[damla]

It is considered as a safe supplement. However, I have an awkward experience with artificially sweetened gum during my oral glucose tolerance test. I had pregnancy diabetes during maternity and my father had Type-II diabetes, so I did this as a check-up following child-birth. Before this test I fasted overnight, than went to the lab and drank a very sugary liquid. My blood sugar measured for at the beginning and hourly for 3 hours. I wasn't allowed to eat anything, or drink too much water. After the third measurement, I got very thirsty, also was feeling nauseated and asked if I am allowed to chew a gum to help moisten my mouth, and they said no problem. Gum not only helped moistened my mouth also helped me feel much better. I taught that was help of menthol. Than I got my results and there was a rapid increase in my blood sugar at the fourth measurement. Lab did not worry about the results because all my measurements was in acceptable limits. But how that measurement had risen became a mystery for me. I'm not sure which sweeteners that gum included, but it was a well-known gum brand with a clear non-sugar label.

In any means, I myself try to stay away from sugary drinks, and any kind of sweeteners as much as possible. If it's a special occasion, or a meal that I really like with a certain sugary drink as a side, I drink. But I don't replace with an artificially sweetened version. You will get used to live without them, and will not crave after a while.