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diet drinks

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

purgatory

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
is it ok to drink diet sodas like diet pepsi or the like? my nurse told me it was ok though water was better but I'm sure I read somewhere years ago that artificial sweeteners can affect your blood glucose
I haven't got a testing kit so I cant check for myself currently
thanks
 
purgatory said:
is it ok to drink diet sodas like diet pepsi or the like? my nurse told me it was ok though water was better but I'm sure I read somewhere years ago that artificial sweeteners can affect your blood glucose
I haven't got a testing kit so I cant check for myself currently
thanks
Click to expand...

I drink sugar free sodas without any issues at all purgatory. Try to take plenty of water though too.
 
Yes diet drinks are fine, personally I like Coke Zero Lilt Z or sparkling water. Obviously water is the gold star, but gets a bit samey after a while.
We do have to be careful with some sweeteners, these are the ones they use in sugar free sweets , ice creams etc formally called diabetic, which is no longer legal, they use polyols which if we eat a little to much of them give us a nasty case of the back door trots.
 
thanks that's reassuring, I used to drink a lot of full sugar soda (what got me in this mess to start with probably) so only just getting to grips with the taste of diet stuff but its still so much nicer than water, though I will continue to try and drink water

@Ljc I didn't realise it was no longer legal to label things diabetic as I went on the asda site immediately after being diagnosed to see if there was anything good I could have and it popped up with a diabetic ice cream! luckily I found this site and was forewarned about 'diabetic' foods
 
Oh Yes Frankes ice cream, somehow they get away with it.
Look out for sugar free labels and don't touch them.
 
what about no added sugar labels? just that I bought cordial they all seem to say that now
but really all sugar free labels? I've been obsessively looking at the nutritional info on everything now and if its low in sugar I tend to get it though after next week I am planning on going back to an almost slimming world diet
 
With anything that says no added sugar, it may contain natural sugars, imo a diluted glass no added sugar cordial should be fine.

It's better to check the carbohydrate content on the label , usually on the back rather than the sugar content, sugar is just another carbohydrate, it's already included in the carb content. carbohydrates are our problem , we turn the fast acting carbs into glucose (sugar) very quickly.

I don't know if you have alread read the followiing but just incase you haven't
Jennifer's advise
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

Maggie Davey's letter
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/maggie-daveys-letter-to-newly-diagnosed-type-2s.61307/

A book called , Type 2 diabetes the first year by Gretchen Becker , she has T2 herself and has written about her first year of dealing with her diabetes.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product...fm-21&linkId=0fe91e54d4071470ef950412cbbd7e95

I hope you find the above helpful. For future reference The above and more can be found in the pinned (top) section of the newbies say hi here forum , the thread is called, Useful links for people new to diabetes, just scroll down to the T2 section.

I hope you get your glasses soon,
 
thanks Lin I have just had a read through of the links, I knew I needed to be testing at home despite my nurse telling me only if I get put on another medication! I am definitely eating too many carbs which is going to be hard to change as it does form the bulk of my diet I suppose, I used to do slimming world and they allow you to have a lot of carbs and you still lose weight but I am going to have to review how it affects my BG
I plan on getting a meter next week when I get paid, its a big week next week as I also plan to stop smoking and get back to a healthier diet!

also I should have my glasses tomorrow thanks to amazon prime, yay! just hope I got the strength right and that I can finally read again!
 
Hi, purgatory. The key I find to cutting back on carbs is finding a replacement. That's how i've managed over the last 18 months. I've replaced potatoes with other lower carb root veg, such as celeriac or turnips. These can be made into chips or mash. Taste a bit different, obviously, but still nice. Cauliflower also makes good mash or even rice (using a food processor or buying it ready grated from the supermarket. I have replaced spaghetti with courgetti (spiralized cougette). Check out the recipe section on here for some great ideas. BTW, I drink diet pop & 'no added sugar' cordials with no affect on my blood sugar at all.
 
thanks Mark, the problem with me is that I don't like a lot of things like courgette for example, also have problems with cooking as with the depression I often lack motivation to cook and prepare meals, obviously I am going to have to make changes but I'm hoping perhaps just lowering the amount of carbs I have works else I am going to find it really difficult
 
purgatory said:
thanks Mark, the problem with me is that I don't like a lot of things like courgette for example, also have problems with cooking as with the depression I often lack motivation to cook and prepare meals, obviously I am going to have to make changes but I'm hoping perhaps just lowering the amount of carbs I have works else I am going to find it really difficult
Click to expand...
I personally found cooking a massive chore but somehow as I have been experimenting with lower carb recipes I have realised there is a degree of satisfaction in producing something that's good for me to eat. I still find getting started very difficult and will put it off but enjoy the pay-off of better health. It's the same for me with exercise: I rarely look forward to it and always feel better after.
 
I'm not really a fan of cooking. Like Radders, takes me a while to get motivated, and I'm a terrible paniker whilst cooking. But it always, somehow, seems to turn out ok.
 
I have grown to like the cauliflower rice and courgette spaghetti. I found some in Marks and Spencer the other day already done.
 
I suffered with terrible depression at times in my life as I am now. I think my best advise I to buy only lower carb foods so you don't get tempted to binge out on comfort carb snacks. you do like like nuts instead of crisps, a pack of ham on its own instead of a pasty, a wrap instead of a sandwich. You can get cheese as a snack I.e baby bells . And you can try to buffer a carb treat with a low carb meal. I hope this helps from Ally
 
purgatory said:
is it ok to drink diet sodas like diet pepsi or the like? my nurse told me it was ok though water was better but I'm sure I read somewhere years ago that artificial sweeteners can affect your blood glucose
I haven't got a testing kit so I cant check for myself currently
thanks
Click to expand...

