Sugar Studied for Treatment of Diabetes

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Researchers at the University of Maryland are studying the use of a sweetener to treat diabetes. Doctors are researching a low-calorie sweetener called tagatose, a sugar found naturally in dairy and used in sodas, cereals and toothpaste. Diabetes patients given the sweetener saw improvements in their blood sugar and reductions in weight. Doctors found that those who consumed tagatose before meals did not have the typical spikes in blood sugar after eating. Doctors believe it works because of how it is metabolized in the body. Sources.