Q: Is it okay for a diabetic to use Sugar Free instead of normal sugar? I mean is it safe or does it have side effects?

A:This is what the American Diabetes Association recommendations (available at www.diabetes.org) have to say about non-nutritive sweetners like aspartame (Sugar free): The Food and Drug Administration has approved four non-nutritive sweeteners for use in the U.S. - saccharin, aspartame, acesulfame potassium, and sucralose. Before being allowed on the market, all underwent rigorous scrutiny and were shown to be safe when consumed by the public, including people with diabetes and during pregnancy. So the answer to your question is Yes, please go ahead and use it. You can even make sweet preparations using sweetners for everyone in the family, i.e. you do not need to keep the non-sugar version separate as it is safe for everyone.