Diet Soda Might Not Be Kosher Among Diabetics
August 3, 2007 by Kendra James, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
So what have you heard about this whole diet soda and diabetes thing? I have read a few posts on fellow blogger’s sites today that have presented differing views on the topic. Do you consume diet soda? Has your doctor or clinician advised you otherwise? Just curious.
There is all kinds of recent research that states diet soda can be linked to diabetes and heart disease. Some even claim that diet soda will put you at a higher risk for weight gain than regular, full caloried, all the sugar having, sweet soda. Hmm, I don’t know which way to go on this one.
It has been proven in the past that caffeine can affect your blood sugar. So, this leads me to my next question. Would it make a difference if we were to drink caffeine free diet coke versus a plain ol’ diet coke? What have you found? Personally, I do drink a diet Coke a day, in lieu of a cup of coffee in the afternoon. I have to have a pick me up in the hours leading up to dinner due the fact that my kids still get up at all times of the night. And by the way, when will that stop?
I am going to compare a few studies that I have found on the subject of debate. My issue with so much of the research done on this matter is that the people being screened and observed have so many other lifestyle choices that can lead to diabetes and heart disease. Who is to say that the diet soda alone caused the increased risk factor for developing diabetes? If you have anything, share it with me. This seems like fairly important information, since so many of us substitute diet soda’s over full sugared drinks.
I’m curious to hear your findings. My understanding is that generally, anything with artificial sweetners is detrimental to health. Mostly because of their impact on liver, gallbladder, etc. I don’t know specifically about diabetics. I’ve read on this in the past, but don’t have my sources handy at the moment, so please do keep us posted.
actually, with regards to increasing the risk of heart disease and metabolic syndrome (thus, with extrapolation to diabetes), it doesn’t matter if you are drinking diet or regular soda — according to recent study.
http://www.daily-diabetic.com/50226711/on_diet_and_regular_soft_drinks.php
just what i found recently anyway.
Rebecca- Soda is soda, which is like a “junk” food, whether it is diet or regular it still has sodium, and additives that aren’t exactly wise choices. Thanks for your thoughts and I will keep you posted.
Gloria- Thanks, I have that exact study in my possession. It is interesting that it just doesn’t matter which soda you choose, there isn’t really a lesser of 2 evils, is there? Appreciate the link!
Thanks for the link my friend!
No problem Sara. I was actually in the middle of writing this when I came across Healthbolt while taking a break. I actually couldn’t concentrate to be totally hones and I started laughing that you had just written about the very same topic. So it was an obvious link to be had…
Have a good one! K
It’s pretty easy to figure out if diet soda is just as bad for diabetics as a regular soda. Drink a can of diet soda. Test your blood sugar at the half-hour, one-hour, 90-minute, and two-hour marks. Wait at least four hours, then repeat the process with regular soda. I’d bet my meter that you’re going to see a difference.
And, no, I haven’t tried it, myself. Diet soda has had zero effect on my numbers over the three years (two of which involved testing everything that I consumed) since my diagnosis, but I’m not going to load up on on HFCS just to prove a point.
I won’t argue that artificial sweeteners are good for anyone, but I just can’t buy weight-gain from non-caloric beverages and an increased risk of diabetes from a zero-carb beverage. I think this is one of those cases where statistics lie (i.e., correlation does not equal causation).