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Sugar Confusion please help

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
D

Dalaney

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi again everyone

Sorry to be a pain but I have so many questions but I am getting there. Can anyone tell me if I am doing really wrong by still having one small sugar in my cup of tea . I have tried time and time again to drink it without but I hate it. I don't drink many cups a day maybe 2 or 3 . I am sure I read somewhere that sugar alternatives are just as bad as sugar is this correct ? Or should I change to a sweetener>

Thanks
 
The best way to figure this out is to use a meter. If you have a cup of tea with your food - test before and after and see where your blood sugars are.

Could you try reducing the sugar in your tea slowly. Say go from 1 tsp to 3/4 tsp then down to 1/2. That way you can give yourself a chance to get used to the taste.
 
Literally reduce by a few grains at a time, in a matter of days you will adjust and before you know it, if you put too much sugar in the tea will taste like disgusting syrup.

I gave up sugar in tea about 30 years ago and it really is easy if you do it very gradually.
 
Thanks guys I really will give it a go and try and reduce my sugar It just feels like I am giving up everything I love at the moment. I know that sounds like I am feeling sorry for myself and I guess I am a bit but its only been a week and I have changed so much of what I eat I was a big carb eater especially rice and I dont really like a lot of meat so I am struggling. Its not like I have a sweet tooth infact quite the opposite I dont like cakes and sweets just like a flat sugar in my tea.. I am sure I will feel more positive as I get the hang of it but its tough
 
Dalaney said:
Thanks guys I really will give it a go and try and reduce my sugar It just feels like I am giving up everything I love at the moment. I know that sounds like I am feeling sorry for myself and I guess I am a bit but its only been a week and I have changed so much of what I eat I was a big carb eater especially rice and I dont really like a lot of meat so I am struggling. Its not like I have a sweet tooth infact quite the opposite I dont like cakes and sweets just like a flat sugar in my tea.. I am sure I will feel more positive as I get the hang of it but its tough
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Hi Dalaney, just take each day as it comes and try and calm down a little. At the beginning of diagnosis it is a mind-field but things will become clearer - be kind to yourself. We have all been here - when I was diagnosed last August I didn't know where to start. I walked around in a daze and I put my life on hold - 7 months later I'm still finding my feet but things have become a little clearer. I know what I can't tolerate and what I can; my exercise regime has increased and I'm lighter; fitter and generally healthier. Life does carry on xx
 
Newtothis said:
Hi Dalaney, just take each day as it comes and try and calm down a little. At the beginning of diagnosis it is a mind-field but things will become clearer - be kind to yourself. We have all been here - when I was diagnosed last August I didn't know where to start. I walked around in a daze and I put my life on hold - 7 months later I'm still finding my feet but things have become a little clearer. I know what I can't tolerate and what I can; my exercise regime has increased and I'm lighter; fitter and generally healthier. Life does carry on xx
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Thank you Amanda x
 
A GP friend of mine says SPLENDA sweeteners are o. k.
They are more expensive but I think worth while.
I do know one of the larger supermarkets have a good offer on but I don't think we're allowed to name on this board, (are we moderator?)
 
pre diagnosis i was taking 3 heaped spoons in coffee, got down to just a pinch per cup, and like you cant quite give it up totally yet, but i think i will try, not much help i'm afraid, but your not alone 🙂
 
will2016 said:
pre diagnosis i was taking 3 heaped spoons in coffee, got down to just a pinch per cup, and like you cant quite give it up totally yet, but i think i will try, not much help i'm afraid, but your not alone 🙂
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Thats good to know Will. Before I found this forum I was feeling very alone and lost
 
Hi Delaney
I know just how you feel. I was just diagnosed in January and still finding it really hard at times. I Know if I just don't eat anything at all between meals I'll be alright but I was always a "grazer" and liked to eat little and often, and some days I keep going to the fridge just for a look, and closing it again (well I try) but what I do now is keep little bottles of diet lemonade in the fridge and when I'm tempted to eat something I just take a drink of the lemo instead. Just a wee tip you might like to try. The peeps on this forum are very helpful. take care, xx Isabel
 
Barb3234 said:
Literally reduce by a few grains at a time, in a matter of days you will adjust and before you know it, if you put too much sugar in the tea will taste like disgusting syrup.

I gave up sugar in tea about 30 years ago and it really is easy if you do it very gradually.
Click to expand...

I did exactly that with first sugar then milk I cannot stand any sugar or milk in my drinks now it tastes revolting to me just black or green that how i drink tea/coffee now
 
I persisted with half a tsp in tea for a few months after diagnosis (used to have two tsp in my 20s/30s), but when all the sugar in the house ran out I decided not to buy any more - don't miss it now. I do have a single sweetex in coffee though - for me it's a different drink unless it has some sweetness. I changed to skimmed milk years ago, and a couple of years ago I stopped putting salt in/on my food. I've always been surprised at how your tastes can totally change! 🙂
 
Northerner said:
I persisted with half a tsp in tea for a few months after diagnosis (used to have two tsp in my 20s/30s), but when all the sugar in the house ran out I decided not to buy any more - don't miss it now. I do have a single sweetex in coffee though - for me it's a different drink unless it has some sweetness. I changed to skimmed milk years ago, and a couple of years ago I stopped putting salt in/on my food. I've always been surprised at how your tastes can totally change! 🙂
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When my father was diagnosed in the 1980's my mother removed all sugar from tea/coffee pretty much overnight 😱

I remember we did try sweeteners for a while, but didn't like the taste of them so pretty much went sans-sugar in all drinks (and puddings). These days I don't have sugar in either coffee or tea - but I will admit when I'm at Costa's I'll probably order my coffee with a shot of vanilla or hazelnut.
 
belladonna said:
Hi Delaney
I know just how you feel. I was just diagnosed in January and still finding it really hard at times. I Know if I just don't eat anything at all between meals I'll be alright but I was always a "grazer" and liked to eat little and often, and some days I keep going to the fridge just for a look, and closing it again (well I try) but what I do now is keep little bottles of diet lemonade in the fridge and when I'm tempted to eat something I just take a drink of the lemo instead. Just a wee tip you might like to try. The peeps on this forum are very helpful. take care, xx Isabel
Click to expand...

Thanks Bella

Im a massive grazer as well a real nibbler This is so hard I love food so much
 
I see NP in saying where you do your shopping and therefore we can assume buy all your needs including meat, fish, dry goods, Burgen bread and granulated sweetener.

I personally happen to shop at Tesco's ....... 😉

I went instant cold turkey - I already had no sugar in coffee but tea I still had 1 tsp.

So then, they made you go into hospital on diagnosis and of course, I had the mega-thrists. Woman came with a tea trolly so I had a cup without sugar. Nasty, but desperate for the drink. Next morning - nasty tea without sugar with breakfast. By the cuppa that afternoon I was saying, this is a lot more thirst quenching than sweet tea EVER was. And I've not had sugar or sweetener in tea since!

Still have to buy it though - daughters both take 2, S-I-L takes 3 !!
 
Last edited:
jenni b said:
A GP friend of mine says SPLENDA sweeteners are o. k.
They are more expensive but I think worth while.
Click to expand...

Splenda is the nearest in taste I have found to sugar.
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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