Artificial sweeteners: Any effect on blood sugar?

Yes. Artificial sweeteners, also called sugar substitutes, offer the sweetness of sugar without the calories. Artificial sweeteners are many times sweeter than sugar, so it takes a smaller amount to sweeten foods with artificial sweeteners. For this reason, foods made with artificial sweeteners may have a lower calorie count than those made with sugar.

Artificial sweeteners don't affect blood sugar. They're considered "free foods" — because they don't count as a carbohydrate, a fat or any other exchange. If you have diabetes, it is also important to note that some foods containing artificial sweeteners can still affect your blood sugar due to other ingredients, such as other carbohydrates or proteins.

The American Diabetes Association approves the use of the following artificial sweeteners:

• Saccharin (Sweet'N Low)
• Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal)
• Acesulfame potassium (Sunett)
• Sucralose (Splenda)