Lactose free milk

[kellandh]

I don't understand why my blood sugar remains high if I drink my usual milky coffee whether I use lactose free or ordinary milk. Surely it should be lower, or even non existent if the milk is free of lactose?

 

[Josh DUK]

I don't understand why my blood sugar remains high if I drink my usual milky coffee whether I use lactose free or ordinary milk. Surely it should be lower, or even non existent if the milk is free of lactose?

Hello @kellandh ,

welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear that your blood sugars are still high and it must be very frustrating for you. In terms of lactose free milk, that version strips away the lactose that causes digestive issues. Unfortunately, it doesn't alter the carb content of the milk. Is it possible you can alter/reduce how much milk you put in your coffee?

 

[bulkbiker]

why my blood sugar remains high

So your bloods are high pre coffee? Why do you think they'll go down post coffee?
And how much milk is in your coffee?

 

[Drummer]

I don't understand why my blood sugar remains high if I drink my usual milky coffee whether I use lactose free or ordinary milk. Surely it should be lower, or even non existent if the milk is free of lactose?

The problem is the sugars - just because the lactose has been converted into other sugars, glucose and galactose, there has not been a reduction in the amount of carbohydrate.
I use really thick cream - for drinks I make a small amount of cream and water mixture each day so as to make it pourable.
A Bamix mixer is so useful in the kitchen for such small tasks.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I don't understand why my blood sugar remains high if I drink my usual milky coffee whether I use lactose free or ordinary milk. Surely it should be lower, or even non existent if the milk is free of lactose?

It's the carbohydrate you count so drinking lactose free or any milk coffee will raise your blood sugars. Perhaps look into just a dash of milk with your coffee instead 🙂

 

[kellandh]

Hello @kellandh ,

welcome to the forum. I am sorry to hear that your blood sugars are still high and it must be very frustrating for you. In terms of lactose free milk, that version strips away the lactose that causes digestive issues. Unfortunately, it doesn't alter the carb content of the milk. Is it possible you can alter/reduce how much milk you put in your coffee?

Thanks for the explanation. I've never measured the precise amount of milk in my coffee but I'd estimate it as about 15%. My coffee of choice is a flat white white but that's unheard of here (I live in France). At age 77 and as fit as the proverbial fiddle, acting and looking 15 years younger than my age I confess I will not reduce the milk in my coffee. My one and only vice!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Thanks for the explanation. I've never measured the precise amount of milk in my coffee but I'd estimate it as about 15%. My coffee of choice is a flat white white but that's unheard of here (I live in France).

If it helps you to understand carbs a bit better think of it this way......
Every 4gms of carbohydrate is equal to a spoonful of sugar.

 

[kellandh]

So your bloods are high pre coffee? Why do you think they'll go down post coffee?
And how much milk is in your coffee?

I don't think they'll go down. It never crossed my mind that they might. I'd guess about 15% milk

It's the carbohydrate you count so drinking lactose free or any milk coffee will raise your blood sugars. Perhaps look into just a dash of milk with your coffee instead 🙂

I understand now. I was always under the impression that lactose was a form of carbohydrate so taking this out would help. In fact as it made no difference (noted since I became Type 1 after 25 years of being Type 2) I reverted to normal half cream milk.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Type 1 after 25 years of being Type 2)

I suspect you are an insulin dependant type2 🙂

 

[kellandh]

The problem is the sugars - just because the lactose has been converted into other sugars, glucose and galactose, there has not been a reduction in the amount of carbohydrate.
I use really thick cream - for drinks I make a small amount of cream and water mixture each day so as to make it pourable.
A Bamix mixer is so useful in the kitchen for such small tasks.

This is interesting! So... if instead of milk I were to add cream to my coffee it might help reduce the carb content?

 

[trophywench]

Is the correct terminology an Americano? However in a cafe/PMU/wherever where the person behind the counter is making it in front of you un cafe moins fort SVP, avec un peu de lait frais, surely covers it?

 

[kellandh]

I suspect you are an insulin dependant type2 🙂

Last year I spent a week in hospital in Dijon where they told me that somehow I had become Type 1 and they switched me to insulin. You may be right but they didn't express it that way. Lost in translation perhaps!

 

[kellandh]

Is the correct terminology an Americano? However in a cafe/PMU/wherever where the person behind the counter is making it in front of you un cafe moins fort SVP, avec un peu de lait frais, surely covers it?

To be honest I doubt it. My other half drinks Americanos and it's not that. I have a VERY dim view of coffee in France. I have had far better everywhere else, including in Bangladesh! Tip - never ask for a cappuccino in France!!!

 

[rebrascora]

I understand now. I was always under the impression that lactose was a form of carbohydrate so taking this out would help. In fact as it made no difference (noted since I became Type 1 after 25 years of being Type 2) I reverted to normal half cream milk.

Lactose is a form of sugar so yes it is a carbohydrate but just because the Lactose has been removed or altered does not mean that the milk is now carbohydrate free. You need to read the nutritional information to see how much carbohydrate there is whichever milk you buy.... or indeed any other product/food you buy. It may be that they add other sugars to the Lactose free milk to make it taste better or the lactose gets broken down into other sugars during processing.

Added to that caffeine is a stimulant and that can cause your liver to release glucose and cause your BG levels to rise, particularly if you have more than one or like it quite strong.
Are you even sure that the coffee is raising your BG levels whether that be the carbs in the milk or the caffeine effect. If you drink the coffee at the same time of day like me in the morning, could it just be your liver releasing glucose to give you energy to start the day and your basal insulin dose not being enough at that time of day to cover it.

Which insulin(s) are you using? If you have separate long acting and meal time insulins then there is no reason why you can't have a milky coffee and just inject insulin for it.

 

[Drummer]

This is interesting! So... if instead of milk I were to add cream to my coffee it might help reduce the carb content?

Cream is low carb - and it doesn't seem to add an significant amount of carbs to have two large mugs of coffee a day with a modest amount of cream, and it doesn't require sweetener.

 

[Lucyr]

I don't understand why my blood sugar remains high if I drink my usual milky coffee whether I use lactose free or ordinary milk. Surely it should be lower, or even non existent if the milk is free of lactose?

Lactose free milk still contains lactose, it just has the lactase enzyme added to help lactose intolerant people digest it.

 

[Lucyr]

Lactose free milk still contains lactose, it just has the lactase enzyme added to help lactose intolerant people digest it.

Ingredient list attached FYI

 

[42istheanswer]

I don't understand why my blood sugar remains high if I drink my usual milky coffee whether I use lactose free or ordinary milk. Surely it should be lower, or even non existent if the milk is free of lactose?

Lactose free milk just has the lactose pre-digested via lactase enzyme into its consistuent sugars. It doesn't contain any less carbs and in fact the sugar in it is probably absorbed faster than standard milk as already broken down