Can I use artificial sweeteners if I have diabetes?

Yes, you can use most artificial sweeteners if you have diabetes. Artificial sweeteners replace sugar in food and drinks. They offer the sweetness of sugar without the calories. Artificial sweeteners also are called sugar substitutes, low-calorie sweeteners or nonnutritive sweeteners.

Examples of artificial sweeteners include:

  • Acesulfame potassium (Sunett, Sweet One).
  • Advantame.
  • Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, Sugar Twin).
  • Luo Han Guo (Nectresse, Monk Fruit in the Raw, PureLo).
  • Neotame (Newtame).
  • Saccharin (Sweet'N Low, Sweet Twin, Necta Sweet).
  • Stevia (Pure Via, Truvia, Enliten).
  • Sucralose (Splenda).

Artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than sugar. So it takes only a small amount of an artificial sweetener to sweeten foods. That's why foods made with artificial sweeteners often have fewer calories than those made with sugar. Artificial sweeteners don't affect blood sugar. But keep in mind that foods and drinks that contain artificial sweeteners may include other ingredients that could affect blood sugar.

Sugar alcohols are another type of sweetener that have about half the calories of sugar. Some fruits and vegetables have sugar alcohols in them naturally. And lab-made versions are added to some foods. Sugar alcohols are different from other artificial sweeteners because they can raise blood sugar. For some people, they also may cause diarrhea. Examples of sugar alcohols include mannitol, sorbitol and xylitol.

Although you can use artificial sweeteners if you have diabetes, be aware that some research shows eating artificially sweetened foods instead of those sweetened with sugar may not be as helpful as once thought. This may be especially true for people who regularly eat or drink a lot of artificial sweeteners. But further research is needed to learn more.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

We use the data you provide to deliver you the content you requested. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, we may combine your email and website data with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, we will only use your protected health information as outlined in our Notice of Privacy Practices. You may opt out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the email.

Feb. 18, 2025 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Medication-free hypertension control
  2. A1C test
  3. Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure?
  4. Alpha blockers
  5. Amputation and diabetes
  6. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
  7. Angiotensin II receptor blockers
  8. Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?
  9. Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS)
  10. Bariatric surgery
  11. Beta blockers
  12. Beta blockers: Do they cause weight gain?
  13. Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise?
  14. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD/DS)
  15. Blood glucose meters
  16. Blood glucose monitors
  17. Blood pressure: Can it be higher in one arm?
  18. Blood pressure chart
  19. Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter?
  20. Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern?
  21. Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather?
  22. Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight?
  23. Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides?
  24. Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home?
  25. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons
  26. Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how
  27. Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes
  28. Pancreas transplant animation
  29. Caffeine and hypertension
  30. Calcium channel blockers
  31. Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs?
  32. Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure?
  33. Central-acting agents
  34. Choosing blood pressure medicines
  35. COVID-19: Who's at higher risk of serious symptoms?
  36. Diabetes
  37. Diabetes and depression: Coping with the two conditions
  38. Diabetes and exercise: When to monitor your blood sugar
  39. Diabetes and heat
  40. 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications
  41. Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?
  42. Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan
  43. Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar?
  44. Diabetes and liver
  45. Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
  46. Diabetes symptoms
  47. Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar?
  48. Using insulin
  49. Diabetic Gastroparesis
  50. Diuretics
  51. Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?
  52. Erectile dysfunction and diabetes
  53. High blood pressure and exercise
  54. Exercise and chronic disease
  55. Fatigue
  56. Free blood pressure machines: Are they accurate?
  57. Frequent urination
  58. Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y)
  59. Gastric Bypass Complications
  60. Gastric bypass diet
  61. Gastric Bypass Surgery: One Patient's Journey
  62. Home blood pressure monitoring
  63. Glucose tolerance test
  64. Glycemic index: A helpful tool for diabetes?
  65. Weight-loss surgery
  66. Hemochromatosis
  67. High blood pressure (hypertension)
  68. High blood pressure and cold remedies: Which are safe?
  69. High blood pressure and sex
  70. High blood pressure dangers
  71. What is hypertension? A Mayo Clinic expert explains.
  72. Hypertension FAQs
  73. Hypertensive crisis: What are the symptoms?
  74. Insulin and weight gain
  75. Isolated systolic hypertension: A health concern?
  76. Kidney disease FAQs
  77. L-arginine: Does it lower blood pressure?
  78. Late-night eating: OK if you have diabetes?
  79. Low-phosphorus diet: Helpful for kidney disease?
  80. Medications and supplements that can raise your blood pressure
  81. Menopause and high blood pressure: What's the connection?
  82. Pancreas transplant
  83. Picnic Problems: High Sodium
  84. Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health?
  85. Reactive hypoglycemia: What can I do?
  86. Resperate: Can it help reduce blood pressure?
  87. Sleep deprivation: A cause of high blood pressure?
  88. Sleeve gastrectomy
  89. Statins
  90. Stress and high blood pressure
  91. The dawn phenomenon: What can you do?
  92. Unexplained weight loss
  93. Vasodilators
  94. Vegetarian diet: Can it help me control my diabetes?
  95. Biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch
  96. How to measure blood pressure using a manual monitor
  97. How to measure blood pressure using an automatic monitor
  98. What is blood pressure?
  99. Can a lack of vitamin D cause high blood pressure?
  100. Weight Loss Surgery Options
  101. White coat hypertension
  102. Wrist blood pressure monitors: Are they accurate?