguay natives have been using this natural sweetener for hundreds of years and they are also very familiar with many uses for the Stevia plant. The incidence of problems such as diabetes occurs less frequently in the countries where this herb is commonly included in the diet.

Scientists know that it is mostly the component known as stevioside that creates the sweetest flavor in Stevia products. The extracts from this herb are almost 300 times sweeter than a .4% solution of table sugar and water. In Japan the people have been using Stevia as an alternative to artificial sweeteners since 1977. This has given them a completely natural solution to using man made sweeteners and frees them from the problems that can be caused by using regular cane based sugars.

Brazil gave their official approval of these products during the early 80s. The US does not allow Stevia to be sold as a sweetener, but does allow the powdered leaves and extracts to be sold as dietary supplements. Today you can easily find this product at health food stores and even most grocery stores.

There are many advantages to using Stevia:

• Fewer dental cavities because there is no pure sugar involved.
• No elevation of blood glucose levels occurs with Stevia, which makes it safe for diabetics to use.
• Safe for people with PKU (phenylketonuria) to use.
• Stevia has a very high sweetness level which makes it far sweeter to the taste than that of table sugar.
• This is a natural product that is derived from an organic herb.
• No added chemicals are used to create this product; when you use Stevia derivatives you are enjoying the pure, natural goodness of nature.
• Inexpensive
• Using this natural sugar substitute can actually result in the decreased desire for regular sugars
• Naturally safe to use
• There is a history of safety with the use of this product that has been established over hundreds of years by many different populations.