Do Artificial Sweeteners Benefit People with Diabetes?

Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/do-artificial-sweeteners-really-help-people-diabetes-2024a1000bhv

Overview of the Study

This is a frequently asked question by people with diabetes. Recently, researchers investigated whether artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose are helpful for people with diabetes allowing them to achieve better control of their blood glucose levels. The aim was to combine data from many studies in this area to see if there was a consistent finding about the effect of artificial sweeteners on blood glucose levels and body weight in people with diabetes.

Key Findings

The study found that artificial sweeteners might not improve blood glucose control as much as previously thought. People who used them didn’t have significantly lower blood glucose levels compared to those who didn’t use them. Also, there was no clear evidence that using these sweeteners helped with losing weight.

Conclusion

Based on the findings, the researchers suggest that people with diabetes should be cautious about relying too much on artificial sweeteners. While they can be an option to reduce overall sugar intake, they might not provide major benefits for diabetes control or weight loss. More research is needed to fully understand their long-term effects on health.