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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Because you are new to this board, you probably do not realize that DH is a veterinarian.
2sweet02
Greetings Auntydoxzz,
I wouldn't be at all surprised if Twinkie was trying to tell you of your mother's seizure. I think we have a lot to learn from our animal friends ... and I don't just mean pets.
Twinkie certainly sounds like a very intelligent girl. Not only did she show her caring for her human counterparts, but also for other animals too. I wish I could have known her.
Zelda may not have taken too kindly to what Twinkie was trying to do. She would probably have seen it as some infringement on her authority. I bet the view of Twinkie one side of the chicken wire fence and a baby rabbit the other was 'something else'.
I love pets that show their own personality in such ways. My own little girls let me know that they've missed me ... even if I've only been out to a hospital visit. You'd think I'd been gone for ages.
I shall have pleasant dreams about wonderful pets tonight. I hope that you do too.
Take care, Auntydoxzz.
Lots of Love and Light.
Mick
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Just had to mention my sister's sweetie Zeke!!! He did have seizures which we found out about the time Merion found Zelda since she wanted doxies from Zeke. He had the most fantastic temperament of any dog. A real sweetie, although I will confess not the bravest doxie. BUT once we knew of the seizures, Merion said no pups for him. But he made a great steppapa to Zelda's pups. But he was so funny anyone of us coming into the house was seranaded big time by his howling about how excited he was to welcome us home after such a long time(mind you 15 minutes was long for him!!). BUT he also smiled. You could get him to do it on command by saying "Zeke Smile!!!" He did become a champion but it was funny, he was at his best in the ring the days everyone else was dragging due to heat, humidity, bad weather, etc. He also loved the cameras' and I do remember him strutting over to the local TV camera man, posing and smiling for him!!
Will say all of the doxies my sister and I have had(i admit only mom to one, but aunty to the rest) they all have or had great personalities.
Have to admit too, as long as things go smoothly the rest of this week I will spend Friday in Minnesota at a doxie specialty dog show!! I am really looking forward to that, even though I am forwarned about the weather. It is at a fairgrounds which tends to get really mucky and messy. But the shows are usually pretty laid back and they have a number of specialty shows on Friday and then general dog shows on Saturday and Sunday. Sister even broke down and we are going for all 3 days!!
Wow, Auntydoxzz,
You must have been waiting for me to send that last post. I don't think I've ever had such a quick response ... apart from IM (Instant Messaging).
I'm sorry to hear that Zeke suffered seizures, honey. It sounds like Merion made a conscious decision not to have pups from him. Do you know if the seizures had a genetic constituent, or is just that things like that seem to pass on to the offspring?
I can well imagine the serenading. It's exactly the opposite to my mother-in-law's dog. He's a Bassett, and he howls the neighbourhood down ... letting everyone in the nation know when they've gone out.
I love the idea of Zeke smiling on command. It's a bit like my own 'daugher', Pip. I ask her to speak, and she does ... but soon she starts barking when I can't understand what she's saying.
One of our Bassetts used to love the camera, just like Zeke did. Whenever I used to pick up my camera, Bert would be there ... posing right in front of me. I can just imagine Zeke going across to the TV camera man. I bet that was hilarious.
I don't doubt that all of your dogs have had beautiful personalities. To be frank, I believe that that has more to do with their human companions than genetics. Admittedly, genetics do play a part, but I believe with the correct upbringing they can become docile or aggressive, dependant on the owners wishes. I know that Jack Russell Terriers have a bit of a reputation for being 'snappy'. In fact, I've known two people, a close friend when I was growing up, and a woman I used to work alongside, that were both bitten on the face by their Jack Russells. That can't be any more different to my little beauties. The older one, Pip, is so loving you wouldn't believe it. She'll always go and fetch one of her toys to welcome visitors to the house. The youngest, Prissy, was actually savaged by a dog that used to belong to her former owners. (She had to have her face stitched back on.) Initially, she used to snap at anyone and anything ... understandable if you consider her initial upbringing. She's now loving, just like her big 'sisters'. Both of our Jack Russells love to have their tummy tickled/rubbed, and readily turn over for it to be done for them.
I'll keep my fingers crossed that you have good weather, and that it's not so mucky for you over the weekend. I hope you all have a great time. Enjoy yourself ... as if you'd do anything other. lol.
Take care, dear lady.
Lots of Love and Light.
Mick
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I am newly diagnosed (since end of July)..was scared to death when the A1C was found to be 13!! I immediately changed my eating and started exercising. When I visited the dr. a week later, my glucose reading in her office was 150. She couldn't believe her eyes amd retested with her meter.
I've made alot of progress but am testing all the time to see what triggers the increases. Am having no luck with "suger free" . Have milk still but maybe 4 oz in AM and PM. Mainly drink water and iced tea (is this bad?) Will not even think about the diet drinks! I had a couple of sips of flavored coffee at a clients this morning and sure enough it raised my glucose 35 pts.
Exercise has really helped me -- aquatics and low impact aerobics for 30 minutes. Have lost 10 lbs and want to lose 20 more to get down to 160. This is still considered high for my height (5 ft. 4) but I have large boobs and look terrific at this weight. I hope losing the other 20 lbs will help me control the diabetes better. Am on Metformin and also started a pill for cholesteral. Doc wanted to start insulin but when I reduced it so drastically after the 1st week, she agreed to hold off on that. I see her again on 8/28.
After aquatics, my blood sugar goes down to 90, 96, 107 but in the AM the fasting is between 120 and 140. I'm terrified of having to go on insulin.
I just found out about this site and will find it helpful!!
Thanks for any comments you all have.
