My waistline fluctuates between 30 and 34 inches, and I don't have any chronic diseases such as diabetes. According to this study, my waistline should be 60 inches by now and I should be a dying diabetic.
For years I've been consuming products with artificial sweeteners(protein powder, diet fruit juice, diet cocoa powder, crystal light, diet coke, coffee with Splenda, etc.) I even consumed these during contest prep and never had any problems getting lean.