Knowledge Base

Diabetes & Sugar

From 2000 to 2010, the prevalence of diabetes in Canada doubled from 1.3 million to 2.5 million people (1). Today, more than one in four Canadians — or over ten million people —lives with diabetes or prediabetes; if nothing is done, by 2020, it will be almost one in three. ..... READ MORE

 

Is stevia a safe sweetener?

Stevia is a natural sweetener linked to numerous benefits, including lower blood sugar levels. While refined extracts are considered safe, research on whole-leaf and raw products is lacking. When used in moderation, stevia is associated with few side effects and can be a great substitute for refined sugar.

 

Can stevia benefit people with diabetes?

Stevia is a sugar substitute that contains very few calories. There is growing interest in its use to help people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels......READ MORE

 

Glycemic Index and Sweeteners

The Glycemic Index is a ranking from 0-110 that rates carbohydrates on how quickly they are consumed in our body. The faster the carbohydrate is used, the more of a spike it produced in our blood sugar – spikes are bad for weight loss and for our body overall....... READ MORE

 

What is GI?

Beside each sweetener’s name, you will see “GI” and then a number. This refers to the Glycemic Index, which measures how much a certain food raises your blood sugar. Many sweeteners are 0 GI, meaning they don’t raise blood sugar.

(Click here to view the GI Chart of Sweeteners)

 

Why Avoid Insulin Spikes

Blood sugar spikes occur when your blood sugar rises and then falls sharply after you eat.

In the short term, they can cause lethargy and hunger. Over time, your body may not be able to lower blood sugar effectively, which can lead to type 2 diabetes