Does diet soda raise your blood sugar?

IceDragon72
IceDragon72 Posts: 48
in Food and Nutrition
Does diet soda (Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi, etc.) raise your blood sugar?
I am trying to keep my blood sugar spikes low and infrequent and not sure if diet sodas are a safe option.
I also drink lots of water, plain iced and green tea, etc.
Sources to answers appreciated :)

Thanks!
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Replies

  • shabaity
    shabaity Posts: 792 Member
    it doesnt bother me but thats me aspertame can cause you to be hungry tho
  • IceDragon72
    IceDragon72 Posts: 48
    Thanks for the info :)

    Anyone else have thoughts?
  • skyan
    skyan Posts: 12
    Diet sodas are alright, but don't over-do it. Diet Coke still uses diet sugar I think.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    No they do not.

    They contain no sugar, and aspartame does not raise your blood sugar. Nor does it cause you to feel hunger. It just tastes sweet.

    Enjoy as you wish!


    (there's no such thing as "diet sugar")
  • tsh0ck
    tsh0ck Posts: 1,970 Member
    Diet Coke still uses diet sugar I think.

    huh?
  • ncthomas09
    ncthomas09 Posts: 322 Member
    My grandma was diabetic and her doctor told her that she could drink diet sodas as long as they too were in moderation. She had a lot of other health issues too so she had to watch the amount of fluid she drank in a day. But she found after drinking a diet soda she would sometimes be just as thirsty if not more thirsty than before. This would mean she would either get another diet soda and go over fluid limits or would drink water when we were watching. (She wasn't very compliant with anything)


    So I would say yes you are fine with diet sodas as long as they too are in moderation.
  • barenda_101
    barenda_101 Posts: 18
    No. The reason they are diet is because your body can't metabolize them. This means that there is no way for your body to convert these artificial sugars into sugars that your body can use (i.e. glucose) and subsequently, you will not have a rise in your blood sugar.
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    A product containing no sugar or carbs to convert can't raise your blood sugar. It has been hypothesized that diet soda and other artificailly sweetened foods "fool" you pancreas into thinkiing you did ingest sugar and cause an increase in insulin. The hypothesis is this causes overeating as the insulin subsides and thus causes just as much of a correlation for diet soda to obesity as regular soda. I recall seeing the hypothesis but not any peer reviewed studies that covered it. There could be some out there though.
  • Genericwit
    Genericwit Posts: 70 Member
    Does diet soda (Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi, etc.) raise your blood sugar?
    I am trying to keep my blood sugar spikes low and infrequent and not sure if diet sodas are a safe option.
    I also drink lots of water, plain iced and green tea, etc.
    Sources to answers appreciated :)

    Thanks!

    Are you diabetic? If so, I think it's time for a chat with your physician or a friendly neighborhood nurse. These types of questions aren't ones to ask on forums, even if you get the correct answer to THIS question. Because you might still have misconceptions you don't even realize you have.

    If you're not, don't worry about it too much. After eating, everyone's glucose levels go up, because of the way your body breaks down food. If you're not diabetic, your body metabolizes the glucose without much cause for concern, because your pancreas produces enough insulin to maintain homeostasis. There's no way to prevent your glucose levels from fluctuating, even with the strictest of diets, because just about everything contains a little bit of sugar. Diet sodas might not raise your glucose the way regular ones do, but they come with their own host of concerns.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I am a Type 2 Diabetic and drink 2-3 24 oz. Diet Pepsi's every single day (I might add I drink 125+ oz. of water a day as well) and it has absolutely no effect on my blood sugars what so ever..... Best of Luck
  • Spokez70
    Spokez70 Posts: 548 Member
    No it does not. If it did then my daughter who has Type-1 Diabetes would have to take insulin for it.
  • TheVimFuego
    TheVimFuego Posts: 2,412 Member
    No. The reason they are diet is because your body can't metabolize them. This means that there is no way for your body to convert these artificial sugars into sugars that your body can use (i.e. glucose) and subsequently, you will not have a rise in your blood sugar.

    Well, actually, the body can (and does) metabolize them.

    It has to or we'd be peeing it out in the same form as it went in.

