Effect of "sugar free" on blood sugar
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| Mon, 07-30-2007 - 1:21pm |
I have read that one of the problems with diet soda (for instance) is that the body doesn't know how to differentiate between real sugar and sugar substitutes. What I read indicated that while diet soda -- carbonated, or non-carbonated like Crystal Light -- may be calorie free with zero carbs, it can still affect blood sugar levels. On another board I visit, a woman (who is diabetic) said that she noticed this was the case with her. Crystal Light caused her blood sugar levels to rise and she had confirmed this with her gluco-meter. I'm just curious if anyone else has noticed this.
I'm not diabetic and don't have a blood sugar monitor so I can't track this myself. But diabetes runs in my family and I have several risk factors, so I've been making an effort to eat better and exercise regularly and lose weight, and one of my primary goals has been trying to keep my blood sugar levels as steady as possible. (So, for instance, I've gotten familiar with the Glycemic Index and I tend to eat low-GI foods like fruit, veggies, beans, and low-GI grains.) I do drink Crystal Light at home, and I also have a can of Diet Dr. Pepper most mornings when I get to work. Obviously, since keeping my blood sugar stable is a goal, I wouldn't want to continue drinking Crystal Light (or the Diet DP) if it can in fact cause my blood sugar to go up.
(Part of the reason I'm curious about what others have noticed is because my mother has a friend, with Type I Diabetes, who REGULARLY drinks Crystal Light. Like...constantly. She's gotten my mother to do it as well.)


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..................OH, NIFTYBERGIN, ..I TOTALLY FORGOT TO MENSHUN IF YOU HAVE THE FAMILY INDICATORS FOR DIABETES, GET YOURSELF A GLUCOSE METER!! I DID NOT HAVE ONE WHEN I DISCOVERED THAT I HAD THIS HELLISH DESEASE WHEN MY SON-IN-LAW TESTED ME WITH HIS MOTHER'S UNIT. I HAD NO INSURANCE AT THE TIME, AND THEREFORE I LAPSED ON REGULAR DOCTOR VISITS. I WIEGHED IN AT 162 LBS. WHEN I DID GO TO A DOCTOR, I GOT THE OFFICIAL BAD NEWS. FROM HC1, AND OTHER TESTING, WE FIGGURED OUT THAT I HAD THE DESEASE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. .............IT IS ONLY A "PRICK ON THE PINKIE" ONCE IN AWHILE, AND IT COULD SAVE SOME YEARS OF YOUR LIFE........;-]
I can't say that I've ever noticed an effect on my blood sugar levels, but then again, I'm not a big soda (pop for us Brits) drinker. I may have to start drinking it, and then testing my blood sugar levels. I do like to know things about my diabetes, and how it can be affected.
If you do continue to drink sugar free/diet drinks, do please bear in mind that artificial sweeteners do tend to have a laxative effect. That's exactly the same with 'diabetic' foods, too.
I hope you don't go on to develop diabetes, but even if you do, it'snot the end of the world. It can usually be managed quite well.
Best of luck to you.
Mick
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Hi Nifty,
I have been a type II diabetic for 27 years. I am now on insulin along with some other oral med to keep my blood sugar under control.
To answer your questions about the effect of sugar free drinks, typically, it should not effect your blood sugars, but NOT ALL PEOPLE are the same. What may make yours go up and mine go up is different. Like for example, I can not eat beans, (lima, navy, pinto, etc) because I know my blood sugars go way up. I can drink diet cokes and crystal light with no effects. Also, I can't eat white bread, because my blood sugars go WAY up. I have to eat 100% whole grain as pure as I can get. Because even bread now on the shelves that say they are whole grain have so many darn additives that just are not good for you. I know, because my sugars are way high. Go to a health food store and get ezekial 4:9 bread. It is from sprouted grains and is much better for you and it has very little effect on my blood sugars. Also, I would recommend a book that is called Sugar Busters. My diabetic educator nurse told me to get it and it really helps a lot.
If you do have family members that have diabeties, it is good now to start a good food program with exercise like you are doing to keep diabeties at it distance. Meaning you may or may not get it, but may get it much later in life. I have had six sibblings and four of us are diabetic and things even effect each of us differently.
Every year around the fall, so many places give away meters and they come with test strips. Try testing your blood sugar after certain foods, or really your fasting blood sugars about once or twice a month. If they are 70-120 you are ok. If below the 70 you might develope hypoglycemia, (low-blood sugar). I did for several years before I became diabetic. If they are over the 120 you should talk to a doctor, Also, I am not a doctor or even a health care professional. I am a diabetic. This is just from my own experiences.
Good Luck,
Hi Mick,
Welcome to the board. We don't often have folks from England visit us. Canada and Australian are more usual.
It is the sugar alcohols which cause diarrhea and also cataracts. I try not to eat much manitol which is one of the common sugar alcohols. Most commonly for me is to use Splenda and it doesn't have these problems. But basically I try to not use much of any of the artificial sweeteners. I Hhaven't't been to England for about 4 years. When I was last there it was hard to find Splenda. Is that still the case?
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