Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar?

Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar?

Diabetes patients can use most sugar substitutes, including:

Saccharin (Sweet'N Low) is an artificial sweetener.

Aspartame (NutraSweet)

Acesulfame potassium (Sunett)

Neotame (Newtame)

Advantame

Sucralose (Splenda)

Stevia (Pure Via, Truvia)

Sugar substitutes, low-calorie sweeteners, and nonnutritive sweeteners are additional names for artificial sweeteners. They provide sugar's savor without the calories. Synthetic additives are significantly sweeter than sucrose. Due to this, only a small quantity of artificial sweeteners is required to sweeten foods. Therefore, foods made with artificial sweeteners may contain fewer calories than foods made with sugar.

Sugar substitutes have no effect on blood glucose levels. The majority of artificial sweeteners are classified as "free foods." Free foods contain fewer than 20 calories and no more than 5 grams of carbohydrates, and they are not counted as calories or carbohydrates on a diabetes exchange. However, keep in mind that other ingredients in foods containing artificial sweeteners can influence your blood sugar level.

Some studies have found that replacing sugar-sweetened foods and beverages with artificially sweetened alternatives may not be as advantageous as once believed. This may be especially true when large quantities of artificial sweeteners are consumed. However, more research is required.

Also, exercise caution when consuming sugar alcohols, such as mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol. Sugar alcohols can raise blood glucose levels. Additionally, sugar alcohols may cause diarrhea in some individuals.