    Not a savoury thought and potentially very messy.

    I'm thinking a lot of froth.
  • ncthomas09
    ncthomas09 Posts: 322 Member
    No. The reason they are diet is because your body can't metabolize them. This means that there is no way for your body to convert these artificial sugars into sugars that your body can use (i.e. glucose) and subsequently, you will not have a rise in your blood sugar.

    Well, actually, the body can (and does) metabolize them.

    It has to or we'd be peeing it out in the same form as it went in.

    Not a savoury thought and potentially very messy.

    I'm thinking a lot of froth.

    Could you imagine the feeling of peeing out carbonation bubbles!?!? Idk if it would tickle and make you laugh or what....

    Interesting to think about!!!
  • puffidredz
    puffidredz Posts: 119 Member
    Does diet soda (Coke Zero, Diet Pepsi, etc.) raise your blood sugar?
    I am trying to keep my blood sugar spikes low and infrequent and not sure if diet sodas are a safe option.
    I also drink lots of water, plain iced and green tea, etc.
    Sources to answers appreciated :)

    Thanks!

    dunno about diet coke, cuz i dont drink that but i drink diet dr. pepper and it has no sugar
  • McGrew822
    McGrew822 Posts: 17
    It does not.

    Diabetic brah checking in, I'd know. :)
  • McGrew822
    McGrew822 Posts: 17
    Diet sodas are alright, but don't over-do it. Diet Coke still uses diet sugar I think.

    This is either an excellent trolling attempt, or the dumbest thing I've ever read. Ever.
  • puffidredz
    puffidredz Posts: 119 Member
    No. The reason they are diet is because your body can't metabolize them. This means that there is no way for your body to convert these artificial sugars into sugars that your body can use (i.e. glucose) and subsequently, you will not have a rise in your blood sugar.

    Well, actually, the body can (and does) metabolize them.

    It has to or we'd be peeing it out in the same form as it went in.

    Not a savoury thought and potentially very messy.

    I'm thinking a lot of froth.

    Could you imagine the feeling of peeing out carbonation bubbles!?!? Idk if it would tickle and make you laugh or what....

    Interesting to think about!!!

    id be more worried about the color :embarassed:
  • puffidredz
    puffidredz Posts: 119 Member
    Diet sodas are alright, but don't over-do it. Diet Coke still uses diet sugar I think.

    This is either an excellent trolling attempt, or the dumbest thing I've ever read. Ever.

    broscience

    batman-broscience.jpg?e83a2c
  • McGrew822
    McGrew822 Posts: 17
    Diet sodas are alright, but don't over-do it. Diet Coke still uses diet sugar I think.

    This is either an excellent trolling attempt, or the dumbest thing I've ever read. Ever.

    broscience

    batman-broscience.jpg?e83a2c

    Actually, no, that is an empirical fact. I've been researching nutrition for a year and tend to know what I'm talking about. Throw in being type 1 diabetic (the one that's not from being a fat slob) and I know a little bit about blood sugar.
  • CateB1959
    CateB1959 Posts: 3
    There are no sugars or carbohydrates in diet soda so your blood sugar is not effected. Cate (Type II diabetes since 2006)
  • sabinavaughan
    sabinavaughan Posts: 109 Member
    Not that I've had a problem with. But I prefer the taste of Pepsi Max..and I keep it to a once in awhile thing.
  • nursenessa1
    nursenessa1 Posts: 182 Member
    A product containing no sugar or carbs to convert can't raise your blood sugar. It has been hypothesized that diet soda and other artificailly sweetened foods "fool" you pancreas into thinkiing you did ingest sugar and cause an increase in insulin. The hypothesis is this causes overeating as the insulin subsides and thus causes just as much of a correlation for diet soda to obesity as regular soda. I recall seeing the hypothesis but not any peer reviewed studies that covered it. There could be some out there though.

