Do diet sodas raise blood sugar levels?
By Toofancy
@Toofancy (548)
United States
August 3, 2010 9:31pm CST
I am a Type 2 diabetic and just cannot get my blood sugar under control. No matter how careful I try to be, my levels run high. I drink a lot of diet pepsi (multiple glasses per day), and I also use a lot of splenda (in coffee, cereal, etc). Do diet sodas cause an increase in blood sugar? How about splenda?
3 people like this
4 responses
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
20 Sep 10
Switch from diet pepsi to pepsi one (which has splenda) or diet RC cola. Remove everything from your diet which contains aspartame - it can even be hidden in vitamins.
Use stevia in your coffee and in other beverages you sweeten at home. You can get stevia in your local grocery store. Stevia is actually beneficial to diabetics and was used for centuries in South America to treat diabetes.
My husband had this same problem. He was up to 3 different medications 2 times a day and his doctor was threatening to put him on insulin because his type II diabetes was "uncontrollable". I read an article about aspartame causing this problem in some diabetics and we removed all aspartame from his diet. In just 2 weeks, his blood sugar levels were normal with just 1 pill once a day.
Most type II diabetics have no problems with artifical sweeteners; but, 5% of diabetics have a problems with aspartame (Nutrasweet). Aspartame makes their blood sugar "uncontrollable". They do not know why it only affects some people this way; but, it sounds like that may be your case.
Anything that has aspartame will have a warning on the label that says "phenylketonurics: contains phenylalanine"
When you get rid of aspartame from your diet, you will need to keep a close eye on your blood sugar because if it starts dropping too fast, you will need to decrease your medication or you could have serious problems.
2 people like this
@speakeasy (4171)
• United States
20 Sep 10
I hope it helps. When I saw your discussion in the sidebar while responding to someone else, it sounded exactly like what happened to my husband.
The problem with aspartame is that some people try to make it a big evil substance that causes all types of problems. And, there is a grain of truth to that just like any other "myth".
The problem is that aspartame affects everyone differently. Only 5% of type II diabetics have this problem with it; so, scientists refuse to say that it is a problem with aspartame and say it is a problem with the person. When aspartame first came out, the Air Force would not let pilots drink a diet soda before flying because it actually caused a few of them to have a seizure while flying. But, it does not cause a lot of pilots to have this problem, only a handful. I am quite certain that it can cause (or make worse) all of the problems the fanatics claim; but, a lot of it depends on how much is used over how long a period of time and how it affects that particular individual. So some people may never have any problems from it while others can see serious problems caused by aspartame.
The recommendation is that if you are having health problems and use a lot of aspartame - stop using it for 30 days (a 30 day challenge) and see if it makes a difference. If it does make a difference; then, that was the problem. If there is no difference; then, you can probably use it again.
The really hard part is having to read the labels on just about everything that you eat or drink because it has been put into so many different things where it really isn't needed. (Why would a vitamin pill need an artificial sweetener? But, it is an ingredient on Centrum vitamins!)
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
22 Sep 10
That is so interesting. I did not know any of this. I am so glad you responded to my discussion. I read the nutrition labels a lot (maybe not on everything), but if I need to for my health, I certainly will do it.
And as you mentioned to switch to Pepsi One or Diet RC....it really took me back to when I was a child. My Grandmother was a diabetic and she drank Diet RC. I guess I was a child the last time I drank one. But bet your bottom dollar I am switching!
Thanks again so much.
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
20 Sep 10
Speakeasy, thank you so much for this information. You will never know how much I appreciate it. I will definitely do as you have suggested to see if it helps with my blood sugar. I am very concerned. I really thought that the artificial sweetners had something to do with it, because I really watch my diet, and cannot get my blood sugar down. It seemed to me to be the only thing that could cause my problems. I hope your husband is doing well. Diabetes is nothing to play around with, and I really worry about mine. Thanks again for this great response. I will keep you posted!
@naimakhalid (7)
• Canada
3 Sep 10
i m also diabetic but it does not raise sugar level but u increase yr urine passing which washes yr kidney it will be much better if u drink water more and more it gives u better relief
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36447)
• United States
30 Oct 12
Some people say that Diet Sodas mess with your Sugar levels, but I have never known this to be the case. I know they will mess with your Blood pressure readings though is why they say to watch the amount you drink though. But unless you are overdoing it a Soda or two a day should be OK.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
4 Aug 10
While artificial sweeteners in general don't raise blood sugar levels, almost all have detrimental health side effects. I wrote an article once about Aspartame for Associated Content, which is the usual artificial sweetener in diet sodas...if you read the potential side effects you wouldn't touch this stuff with a ten foot pole--the other artificial sweeteners don't fair much better either.
(PS-glad to see you here...miss the Ciao days don't you? LOL)
1 person likes this
@Toofancy (548)
• United States
4 Aug 10
Hi Pye! Yes, I do miss the Ciao days and all of my old friends from there. It's good to hear from you. I have been away from MyLot for a while. I've been busy trying to make money on the internet by doing other things, and I have started to burn out on a lot of it. I thought coming back to MyLot would be a pleasant change of pace again. I will try to look up your article on Associated Content. I know the diet sodas are bad for me, and I have made myself a promise to cut them out. I need to drink more water for sure. (Please don't tell me horror stories about water...ha ha). Take care, and thanks for your response to my discussion.
