Sucralose causes blood sugar spike in small study

A study that appeared in the April issue of Diabetes Care is the first to evaluate blood sugar levels in human subjects. Researchers evaluated the acute effects of sucralose ingestion on the metabolic response to an oral glucose load in obese subjects. Obese subjects who did not use non-nutritive sweeteners and were insulin sensitive underwent a 5 hour modified oral glucose tolerance test on two separate occasions preceded by consuming either sucralose or water 10 minutes before the glucose load in a randomized crossover design. Indices of β-cell function, insulin sensitivity (SI), and insulin clearance rates were estimated by using minimal models of glucose, insulin, and C-peptide kinetics. 

Compared with the control condition, sucralose ingestion caused 1) a greater incremental increase in peak plasma glucose concentrations, 2) 8% greater incremental increase in insulin area under the curve, 3) 7% greater peak insulin secretion rate, 4) 4% decrease in insulin clearance, and 5) 20% decrease in insulin sensitivity. 

These data demonstrate that sucralose affects the glycemic and insulin responses to an oral glucose load in obese people who do not normally consume non-nutritive sweeteners.

Steve: Media? Where are you? Why are not reporting on this? The beloved sucralose, the active ingredient in Splenda, affects blood sugar adversely? For many dietitians, this is their "go to" sugar replacement for clients with blood sugar imbalances. I guess the word needs to get out that they should be looking for something else to recommend now.