Diet drinks and artificial sweeteners that many use to cut their sugar consumption could actually put them at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, research suggests. Scientists found just two weeks of high intake of low-calorie sweeteners was enough to significantly alter the make-up of bacteria in the gut. This changes the way the body absorbs and regulates blood sugar, the researchers said, which over time increases the risk of developing diabetes. The findings are particularly concerning because many people are at risk of diabetes – such as those who are obese or already have high blood sugar – use diet drinks and sweeteners. The researchers, led by Professor Richard Young of Adelaide Medical School in Australia, tracked 29 young healthy people for two weeks. Half were given capsules of sweeteners containing sucralose and acesulfame-K, the equivalent of about four and half cans of diet drink a day. The other half was given placebo capsules containing no sweeteners. The researchers analysed the bacteria in the volunteers’ guts and found a significant alteration in those who had consumed the sweeteners, along with lower release of the hormone GLP-1, which helps to control blood glucose levels. Published in Daily Times, October 7th 2018.