Sorry to hear about your wife....... I'm pre diabetic also, you may know there is a relatively new sweetner on the market that is made from certain plant sugars....its called stevia extract. It appears to safe as it is 100% natural.....measures cup for cup like sugar and has no bad or after taste that I can discern. I drink tons of sweet coffee daily and by using this and cutting out sugar just about entirely was able to drop my blood test back to normal levels. Surely you must have it on your side of the pond. Good luck to your wife!