Diabetes: Can I Use Artificial Sweeteners on a Diabetes Diet?

Artificial sweeteners can be added to a variety of foods and beverages without adding more carbohydrates to your diabetes diet. Using non-caloric artificial sweeteners instead of sugar also greatly reduces calories in your favorite foods.

Keep in mind that foods with artificial sweeteners are not necessarily 'no' carbohydrates foods. Many have carbohydrates; therefore, you must read the food labels to determine the gram amounts per serving that these have in order to take into account the effect that these carbohydrates have on your glycemic control. Foods labeled with artificial sweeteners can affect your blood sugars.

As long as you are aware of the content of carbohydrates you can adjust your meal or medication to maintain blood glucose control. Sugar free means no sugar has been added, but you must remember these foods still contain carbohydrates which does affect your blood sugars.

Examples of artificial sweeteners you can use include:
* Aspartame
* Acesulfame-k
* Saccharine
* Sucralose
* Other non-nutritive sweeteners

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid saccharine, and people who suffer from phenylketonuria should not use aspartame. People with phenylketonuria are unable to metabolize phenylalanine, an amino acid that's a common part of many proteins. Some artificial sweeteners -- such as xylitol, mannitol, and sorbitol - have some calories and do slightly increase blood sugar levels.