Being diabetic and having a sweet tooth can be a frustrating, if not deadly, combination. For Darin Yokoyama, it proved to be the recipe for a growing business.

Yokoyama is the owner of Sweet Nothings, a bakery near Ala Moana Center that specializes in treats for those with diabetes. The 42-year-old Punahou graduate was diagnosed with insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes when he was just 9, and struggled to find desserts and other sweets to satisfy his cravings.

While living and working in Las Vegas, Yokoyama discovered a specialty bakery called Mrs. Williams Diabetic Delights. He moved back to Hawai'i in 2003 and quickly realized there were no similar places where he could get fresh-baked, sugar-free items.

"I was looking for some sugar-free items and there was hardly anything. I did some research and found that it was a big problem here in Hawai'i," Yokoyama said. "That's when I decided to do this."

Although he has an entrepreneurial background — Yokoyama's family owns the high-tech company Laser Barcode Solutions — he knew nothing about baking, especially using artificial sweeteners. So he went back to Las Vegas, and after much discussion, convinced the owners of Mrs. Williams Diabetic Delights to sell him their recipes.

Yokoyama was trained by the Mrs. Williams staff and he returned to the Islands and tinkered with the recipes so they would appeal to the tastes of local people. In 2006, he opened Sweet Nothings in a 1,400-square-foot space on Waimanu Street and came out with his own line of nearly 70 treats, including eclairs, pies, cakes, turnovers and cookies.

Sweet Nothings also carries items not made by Yokoyama, such as jams and jellies, syrups and beverages. Yokoyama said the response so far has been "very positive."

"We have many local loyal repeat customers that convince us that we're doing something right," he said.

Before he got started, Yokoyama said it was difficult to secure a business loan because the concept was so new. But he said he believed in his plan and fought to get the financing.

"Sometimes people are a little nervous about plunging into a new business idea. But my family's background has always been to go for it and try it," he said.

Yokoyama acknowledges that his baked items — made with artificial sweeteners — aren't as sweet or rich as desserts baked with sugar and other natural sweeteners. But that's by design, he said, because people, not just those with diabetes, need to change their eating habits.

He said his items have 50 percent less calories and carbohydrates than traditional sweets.

"We preach moderation. That's a very important part of our business," Yokoyama said. "Some people come in and feel that they can eat the whole thing because it's sugar free. Well, we wouldn't recommend that because we want you to eat wiser."

Ann Higa has been getting her desserts from Sweet Nothings since it opened. The 75-year-old Honolulu resident said she buys the sugar-free items for her diabetic husband, and also because she's watching her diet.

Higa said she enjoys the bakery's eclairs, pies, bear claws and turnovers. She said she occasionally will purchase a cake.

"The taste is good. I have no complaints about the taste," Higa said. "Maybe the people who like sweets will say they can't eat it because it's not sweet enough. But it didn't take time to get used to the taste. I just made up my mind and said, 'If my husband can eat it then I can eat it too.' It's really good."

Like most bakery owners, Yokoyama and his staff of four are busy filling Thanksgiving orders. He expects to bake several hundred pumpkin custard, custard and apple pies, as well as pumpkin cheesecakes by the end of the week.

Yokoyama said most of his sales are through his bakery and he would like to boost his commercial accounts once he's able to produce his products at a higher volume on a consistent basis.

He said he ultimately wants to franchise his business because he said there's a need for healthier, sugar-free goods.

"Again, we're trying to change even the healthy consumers' palate," he said. "If you don't like it, then go back to the regular things. But if you're trying to eat a little healthier, give it a shot. It may not be as rich or as sweet, but it's probably delicious enough to satisfy your craving."