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