The Effectiveness of Stevia in Diabetes Mellitus: A Review

Stevia is a sweet calorie-free plant used in food industry as a sweetener in beverages and foods. Lots of studies have been done on its efficacy, including its effects on weight, blood glucose, lipid profile, inflammation, etc. Recently, this plant has attracted diabetics, due to its low calorie sweetness. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease with an increasing prevalence, that the government and patients spend a great deal of money  on treatment each year. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of stevia supplementation in diabetic patients. Studies have shown that only a few studies have been conducted on diabetic patients, while many animal studies are available. Our review of these studies showed that stevia is a safe herb for diabetics and may have therapeutic effects, if used at a pharmacological dose, although more detailed studies are needed.