Opelika man creates sugar-free syrup now sold in Columbus to help diabetics
Troy Carson, a software engineer and Auburn University graduate from Opelika, has always known his genes gave him a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
Carson constantly was in the gym, focused on staying healthy and warding off the condition as long as possible.
When his twin daughters were born a year-and-a-half ago, he wasn’t able to exercise as much. Four months later, he began to show symptoms and was diagnosed with diabetes.
Carson immediately started a low-carb diet, eating healthy lunches to avoid worsening the condition. But he couldn’t give up one part of his diet.
“I drink two, even three, cups of coffee a day,” he said, “so I was trying to find a healthy option for syrups.”
While other low- or no-sugar options for syrups to flavor his coffee were better than sugar for diabetics, Carson struggled to find an option that was truly organic and sugar-free.
This led him to make his own.
He opened a small business, Troy Carson Syrups, selling his brand, KindlyMade, on Jan. 3. The syrup is being sold at The Food Mill in Columbus, along with other stores and markets in Phenix City, Opelika and Auburn.
Creating a healthier syrup
The vanilla-flavored syrup is good for coffees and other drinks people would like to try mixing it into, Carson said.
“It’s made in a way that’s natural with no preservatives,” he said. “It’s almost as thick as honey and maple syrup because that’s the only way you can preserve it without chemicals.”
Carson uses a low-calorie sweetener called allulose to make the sugar-free syrup. The ingredient is expensive, he said, which is why he isn’t able to sell it in retail stores yet.
“Once I get to a point where I can buy it in bulk enough, I can start selling it in retail,” he said. “It’s about two-and-a-half to four times more expensive than sugar.”
No known studies indicate the sweetener is carcinogenic, Carson said, and it has a low glycemic index, meaning it has little effect on blood sugar levels.
Carson also uses glycerin as a thickener, he said. This should not affect consumers, Carson said, unless they have a sensitivity to glycerin.
Similar products on the market often have ingredients that can increase the risk of stroke or are carcinogens, Carson said.
Starting KindlyMade
After coming up with a recipe for himself, Carson let his kids’ babysitter try the syrup. She gave it a good review.
He then went to a neighbor who owns a coffee shop in Opelika and asked him to try it. Carson’s neighbor told him that the syrup tasted good but he should refine the recipe.
In December, after about six to seven months, Carson developed a recipe that satisfied him. He began doing the paperwork and was ready to start selling Jan. 3.
The biggest outlet for his product right now is The Food Mill, he said. KindlyMade syrup also is available at the Local Vendor Village in Phenix City and The Potting Shed locations in Opelika and Auburn.
Carson’s business is a one-man operation for now, he said, and it’s taking time to get the kitchen hours to produce more.
The only flavor he produces is vanilla, with and without sugar. After he grows the business more, Carson wants to add a caramel flavor and other flavors like butterscotch or bourbon.
This story was originally published January 23, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
