Now diet drinks are out! Sweeteners may affect your gut biome and raise blood sugar levels

PUTNEY, U.K. - Oct. 12, 2023 - PRLog -- Full fat' fizzy drinks such as colas, lemonades and energy drinks have long been known to raise the risk of obesity, heart disease and diabetes. People who have one can or more a day have a 26% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

However, a leading medical expert says there is now strong evidence that many types of artificial sweeteners used in diet drinks (and some foods) affect our blood sugar levels, worsen insulin resistance and alter our gut flora.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan (MBChB), Clinical Lead at London Medical Laboratory, says: 'The fact that many so-called "diet" drinks could be exacerbating symptoms for known diabetics, as well as severely affecting those who remain undiagnosed, is bad news.

Researchers at John Hopkins University recently tested random groups of healthy, non-diabetic, people and found that participants taking saccharin and sucralose had noticeable spikes in their blood sugar levels. In fact, their blood metabolite changes were so marked they were similar to those in people with diabetes or vascular diseases. The researchers concluded changes to our gut microbiome (the collection of organisms that live in our digestive tract) can cause spikes in blood glucose, impairing the body's ability to effectively regulate glucose levels.

And it's not just saccharin and sucralose-based sweeteners that are under investigation. Two recent trials have shown that consumption of another popular sweetener, aspartame, may affect our body's concentrations of glucose, insulin, and a hormone that reduces appetite and releases insulin (called "glucagon-like peptide 1"). Shock discoveries like these latest artificial sweetener findings emphasise why Britain's 4.3 million diabetics need regular, accurate blood testing.

'Alarming discoveries like these latest artificial sweetener findings emphasise why Britain's 4.3 million diabetics need regular, accurate blood testing. London Medical Laboratory's fingerprick HbA1c "Diabetes - Diagnosis and Monitoring" test (https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/diabetes-...) is considered the gold standard in regular testing. It is used to measure the average level of blood glucose over the past two to three months and both accurately monitor and diagnose diabetes. It can be taken at home through the post, or at one of the many drop-in clinics that offer these tests across London and nationwide in over 95 selected pharmacies and health stores. For full details, see: https://www.londonmedicallaboratory.com/product/diabetes-check