If you experience the unpleasant symptoms of hypoglycemia, you may switch from sugar-sweetened beverages to diet soda to keep your blood sugar levels stable. Unfortunately, it may have the opposite effect. Even though diet sodas don't contain sugar, your body is fooled into expecting a sugar-containing beverage. This phenomenon can have negative effects on blood sugar stability, as well as increase your risk for diabetes if you are not a diabetic.
What Is Hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia describes blood sugar levels below the normal range. Several things can cause this condition to occur. Some diabetes medications can cause a drop in blood sugar. However, non-diabetics may also experience low blood sugar. A strenuous workout can deplete your blood sugar stores. You may feel the effects of low blood sugar such as weakness or sleepiness from your overnight fast or if your meal has been delayed. Certain foods may also affect your blood sugar, including diet soda.
Fasting Blood Glucose
As part of managing diabetes, diabetics monitor their blood sugar before and after eating to gauge the effectiveness of their management plan. Diet soda may negatively impact this system of control by affecting fasting blood sugar levels. A study by the University of Texas, presented during the June 2011 American Diabetes Association General Poster Session III, found that consumption of the artificial sweetener, aspartame, caused an increase in fasting blood glucose in experiments with mice. Researchers also noted lower insulin levels. These findings indicate that artificial sweeteners found in diet soft drinks may impair your control of blood sugar.
Weight Gain
One of the concerns with diet soda is the chemical nature of the artificial sweeteners. These ingredients will trigger a response by the taste receptors. Your body is expecting calories from the foods that you are ingesting. Because artificial sweeteners contain virtually no calories, the low blood sugar that stimulated your appetite is not being satisfied. Your blood sugar will not increase and your symptoms of hypoglycemia may worsen. It can also lead to weight gain as your body tries to satisfy its needs for calories. A study by the University of Texas Health Sciences Center, published in the April 2009 of "Diabetes Care," found a positive association between diet soda consumption and increased waist circumference. Being overweight can increase your risk for developing diabetes.
Risks of Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia carries serious health consequences if left untreated. The seriousness of symptoms may escalate to confusion, seizures and coma. The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse recommends restoring blood sugar levels by consuming sugar-containing foods or beverages such as glucose tablets, fruit juice or honey. The agency cautions against consuming diet soft drinks. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame contain amino acids, the building blocks of protein. They will not increase blood glucose levels because they contain no sugar. Drinking a regular soft drink would have a better effect on your hypoglycemia.
References
- National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse; Hypoglycemia; October 2008
- American Diabetes Association; Aspartame Consumption Is Associated with Elevated Fasting Glucose in Diabetes-Prone Mice; S. Fowler, et al.; June 2011
- Aspartame Information Center: Aspartame Fact Sheet
- "Diabetes Care"; Diet Soda Intake and Risk of Incident Metabolic Syndrome and Type 2 Diabetes in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA); J. Nettleton, et al.; January 2009
- "Principles of Anatomy and Physiology"; G. Tortora et al; 2005
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