A new study released by the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, researchers found that Splenda affects the body’s responses to sugar. Although it is calorie-free, it still does have an effect on the body.

Published in the Diabetes Care Journal, the study began with 17 people who were severely obese that didn’t regularly consume artificial sweeteners. The participants drank water before taking a glucose challenge test. This is a test that evaluates how well the body responds to sugar. Think back to high school science: because they only drank water, this is the control group. Then, the process was repeated, but the participants drank sucralose (Splenda) before undergoing another glucose challenge test.

After reviewing the secondary test, researches found that consuming the sucralose was associated with higher blood sugar peaks, and 20 percent higher insulin levels. More studies still need to be done before it can be determined that actual health effects of a 20 percent increase in insulin.

But, to break it down simply – the results can be viewed in two different ways. It could show that the participants bodies are able to produce insulin to accommodate the body’s production of glucose, or it could be a risk factor for diabetes because, over time, the body may become resistant to insulin if it is constantly being secreted.