Aleta
2 points on people being bitten in the face. A lot of people especially kids don't understand that staring into a dogs eyes can be taken as threatening and I sometimes suspect that might trigger an unexpected response.
a sorta "funny" aside here. For some unknown reason my brother in law Jeff( who admittedly does have a sorta long sharp nose) has managed to get at least nipped(not all even broke skin) on the nose by EVERY single Doxie we had!! I am guessing he got right in their faces and they finally just said "enough!!" but even Twinkie did that!! I know she did not break the skin.
Knowing her, she probably gummed him, then tried to push his nose out of her mouth with her tongue! As she got older and lost most of her eyesight, she could see somethings and scared a couple vet techs. They would sort of wave their hands in front before petting her, and she would immediately reach out with her mouth for the TREAT she KNEW that they had. If they didnt yank back fast enough, she would have their hand in her mouth(by that time there were no teeth left in the front)and as soon as she realized it was fingers she would push the hand away with her tongue!! I told them she was a show dog, and thought they were handing her a treat! BUT thankfully she took treats like a little lady, very gently and if someone's finger, etc was in the way, she would push it away with her tongue.
I will say as she aged, she lost most of her sight, and her hearing(hard to believe the last year or so I really missed her barking!!) But we could snuggle and if I made sounds to her, she would talk back to me and that kept up till the end. She also never lost her sense of smell so her favorite game involved finding treats hidden in her blankie(piece of fleece). On occassion if she was too excited she would toss it into the air, and of course the treats would rain down over her!!
Hi Aleta and welcome to the board.
Greetings Auntydoxzz,
I agree with you entirely that staring into a dogs eyes can be seen as a threat ... as can simply standing in front of them, if you're around the same height, or not much taller. That's one of the reasons that more younger people (children) are savaged than adults. Psychologically, the animal sees it as an afront to their status within the pack. They're not going to let that go!
Both of the people that I mentioned being bit on the face were not children. One, my friend from many years ago was a teenager. The other, an ex-work mate was a woman in her 50s. Having said that, I accept fully what you say. I wasn't present on either of the incidents, so I can't say for sure just what happened.
Maybe there was something about Jeff that the dogs just didn't like. I believe they can sense things about people that other people may not be able to sense. I mean, my nose is as long as my arm, and I've never had it bitten. It's been broken twice, but that's been due to Martial Arts and Boxing. See, it gets in the way. lol.
I know exactly what you mean about young people (children) approaching pets to pet them. I've witnessed it many times. I think a lot of the time it's down to inexperience of one another as much as anything else. The young person being unsure of exactly how to approach the animal, and the animal, in turn, being unsure of how to react to this young person. If the young person does have a treat for the animal, and has not been taught how to offer it in a confident, masterly manner, the animal may interpret this as being that 'pack member' has got something that is rightfully mine ... after all, I'm higher in the hierarchy.
I can see, from your explanations of Twinkie, just how intelligent she was. To me, it seems that she went for the offering, and then realised that there was none there, so she wished to show that she meant no harm. A truly lovable, kind, caring dog. (Give her to me.
I don't find it at all hard to believe that you miss Twinkies barking. She sounds absolutely adorable.
It may be that Twinkie was losing her sight and her hearing but I believe she still found comfort in being close to you. After all, she'd have been able to smell that it was you ... and I don't mean that in any disrespectful way. She'd also have been to feel the vibrations from your speaking to her. I think her talking back to you was simply to let you know that she knew it was you, and that she felt comfortable/reassured that you were there.
I've got this wonderful picture of Twinkie tossing her blankie to find her treats. What a wonderful sight. I truly do hope that you meet her again ... and I've seen little to disprove that 'theory'.
Be well, dear lady.
Lots of Love and Light.
Mick
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Hi Aleta,
My name is Mary Frances and I am one of the community leaders for this board. I am a type 2 diabetic and a registered nurse. Any advise I may give is not a substitute for seeking medical advise from a health care practitioner of your choice.
I am certain that you feel better even though your blood sugar is still too high. The first suggestion that I have for you is to ask for a referral to a dietitian for meal planning help. You will be amazed at how much this will help you.
I am not surprised that the flavored coffee raised your blood sugar because they usually have sugar in them. Also milk, which you need has 12-15 grams of carbs in an 8 ounce glass. Carbs are what raises your blood sugar.
Do not be afraid to go on insulin if you need to. It really isn't that hard and I know from experience because I have been on insulin the past three years. It is more important to protect your eye, kidneys, feet and heart from the complications of diabetes. That being said I hope that you can get your blood sugar under control with your weight loss.
I don't want to overwhelm you with information. Please pull up a chair and join our conversation. We are here to help you understand what is going on. Ask your questions and post your comments.
One other caution with drinking coffee or even some teas,etc. If you use creamer in it(not milk but powdered or liquid creamer, if you read the ingredients there is also a bunch of sugar or sweetner in it. I think a lot of people don't realize how much actual sugar or sweetners they put in that. But then, if you start reading labels it will amaze you how MANY things have added sugars!!
It is also true with the flavored coffee's there is a really large range in the amount of carbs in those. Some are not too high in carbs, others are really high. The problem with taking some offered by someone else is you don't really know which kind it is.
A number of people though have indicated that even drinking black coffee has raised their glucose levels. I guess it really boils down to the old saying YMMV..(Your mileage(body reaction) may vary)! Mary Frances and her hubby are on opposite sides of the starchy issue. One has problems with potatoes and one with rice!! It does take time to find how you react. It is also true that your own body may also react differently due to other factors.
Hang in there and just test and pay attention to what gives you higher numbers.
auntydoxzz
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