She cautioned that it's important to know the composition of the specific agave product, because she has read that in Mexico, some agave syrups have added corn syrup.

Agave still contains calories.

"Sometimes people misinterpret that just because a product does not contain sugar, or contains less sugar, that this is all that matters," warned McLaughlin.

"They will miss the bigger picture of considering calorie content, and that use of these products could end up raising their blood sugar as much and/or give them as many calories as they meant to avoid, or even more."

Although glycemic index can be an important component in maintaining glucose levels, for people with diabetes, total carbohydrate consumed is the key, said Pauline Williams, a registered dietitian with Intermountain Healthcare, who has taught classes for diabetics.

There's the theory that eating too much of any type of sweetener accustoms the palate to increasing amounts of sweetness.

"Many foods that use artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes are foods we should limit in our diet, such as cookies, cakes, candy and soda," said Williams.

"We should focus on eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, than finding ways to make a 'sometimes food' justifiable by swapping out the sugar with a substitute. Choose foods for their total nutritional value, not one piece, such as sugar. All foods can fit in moderation."

Martinez cautioned, "Americans have a strong sweet tooth, and in Utah especially. It's possible to overdo it with everything. It's like when they came out with fat-free cookies and people thought they could eat a whole box and not gain weight."

But even if a person avoids desserts, the variety of recipes in Richards' cookbook shows that many foods contain hidden sugar, such as ketchup and salad dressings.

Traditional coleslaw recipes call for 1?3 to 1 cup sugar, and many commercially made teriyaki sauces contain high-fructose corn syrup. His recipes also incorporate whole grains.

"We need to get away from processed foods, use fresh ingredients and get away from sugar and white flour," he said. "You'll feel better, have more energy and will be lot healthier."

TRIPLE BERRY TOPPING

4 cups fresh frozen berries

1 cup water

1/2 cup Xagave

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Put berries, water and Xagave in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer.

Mix cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water, and stir until all lumps are gone. Pour cornstarch mix into berry mix while stirring slowly. Stir until topping thickens (1-2 minutes) and begins to bubble.