What these labels REALLY mean, and how these drinks can fit into a blood-sugar-friendly eating pattern.

Diet and zero-sugar soda are low-calorie drinks that don’t directly affect blood sugar. The main difference between the two is the sweeteners used.

Diet soda is better for blood sugar than regular soda because it does not deliver a rapid sugar load. Replacing sugar-sweetened soda with diet or other low-calorie options can help reduce overall ...