why sugar is forbidden?

[anmi]

Hy again.

I am a little confused regarding this problem.
Don't understand me wrong... I mean I understand that I am not allowed to eat sweets or sugar than I ate before but still I want to know why it is totally forbidden to eat any sweets or things that contain sugar?

My point is that, for example at lunch I have to eat 60hc and I want to eat 30 from food (with slow processing, like bread or potatoes or rise etc.) and 30 from something sweet ... 100g of chocolate contains 60 HC so I could eat 50g, no?... Is it because the sugar in the blood will raise too quickly... or is another cause?

I am not a greedy person and I am not thinking all the time about eating chocolate or cakes (actually, even before discovering diabetes I was not a very sweets eater) but I want to know if it is so wrong to do that. Indeed, there are times when I do want to eat a cake or drink a glass of coke or icecream or whatevere else... but I do not do it.

So, why is the sugar totlly forbidden?

[camjen1]

Sugar is forbidden? News to me! :laugh:

Sugar and carbs will never be banned from my household.

I have to say that if you want to eat it you will have to use more insulin. I don't stick to guidelines because I'm fortunate to have a fast acting insulin that will allow me to eat what I may in moderation of course.

[sofaraway]

for me sugar isn't forbidden, moderation is the key. i still like to have some chocolate- thats my major weakness.

you're right sugary things will raise your blood sugar more quickly.

Are you on a basal bolus regime? can you adjust your insulin to the carbs you are eating? from your post doesn't sound like you are as you have to eat a specific amount at meals.

if you could match your insulin to what you eat then you would have more flexibility and be able to incorporate some sweet treats into your diet.

[duck]

You have a disease that directly affects carbohydrate metabolism...therefore it can be argued that any carbohydrates you consume are not "helping". There are entire treatment modalities available today that are based on elminating as much carbohydrate as possible from the diet, and some are actually modestly successful.

Of course, for a normal person who does not have a disease that affects carb metabolism, eating "sugar" is no big deal assuming they are not exceeding their energy needs with other foods as well. And if you take that thinking one step further, a diabetic who is on insulin and who knows how to carb-count should be able to eat any carb ("sugar" or otherwise) with some assurance that it is "safe".

The problem with "candy" as opposed to potatoes or corn, etc., is that there is no nutritional value in it. Empty calories. No vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein or other nutrients of any value. So for a diabetic, a person with a metabolic issue with carbohydrates, when they consume candies and "sugar", they are suffering a double-whammy of sorts: a blood sugar rise for no return. Except maybe making your mouth feel good (which I would say is okay occasionally).

[anmi]

Are you on a basal bolus regime? can you adjust your insulin to the carbs you are eating? from your post doesn't sound like you are as you have to eat a specific amount at meals.


Yes, I am a basal bolus and I think I learned how to moderate and adjust insuline.

I was discovered 2 month ago so probably, the doctor told me that is totally forbidden in order not to exaggerate with the sweets and maybe because he thought that I am not able to deal with them - food and insuline. I remember we were talking (me and the doctor) about coke (this is something that I really used to drink) and she told me that I am not allowed more than 100ml per day ... so :argh:

Anyway, since I got out of hospital my values where between 80 and 150 ... some hipos and I reduced the insuline.

I take 4 shots, 3 for meals and 1 for the night. When I got out of hospital I was on 16/12/10/16 - now 5/5/5/10 plus or minus 2 units.

So it is ok to eat from time to time something sweet? This is a very good news :)

[anmi]

In my previous message I forgot to add that the doctor was talking about 100 ml of light coke per day ... not the good one.

[spike]

In my previous message I forgot to add that the doctor was talking about 100 ml of light coke per day ... not the good one.

Coke Zero is pretty good for a diet soda. Ever try it?

[June91]

Is Coke Zero actually Coke Light by another name? If not, we don't have it in this part of the world.

[corwin]

So it is ok to eat from time to time something sweet? This is a very good news :)

The key is to figure out how things effect you personally. You are very newly diagnosed so your doctor is probably trying to be careful, but as you gain more experience you will start to experiment and see how different things effect your bg, then you will know how to bolus for what you eat and you'll be able to eat many things that are now considered "forbidden". Chocolate has fat in it, so the carbs won't cause your bg to be spike so high. If you'll exchange 50 grams of meal carbs with 50 grams of chocolate for dessert I doubt you'll see a big difference in your bg level. However drinking regular coke on an empty stomech will cause your bg to raise very high very quickly, this isn't advisable. Just give it time and do your research, you'll learn how to deal with this condition much better as you gain experience.

[spike]

Is Coke Zero actually Coke Light by another name? If not, we don't have it in this part of the world.

Not that I'm aware of. they make more than one diet coke.
check this link - http://www.coca-cola.com/
I can't link to the 'brand list' on their site because it comes up in a window with no URL.

