What’s the difference between all the artificial sweeteners in the grocery store? Is one better than the other? Do they really have zero sugar in them? Many people with diabetes wonder if their diet plans can include artificial sweeteners. The good news is that in a healthy, balanced diet there is room for foods that are made with artificial sweeteners, although it’s best to use these sweeteners in moderation so you can still get all the nutrients you need from other foods.

Artificial sweeteners are also known as non-nutritive sweeteners or sugar substitutes. Basically this means that they are not a significant source of nutrition or vitamins in your diet. Artificial sweeteners are used instead of sugar to lower or eliminate the amount of carbohydrates – and therefore calories – in food and drinks. For people with diabetes this opens up the door for a wider selection of items that can fit into a healthy meal plan.

Popular Artificial Sweeteners

Splenda, also known as sucralose, is a newcomer among artificial sweeteners. Its producers claim that it’s “made from sugar so it tastes like sugar,” meaning its sugar that’s been modified to be carbohydrate-free. It’s a lot sweeter than regular table sugar, though. Sucralose has undergone many scientific studies and been deemed safe for use in lots of different food items. You can find sucralose in snack foods, baked goods, ice cream, and even in pharmaceuticals.

Aspartame is the artificial sweetener found in the blue packet. It’s sold under the brand names Nutrasweet or Equal. Like Splenda, it is used in many food items, especially beverages and snack foods. Aspartame is very low in calories and has been approved by regulatory agencies for widespread use as an artificial sweetener.

Sweet’n Low, or saccharin, is the oldest artificial sweetener on the market. It is sold in pink packets. It is most commonly found among condiments in restaurants and coffee shops. The use of saccharin has been controversial. However, claims about its harmful health effects have been disputed and it is not considered to be a carcinogen (a cancer-causing substance).

Neotame is one of the newest artificial sweeteners available. It is similar in structure to aspartame and also made by the company Nutrasweet. It is much sweeter than table sugar and is used by food manufacturers to sweeten and enhance various food items. It is also carbohydrate-free.

Sweeteners: A Quick Comparison

Aspartame

• Caloric Value – 4 kcal
• Date Approved – 1981
• Sweeter Than Sugar – 180x
• Brand Name(s) – NutraSweet, Equal, others

Neotame

• Caloric Value – 0 kcal
• Date Approved –  2002
• Sweeter Than Sugar – 7,000x
• Brand Name(s) –  n/a

Saccharin

• Caloric Value – 0 kcal
• Date Approved – Years prior to 1958
• Sweeter Than Sugar – 300x
• Brand Name(s) – Sweet’n Low, Sweet Twin, Sugar Twin, others

Sucralose

• Caloric Value – 0 kcal
• Date Approved – 1998
• Sweeter Than Sugar – 600x
• Brand Name(s) – Splenda

Source: Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, IFT, 2006

The Bottom Line

Artificial sweeteners are used to sweeten foods that normally contain table sugar (sucrose) without adding carbohydrates or calories. The primary difference among them is taste, degree of sweetness, and chemical structure. People with diabetes can expand their meal plans with foods made from artificial sweeteners without having to worry about excess carbohydrate intake. The key is to choose the sweetener that is most preferable to your taste buds and to keep your meal plan healthy and varied.

Sejal Dave, RD

Alumni: University of Florida – Sejal is a registered dietitian, a certified diabetes educator and she holds a masters degree in nutrition and health. Sejal was the project coordinator for the Veteran’s Administrations (VA) national weight loss program and previously worked for the VA hospital in Tampa, FL as a Spinal Cord Injury dietitian.

Sejal has had numerous clinical and community education experiences, including pediatric and intensive care nutrition support. She has also had the opportunity to teach nutrition courses at the community college level to students interested in pursuing health professions. One of her favorite areas of education is diabetes management.