Hi,

I would recommend you get one. I personally use the all in one accu-chek mobile( because I kept dropping the silly test strips all over the floor).

I was also told not to buy a glucose meter and test my blood, but just cut down on sugar, and we will see you in 3 months.
Not the best advice I've been given, as by testing I could see the problem, and could start work on addressing it.

Home testing is an amazing tool if used correctly to help you get things under control and understand how your body reacts to food and exercise. I have records dating back 2 years, and can see what made an impact for me, and what did not work, and could fine tune my workouts and food to help reverse my insulin resistance.

I would advice you cut out white flour products(bread, pasta, cakes, pastry, etc) and potatoes, rice and replace with wholemeal options. For bread you can try Lidl Low GI rolls or breed, or high protein rolls.

Eating a healthy balanced meal 3 times a day 4-5 hours apart with no snacking, so your body can rest and give it time to get ready for the next load of carbohydrate, does help. The amount of carbohydrate you eat depends on your activity levels and more importantly your blood glucose results 2 hours after eating, but always best to balance the amount of carbohydrate you eat throughout the day, and not in one go, and aiming for normal range 7.8 or lower 2 hours after eating.

If you are able, going for a walk 10-15 fast walk, after eating is a good way to keep glucose lower, and improve insulin sensitivity. Depending on your fitness level and ability, I would personally recommend HIIT cardio exercise, as it's been proven to help insulin resistance and is what I used(and still do) myself along with resistance training.

All the best!
 
purgatory said:
thanks Lin I have just had a read through of the links, I knew I needed to be testing at home despite my nurse telling me only if I get put on another medication! I am definitely eating too many carbs which is going to be hard to change as it does form the bulk of my diet I suppose, I used to do slimming world and they allow you to have a lot of carbs and you still lose weight but I am going to have to review how it affects my BG
I plan on getting a meter next week when I get paid, its a big week next week as I also plan to stop smoking and get back to a healthier diet!

also I should have my glasses tomorrow thanks to amazon prime, yay! just hope I got the strength right and that I can finally read again!
Click to expand...
How's your stopping smoking, in addition to changing diet, going?
 
@phonic2k I did get a monitor I was just waiting for it to arrive when I posted so I have been checking my BG and recording everything to see how things affect me and carbs definitely do! I am trying to cut back though the wholemeal bread I get is pretty good on my BG I'm afraid I cant get to Lidl as I don't leave the house often and so my shopping is delivered so I'm stuck with whatever Asda provides.
I'm afraid my fitness level is near zero, I have other health problems which make it had to exercise and truthfully I have never been a sporty person but I intend to start trying to become more active as much as I can, it doesn't help that my depression makes everything an uphill struggle, lacking the motivation to do basic things most days but I will try I need to set up my balance board for the wii and try to give that a go, but thanks for all your suggestions

@Copepod well my stopping smoking went really well the first day and then all the second day until the evening and I gave in so I am currently back smoking it is on my list of things to conquer but right now I don't think I'm in the right place, I'm doing a bit better with changing diet having several meals without carbs and I have bought some health food replacements for pasta which I have yet to try but hopefully they will be suitable

actually that's a question, I got some lentil pasta but it is quite high in carbs, is this ok? are lentils some of those lower GI foods or whatever that the carbs will enter my system more slowly? anyway I will have to give them a go as I bought them now and they aren't cheap!
 
purgatory said:
@phonic2k I did get a monitor I was just waiting for it to arrive when I posted so I have been checking my BG and recording everything to see how things affect me and carbs definitely do! I am trying to cut back though the wholemeal bread I get is pretty good on my BG I'm afraid I cant get to Lidl as I don't leave the house often and so my shopping is delivered so I'm stuck with whatever Asda provides.
I'm afraid my fitness level is near zero, I have other health problems which make it had to exercise and truthfully I have never been a sporty person but I intend to start trying to become more active as much as I can, it doesn't help that my depression makes everything an uphill struggle, lacking the motivation to do basic things most days but I will try I need to set up my balance board for the wii and try to give that a go, but thanks for all your suggestions

@Copepod well my stopping smoking went really well the first day and then all the second day until the evening and I gave in so I am currently back smoking it is on my list of things to conquer but right now I don't think I'm in the right place, I'm doing a bit better with changing diet having several meals without carbs and I have bought some health food replacements for pasta which I have yet to try but hopefully they will be suitable

actually that's a question, I got some lentil pasta but it is quite high in carbs, is this ok? are lentils some of those lower GI foods or whatever that the carbs will enter my system more slowly? anyway I will have to give them a go as I bought them now and they aren't cheap!
Click to expand...


Only you will know if it is ok with regards to food. It's best to cut down on carbs, and add more mixed veg. I would test and see how your body reacts to food, and record it so you know.

With regards to exercise, I used to be zero due to EB, hip, joint problems, and depression that started when my dad was terminally ill with cancer(He had melanoma skin caner that later spread), and ended up comfort eating. It was a bad time.

It does indeed take determination and sacrifice to make the change and not to give up. Set yourself reachable goals, and keep going, but don't over do it, build up slowly. What helped me was getting a smartwatch, I got a Apple Watch, that allowed me to track my fitness level and workouts, and remind me to stand and move.

Interestingly, I first started with a xbox fitness game, and believe it or not all my first months of exercise were all indoors in my living room, it worked just as well as going to the gym.
 
@purgatory - it sounds like one thing at a time is the way to go for you. Regarding exercise, particularly with depression, outdoor exercis is particularly valuable. Assuming you can walk, could you set yourself a target of going outdoors every day and walking for eg 10 minutes or to postbox or park (hypothetical, as I don't know your locality) initially, and gradually increase time out / distance on alternate days?
 
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