Artificial sweeteners are synthetic chemicals that make things taste sweet without any extra calories.

They’re found everywhere, from diet soft drinks and desserts to microwave meals and cakes. You’ll even find them in non-food items, such as chewing gum and toothpaste.

Some of the most common artificial sweeteners include:

  • Aspartame
  • Saccharin
  • Acesulfame Potassium
  • Neotame
  • Sucralose

What bodily process causes blood sugar and insulin levels to rise?

When digested, carbohydrates are broken down into sugar and absorbed into the bloodstream. This increases blood sugar levels and causes the body to release the hormone insulin.

Insulin allows blood sugar to leave the blood and enter your cells, where it can be used for energy or stored as fat.

Small amounts of insulin are also released before any sugar enters the bloodstream. This is known as cephalic phase insulin release. It’s triggered by the sight, smell, and taste of food, as well as chewing and swallowing.

If blood sugar levels drop too low, the liver releases stored sugar to stabilize it. This happens when you fast for prolonged periods, like overnight.

Artificial sweeteners won’t raise your blood sugar levels in the short term. So, drinking a can of Diet Coke, for example, won’t cause a rise in blood sugar.

However, in a 2014 study, researchers fed mice artificial sweeteners for 11 weeks. This led to negative changes in gut bacteria that increased blood sugar levels.

Researchers implanted the bacteria from these mice into germ-free mice and found that their blood sugar levels also increased.

Interestingly, the scientists were able to reverse the increase in blood sugar levels by changing the gut bacteria back to its previous state.

It’s theoretically possible that artificial sweeteners can raise blood sugar levels by negatively affecting gut bacteria, but these results haven’t been tested or replicated in humans.

Only one observational study in humans — published in 2011 — has suggested a link between aspartame and changes in gut bacteria.

A small 2022 study found that ingesting the upper limit of the acceptable daily intake of saccharin promoted glucose intolerance and gut microbiome alterations in four of seven healthy subjects.

More research involving human participants is needed to better understand the potential long-term effects of ingesting artificial sweeteners.

What does the research say about artificial sweeteners and insulin levels?

Studies on artificial sweeteners and insulin levels have shown mixed results. The effects also vary between different types of artificial sweeteners.

Sucralose

Both animal and human studies have suggested a link between sucralose ingestion and raised insulin levels.

In one 2013 study, 17 people were given either sucralose or water and then administered a glucose tolerance test.

Those given sucralose had 20% higher blood insulin levels. They also cleared the insulin from their bodies more slowly.

Scientists believe sucralose causes insulin increase by triggering sweet taste receptors in the mouth — an effect known as cephalic phase insulin release.

For this reason, one 2009 study that injected sucralose into the stomach, bypassing the mouth, did not detect any significant rise in insulin levels.

Aspartame

Aspartame is perhaps the most well-known and most controversial artificial sweetener. However, studies have not linked aspartame with raised insulin levels.

Saccharin

Scientists have investigated whether stimulating the sweet receptors in the mouth with saccharin increases insulin levels. The results are mixed.

One 2008 study found that mouthwashing with a saccharin solution (without swallowing) raised insulin levels. However, other studies have not replicated these effects.

Acesulfame potassium

One 1987 study in rats looked at how injecting large amounts of acesulfame-K affected insulin levels. They found a massive increase of 114-210%.

However, the effect of acesulfame-K on insulin levels in humans is unknown.

Artificial sweeteners have been declared safe by regulatory bodies in the US and Europe. However, they also note that health claims and long-term safety concerns require more research.

There is no strong evidence that you should stop eating artificial sugars as part of a balanced diet. But if you have concerns, opt for another natural sweetener or consider cutting back on sweeteners altogether.