My doctor told me that I should watch my consumption of diet soda because it will mess with my blood sugar. This is something that I commonly hear in the media and elsewhere. However, what is the scientific evidence which proves this to be the case? If this were true I would think that diet soft drink makers would have to put warning labels on their products for those with diabetes (as they do for those suffering from PKU). If this is true is it also the case with Splenda/sucralose?
Asparatame itself does not affect blood sugar, that much is not controversial. There are some anti-aspartame groups who claim that it does affect serotonin levels, which could then cause you to crave sugary foods.
This claim is associated with the infamous Betty Martini anti-aspartame email glurge, so I would tend to disbelieve it just based on that. Doing a little googling, I couldn’t find anything to support it. I’d ask your doctor for more information (like a cite).
In any case, sucralose would not have the same effect because it doesn’t break down into the same chemical components as aspartame.
I wonder if by “diet soda messing with your blood sugar” your doctor was referring to those products which contain sorbitol and similar substances. Unlike aspartame which is not caloric, sorbitol contains 4 calories per gram (which is exactly what table sugar contains!). The advertsing and display-shelf promotion for things like sorbitol is a great example of misleading information - one is misled into thinking they’re neutral, or even beneficial, for people with diabetes. Alas, no (although they do have a benefit in not promoting tooth decay).
I’m reading my 2003 “ABC of Diabetes” published by the BMJ. It advises eating no sugar/glucose/sucrose nor Sucron (a 25% sugar/75% sweetener), but allows saccaharin, Sweetex (an artificial icing), Hermesetas (the same thing as aspartame), Saxin (?) and sugar-free drinks.
I have never seen evidence of aspartame screwing up blood sugar. I believe this is Karl Gauss’s area of expertise.
Dr_Pap