When you are a diabetic, it is hard to find something to drink that is not going to raise your blood sugar. Diet soda seems almost too good to be true. It tastes so sweet, you think it should cause your glucose to spike. Artificial sweeteners in diet sodas are not carbohydrates and are not processed in the body like sugars. Diet sodas are not without their dangers to diabetics, though. Caffeine plays a role in glucose management.
Diet Soda and Glucose
Diet soda is often recommended to people with diabetes as the drink of choice for those who do not like water. It is sweet tasting and contains no calories. According to the Mayo Clinic, artificial sweeteners that are used in diet sodas, such as aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, cannot raise blood glucose levels because they do not contain actual sugar. However, if you are still concerned that your diet soda may impact your diabetes, check with your doctor. The artificial sweetener you are using may be mislabeled and actually is impacting your blood sugar. Sugar alcohols can raise your blood sugar slightly, but they are not usually in diet sodas. Look for names such as xylitol, sorbitol and isomalt.
Glucose and Caffeine
Although the artificial sweeteners in diet sodas may not impact your blood glucose, there is some evidence that caffeine can have an impact on your diabetes control. According to "Caffeine Ups Blood Sugar Level in Diabetics: Study," a study conducted by Duke University found that when diabetics were given pills equivalent to four cups of coffee their blood sugars were 8 percent higher than on the days when they were given placebos. This could explain why some diabetics who drink diet soda still have a hard time controlling their blood sugars. If you are drinking soda with high amounts of caffeine in it, you could run the risk of having higher blood sugars.
Risks of Artificial Sweeteners
Since artificial sweeteners do not raise your blood sugar, you may be concerned about other side effects from having a chemical in your beverage. Artificial sweeteners have been declared generally recognized as safe by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. There were some claims that saccharin caused cancer, but according to the Mayo Clinic, the National Cancer Institute has found that there is no evidence linking artificial sweeteners to any type of cancer. There are some side effects with sugar alcohols, however. Eating too many of them can cause a laxative affect, along with gas and bloating.
Alternatives to Diet Soda
If you need to get away from diet soda due to the artificial sweetener or the caffeine content, the best choice is water. It is cheap, healthy and plentiful. Add lemon or lime to your water, or try sparkling seltzer if you want something different. Juices have a high calorie and sugar content, so they will not be a viable alternative if you have diabetes. Non-fat milk is an option, but nothing beats plain water. It is the only drink that you can be sure won't make your glucose spike.
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