Aspartame’s link to diabetes is debated, with some claiming it worsens symptoms, while others say it’s safe. Aspartame breaks down into toxic chemicals, but experts say they’re not present at harmful levels. Artificial sweeteners can be a healthy part of a sugar-free diet for diabetics. The FDA has declared aspartame safe for human consumption.
Ever since the artificial sweetener aspartame came on the market, there has been debate about whether there is a detrimental relationship between it and diabetes. While some sources claim that aspartame affects many different neurological systems and worsens diabetes symptoms, other sources claim that artificial sweeteners like aspartame have no adverse effects in diabetics. Detractors of aspartame claim long-term use of the sweetener can cause blood sugar levels to fluctuate wildly, but the American Diabetes Association says aspartame is safe for diabetics.
The belief that there is a harmful relationship between aspartame and diabetes is based on some facts about how aspartame works in the body. Once consumed, the sweetener breaks down into its chemical components: phenylalanine, aspartic acid, and methanol. High levels of methanol and phenylalanine in the body can cause health problems, especially with the nerves. Those who claim the link between aspartame and diabetes are to blame damaging symptoms such as blindness and nerve damage to these chemicals.
Aspartame’s chemical byproducts in the body are indeed toxic at high levels, but doctors and researchers who advocate for the safety of artificial sweeteners say these chemicals are not present at harmful levels in aspartame. According to these experts, other natural foods such as tomato juice may contain higher levels of methanol than the aspartame in a can of diet soda. Clinical studies have also shown that the body breaks down aspartame in the same way it breaks down other foods, and the artificial sweetener does not leave excess chemicals in the blood.
Those who claim there is no adverse relationship between aspartame and diabetes say that sugar substitutes like aspartame and saccharin can be healthy parts of a sugar-free diet. Many diabetes diets require that natural sugars be avoided; Artificial sweeteners can help diabetics avoid these sugars while still enjoying a wide variety of products. In fact, experts from the American Diabetes Association say that artificial sweeteners may be beneficial for diabetes patients for these reasons.
The relationship between aspartame and diabetes has also been extensively studied by medical researchers. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted more than 100 tests of aspartame before declaring the sweetener safe for human consumption in 1981, and hundreds more tests have been conducted since then. According to the FDA, there is no connection between aspartame and diabetes symptoms.
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