As the name implies, sweeteners are ingredients that add sweetness to foods.
Sweeteners are ingredients in soft drinks, desserts, candies and pastries.
They are often added to cereals, pasta sauces, mixed dishes, soups and a variety of other foods. Since the calories in nutritive sweeteners are from sugar, people with diabetes should recognize them on food labels and understand they will raise blood sugar. Sugars and sugar alcohols are included in this group. People with diabetes do not need to avoid sugars, but they should be limited and used in the context of a healthy diet. Non-nutritive sweeteners do not add calories to the diet, and have no effect on blood sugar.