Ask a Dietitian
We’re excited to have launched a brand-new section in Membership Matters: Ask a Dietitian!
Each month, we’re answering a common nutrition question from our community. This month, we’re exploring a popular one: “Do diet drinks make your blood glucose levels go up? ”
Do diet drinks make your blood glucose levels go up?
Short answer: No.
Diet drinks do not make your blood glucose levels go up. Diet drinks contain artificial sweeteners instead of sugar. Artificial sweeteners have very few kilojoules (or calories) and no carbohydrates. Switching from a regular soft drink to a diet alternative can help keep blood glucose levels more stable and support weight management.
Can we drink as much as we want?
Not really. The World Health Organisation recommends reducing the overall sweetness of our diets. This includes the sweetness that comes from artificial sweeteners.
Fun fact: Artificial sweeteners actually taste much sweeter than sugar. This can increase a person’s preference for sweet flavours.
Diet drinks contain no nutritional value or health benefits. When people drink large amounts, they are likely replacing food or drinks that provide key nutrients like protein, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. So, if you do choose diet drinks, it’s best to have them in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.
Looking for more information?
Make an appointment with one of our dietitians who works at the Diabetes Care+ clinic.
Author: Sammie Lyne, Accredited Practising Dietitian, Diabetes Victoria
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