Show
Soft drinks (also called pop, sodas, fizzy drinks) generally refer to flavoured non-alcoholic drinks. Diet soft drinks, which are artificially sweetened are often a popular option for people with diabetes as they generally have an insignificant effect on blood glucose levels Diet soft drinks and diabetesAs a general rule, people with diabetes wishing to have a soft drink will usually want to choose diet soft drinks over sugary versions. Exceptions to this general rule are if someone with diabetes actively needs to treat or avoid low blood sugar levels developing as a result of medication such as insulin The majority of diet drinks have no sugar and should not raise blood sugar levels. However, it is worth checking the carbohydrate value on the packaging if you are unsure or are trying a new diet soft drink. Diet drinks in pubs, bars and restaurantsMost bars and restaurants in the UK these days serve at least one diet soft drink. Diabetes.co.uk is aware that people with diabetes are occasionally served full sugar soft drinks accidentally by bar or restaurant staff. This is more likely to happen in loud or busy environments. It may be possible to reduce the chances of being served a sugary soft drink by accident by:
Diet drinks and weight gainArtificially sweetened soft drinks are often referred to as diet drinks because the sweeteners used are very low calorie. It would make sense to assume that low or zero calorie drinks would not contribute to weight gain but some research studies have indicated that diet drinks may be associated with weight gain. One theory is that artificial sweeteners help to promote cravings for sweetness and cause people to eat sweeter foods. A counter argument is that there may just be a general trend that people who already have a less healthy diet may have a higher tendency to consume diet drinks. Diet drinks and type 2 diabetesResearch indicates that sugary soft drinks are linked with type 2 diabetes and research indicates that there may also be an association between artificially sweetened beverages too. A French study, published in 2013, even indicated that the risk of type 2 diabetes may even be higher for those that regularly consume diet soft drinks than people that consume sugary versions. The researchers note that information on the participants’ diets could not be closely monitored and it is therefore not possible to conclude that diet soft drinks were a cause of type 2 diabetes.
Soft drinks and other health risksThere has been a lot of debate about the safety of sweeteners with some health campaigners taking the view that they can lead to a range of problems ranging from depression to digestive disorders and the aforementioned type 2 diabetes. In response to the concerns about safety, pro-artificial sweetener lobbying groups such as the Calorie Control Council have funded studies and conducted PR campaigns to reassure consumers.
 It should be noted that the Calorie Control Council actively represents the interests of a number of large companies which sell soft drinks, sweeteners and sugary foods, including:
Extensive research has been carried out to assess the safety of artificial sweeteners but it is difficult to draw conclusive findings from dietary research about long term safety and particularly to distinguish between associations and causation for health problems.
If you’re living with diabetes, you’ve probably made peace with cutting back on the strawberry margs on Taco Tuesdays, but what about those soda cravings? Do you really have to kick Diet Coke to the curb? Unfortunately, research has shown that diet soda isn’t the harmless treat we once thought it was. As someone with diabetes, here’s everything you should know about your bubbly habit: Diet soda, of course, has much less sugar and zero calories when compared to regular, sugary (and oh so delicious) soft drinks, technically making it a good alternative. You can even snag some popular choices that are delicious and totally sugar-free (e.g., Diet Coke, Diet A&W Root Beer). But let’s be real, diet soda is not actually “good” for us — living with diabetes or not. It doesn’t contribute any nutritional value but could help control blood sugars if substituted for the sugar-laden type. In fact, a new study that tracked 450,000 Europeans over 16 years found that heavy drinkers (more than 2 servings per day) of sugary sodas OR artificially sweetened beverages were more likely to die prematurely than those who hardly ever consumed sodas. Those who gulped down two or more glasses of regularly sweetened (sugary) soft drinks per day had a higher chance of dying from gut disorders, while those who drank the same number of diet drinks had a higher chance of dying from heart disease. The authors did point out that those who consumed more soda were more likely to be current smokers and that participants who were overweight may have switched to sugar-free soda to help control weight. (Perhaps the non-soda crowd was including other beverages like milk or juice that contributed important nutrients?) This is just one study, so we’re not going to tell you to never touch soda again. Instead, you might try subbing out some of your daily soda for one of the following diabetes-friendly beverages:
Studies on the impact of artificial sweeteners on blood glucose levels and insulin levels can produce some conflicting headlines. In short, cracking open a can of diet soda won’t directly raise your blood sugar levels. However, certain artificial sweeteners can have a long-term impact. (More on that below). Here are some of the most common no calorie sweeteners:
Not all diet sodas are created equal. The type of sweetener used can take a soda from OK to Noooope. The concerning thing for people with diabetes is, some artificial sweeteners have been accused of messing with the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut, which might in turn affect appetite hormones and insulin sensitivity. Sucralose: One study exposed this sweetener for its potential to raise blood sugar when carbs are consumed later on. Despite having minimal calories (2 calories as compared with sugar at 14 calories), sucralose caused a spike in insulin levels in subjects who did not regularly consume sucralose. But the study only involved 17 subjects and the study authors admit that most of the studies conducted in humans do not show changes in blood glucose, insulin or other gut hormone levels. (And just an FYI, her brand name is Splenda.) Acesulfame-k: This common sweetener has been linked to bacteria changes in the gut and weight gain in mice. It’s worth noting these results were found inanimal studies and those same metabolic results are not seen in human subjects. This guy masquerades as Sunnett or Sweet One — yep, that Sweet One. But it’s not all bad news! Stevia: Extracted from the leaves of stevia plants, it’s a safe, incredibly sweet, no-calorie alternative to sugar. It’s been used as a sweetener by our South American neighbors for over 200 years. Whew! Stevia may even have a positive effect on insulin or glucose levels as it’s broken down in the gut and then rapidly eliminated from the body. Erythritol: The corn-based sweetener (lower in calories but mighty in flavor) does not increase blood sugar or insulin levels. It’s 60–80 percent as sweet as sugar. More than 90 percent of it is not metabolized by humans and makes a graceful, unchanged exit via your pee. Get this, it’s even been shown to be protective for people with diabetes. The recent news about risks associated with diet soda has been bouncing around all over the place. So, it’s understandable if you’re feeling a little freaked out. The truth is, experts have yet to determine if drinks brimming with artificial sweeteners are indeed the culprits, or if it’s simply that those who load up on sweet diet drinks tend to live a less than healthy lifestyle overall, leading to premature death. Many of these studies show an association but cannot conclude a cause and effect relationship.
Unfortunately, increased mortality rates aren’t the only bad news surfacing from diet soda studies. A 2018 study found that people with diabetes who consumed more than 4 cans of diet soda per week were two times more likely to develop a diabetes complication called proliferative diabetic retinopathy (vision impairment issues and even blindness). But if you read the entire study, the authors reported that those with increased risk of retinopathy were those with type 1 diabetes, had a greater BMI, 55 percent were current smokers, had elevated blood fat levels, and high blood pressure… which can all contribute to the development of eye disease. When authors adjusted the results for variables such as A1c levels (an indicator of blood glucose control), age, gender, smoking, etc., there was no difference in eye disease between the diet soda drinkers and the non-consumers except those with the highest consumption. So, everything in moderation — even no calorie soda — is still a good motto to live by. Now for the good stuff. If you’re not ready to say goodbye to diet soda, here are some good varieties to reach for:
And if you MUST drink mainstream diet, try these. They have aspartame, but are free of other artificial sweeteners:
What is the effect of diet and regular soda on blood sugar levels What is the independent variable?The type of soda – diet or regular – is the independent variable. The level of blood sugar that you measure is the dependent variable – it changes depending on the type of soda.
What is the effect of regular soda on blood sugar levels?Sugary beverages and sodas contribute to diabetes risk, as well as issues controlling blood sugar in people who already have diabetes. The body digests the sugars from soda quickly. This contributes to insulin resistance and causes rapid spikes in blood sugar.
Do diet sodas impact blood sugar?Artificial sweeteners do not raise blood sugar levels, and are considered safe alternatives to sugar for diabetics.
Is diet soda worse than regular soda for diabetics?Diet sodas are preferable to their more sugary counterparts. However, they aren't a “magic bullet” for the diabetes-conscious person looking to cut back on sugar consumption. People who switch to diet soda might find themselves drinking more of it and not enough water.
|
What is the effect of diet and regular soda on blood sugar levels
Copyright © 2024 pauex Inc.