    High five!
  • drisner
    drisner Posts: 13 Member
    Yes, Diet Coke can spike your insulin and glucose because of the caffeine.

    http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20040726/caffeine-hamper-blood-sugar-control

    As long as you're having a no-caffeine diet soda though, you should be ok as far as blood sugar goes.
  • CateB1959
    CateB1959 Posts: 3
    A reason why moderation is advised is the amount of sodium and caffeine in soda adds up quickly. Cate
  • CateB1959
    CateB1959 Posts: 3
    Thanks for the info. That may be my problem. When I am working I drink 1 - 2 Coke Zero's or Diet Pepsi a day. I will have to start tracking and see what happens. Cate
  • Genericwit
    Genericwit Posts: 70 Member
    In terms of not metabolizing diet sodas, I think the person meant that they aren't metabolized in the same way, which is sort of true. It has more to do with the rate at which they're broken down though.

    The word carbohydrate is synonymous with the word sugar, though the connotation people usually use for sugar is glucose, which isn't wrong. It's just misleading. All glucose are carbs, but not all carbs are glucose (upon entrance to the GI system). So while the pancreas is producing insulin to regulate fat and carbs, it's also storing converting then storing the now glycogen where it can. When your body doesn't produce insulin, or it's become insulin-resistant, you're considered diabetic and require an external source, so you don't become hyperglycemic, then ketoacidotic, then die.

    So obviously it could be a problem if you're taking in too much glucose.

    But guess what? Complex carbs aren't absorbed. They eventually get broken down into simple sugar as well. They're better for you because they take a longer time period to break down. So, don't ever buy into something like my Red Bull "Sugarfree" here which says on the back

    Total Carb. 3 g
    - Sugar 0 g

    Eventually, those 3 g of carbs are going to turn into 3 g of sugar, and guess what? They're absorbed into the blood stream. And what happens to your blood glucose level when more glucose is added? It goes up. At least until your little insulin friends come and take it away.

    I feel like it's a conversation I have pretty often with diabetic patients who ask me why they have to take insulin when their food says it contains "0g sugar" or is "sugarfree." lol

    My point is, no matter what you do, your blood glucose levels are going to fluctuate. There is no avoiding it. There is always going to be a period of time between absorption by the GI and storage where it's in the blood.
  • mandersatx
    mandersatx Posts: 86
    Aspartame (the sweet tasting chemical in almost all diet sodas) is poisonous. It is toxic, a carcinogen, and ultimately detrimental to your overall health. Natural sugar substitutes such as stevia are a much better choice, which comes from a plant. You can actually grow it in your herb garden. The most famous brand would probably be Truvia, but you can get it for much cheaper in the vitamin section of your local grocer. Central Market, Sprouts, and other healthy grocers carry a diet soda made with it called Zevia. Though sugar substitutes seem like a good choice when weighing calories counts, ultimately the majority of them are laboratory made chemicals not made for human consumption. Watch the documentary Sweet Nothing (try Netflix) about how aspartame was cleared by the FDA; it contains some startling information that will make you think twice before putting it in your body. I quit aspartame entirely about a month ago; my skin has cleared, my cravings (both salty & sweet) have lessened, my breasts no longer ache, and I'm much less moody.
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    No it doesn't. That's why diabetics drink diet soda, it's SUGAR-free. Aspartame is still very bad for you. Now that i"ve cut out soda completely, I've had it 3 or 4 times in nearly two months and once, I had a Diet Pepsi and it gave me headaches and made me nauseous. Can't believe I used to drink it a lot! I have to have regular soda now when I do drink it. To me, the fake sugar is worse than the real stuff.
  • MiCool90
    MiCool90 Posts: 460 Member
    diet-plan_c_164605.jpg
  • AmyFett
    AmyFett Posts: 1,607 Member
    No. The reason they are diet is because your body can't metabolize them. This means that there is no way for your body to convert these artificial sugars into sugars that your body can use (i.e. glucose) and subsequently, you will not have a rise in your blood sugar.

    Well, actually, the body can (and does) metabolize them.

    It has to or we'd be peeing it out in the same form as it went in.

    Not a savoury thought and potentially very messy.

    I'm thinking a lot of froth.

    Could you imagine the feeling of peeing out carbonation bubbles!?!? Idk if it would tickle and make you laugh or what....

    Interesting to think about!!!

    that's exactly what I was thinking!! How funny would that feel? lol

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