While diet soda may be a sugar-free alternative to regular soda, that does not necessarily make it healthier.
It is true that diet sodas do not contain sugars, and have little to no calories. Because of this, diet sodas are thought to be a better choice for people with or at risk for diabetes. However, this may not be the case.
A recent study posted in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition followed 66,118 women for 14 years, keeping track of the drinks they consumed.
At the end of the study, both sugar-sweetened beverages and artificially sweetened beverages were linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.
Recent studies have also shed light on strong associations between diet soda and factors that contribute to diabetes. These factors include weight gain and metabolic syndrome.
Alternative sweeteners and diabetes
With the rise in diet soda's popularity comes a rise in the use of alternative sweeteners. These sweeteners are tempting for people with diabetes, as they do not contain sugar.
While the artificial sweeteners used in diet sodas do not directly raise blood sugar, they may still promote health risks, including affecting the balance of healthy bacteria in the intestines which may indirectly affect insulin sensitivity and appetite hormones. The most common alternative sweeteners are:
Sucralose: Found in many diet drinks, sucralose can affect the amount of sugar in blood plasma. Sucralose also causes peaks in insulin levels, despite its lack of sugar. Aspartame: A chemical sweetener found in everything from diet soda to chewing gum. Aspartame can increase body mass index (BMI). A study found people who drink diet sodas have consistently higher BMI. Sorbitol: Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol commonly used in diet foods and drinks. It has been linked to severe diarrhea in several studies. Stevia: In its natural form, stevia leaf is a sugar alternative that is safe in controlled amounts.
How does this in anyway say that regular soda is better for diabetics? Just because it's bad for you doesn't mean that it is worse for your than regular soda. If I drank regular soda, I could actually get sick and die immediately. If I drink diet soda, it can promote an unhealthy lifestyle and possible complications later on. Huge difference, and you are still wrong.