[rzrbks]

I take 4 shots, 3 for meals and 1 for the night. When I got out of hospital I was on 16/12/10/16 - now 5/5/5/10 plus or minus 2 units.


They should teach you to start counting carbs. When the Dr. truts you to count carbs, then anything you want will be allowable.

You'll just have to learn how foods effect your B/G and inject the correct amount of insulin to cover what you eat or drink.

I even allow myself Raspberry tea once in a while.

[gettingby]

When I was diagnosed back in 1984, I was told that sweets would always be a no-no. It wasn't until a few years ago when I started on MDI (Humalog/Lantus) that my CDE actually told me it was ok. I went from the age of 13 until my late 20's thinking I would never be allowed sweets unless I was hypo. I love that CDE for showing me the light. He actually laughed when he asked if I gave myself a treat for good results/birthday, etc. I told him "No, I was told those were never to be again". He got a good laugh about that and then set me straight on doing it within moderation.:)

[am1977]

I've been to Europe and I think Coke Light is supposed to be the equivelent of diet Coke... though I think it tastes a little different :hmmmm:

[Brenda A]

I eat sweets with sugar. I have to count the carbs and everything in them and fit them in. For example if I were to eat a choc cupcake with the white squiggle of frosting acrosss the top, I would have to consider that it is a serving of carb, a fat, and a fruit, or 2 carbs and a fat. I use the old fashion exchange system as it is easy for me to eat knowing the values of things. At any rate I would have to work those 2 carbs into my meal, and not have but one other carb with my meal. I would have my meat, maybe double my green veggie, and no bread, watch the fat in that meal because I would be having that cup cake. I don't have any problem with the sweets. I simply do portion control and adjust my other meal content so the carbs don't over power they fit in. I love the old exchange system, it is easy and it goes anywhere even eating out you are in control, because you know the value of what you are puting in your mouth. Balance and portion control is the key to control of sugars. I eat anything I want within reason, as long as it is 90 to 99 carbs a day, usually 30 a meal. If I eat a candy product I eat it with a protein to match the carbs in it, and only a small amount to keep my carbs in range. It is really about reading labels and watching carbs. My endo says the sugar is better for you than the subs sometimes.

[sofaraway]

In England, there is Diet Coke and just recently Coke Zero has been introduced. which is apparently marketed at men.

[anmi]

Hello everybody.

In my country, Romania, there is no Coke Zero, only light... it is written that has 0 sugar but also specifies that is done with browning (I am not sure if this is the word, it is that burned sugar from where the coke's color comes)... so it does contain sugar even if in a very, very small quantity.

Anyway, my point was when I posted that reply that if I am allowed to drink this, which has almost zero sugar, only 100 ml/day... how could I ever eat something that really contains sugar??? :hmmmm:

After I got out of the hospital and started to learn things about diabetes and carbos and what can I eat or not, what do I have to measure or not and so on... I started to ask myself why could I not replace some food with a piece of chocolate? I tested this once or twice and everything was ok... so I was just wondering... why is sugar so forbidden?

But I think I got now the point and the doctor was, for sure, only cautious.

I won't exaggerate with sweets, this is for sure.

[June91]

I really have no time for the nonsense doctors pile on us. I mean, 100ml of Coke Light, even for a newly diagnosed, pleaaaaase?

Crack open one of those new lovely white or black Coke Light cans we got recently (I live next door to you, in Serbia) sit back and enjoy the entire 330ml, it won't hurt.:cheers:

[anmi]

I really have no time for the nonsense doctors pile on us. I mean, 100ml of Coke Light, even for a newly diagnosed, pleaaaaase?

Crack open one of those new lovely white or black Coke Light cans we got recently (I live next door to you, in Serbia) sit back and enjoy the entire 330ml, it won't hurt.:cheers:


:)

Let's drink!

:cheers:

[sandyhandz]

Highly concentrated foods (candybars, cakes...) make your sugar spike high, then drop quickly also. If you're a new diabetic, that is probably why they recommended you avoid these foods altogether - the ultimate goal is usually to keep your sugars as steady as possible. In actuality, like most people have said, you can actually incorporate these into your diet as long as it's accounted for and done in moderation.

I am under the firm belief that not all doctors are good. They don't live with the illnesses that they treat. Most of them just dictate general guidelines on how to treat certain illnesses. But with diabetes and many other diseases, there are variations you can take when you have to live day by day with this.

It's best to be as well educated not only about your disease, but also about how your body in particular reacts to different foods. I believe we are the best doctors of our own bodies.

[anmi]

Highly concentrated foods (candybars, cakes...) make your sugar spike high, then drop quickly also. If you're a new diabetic, that is probably why they recommended you avoid these foods altogether - the ultimate goal is usually to keep your sugars as steady as possible. In actuality, like most people have said, you can actually incorporate these into your diet as long as it's accounted for and done in moderation.

I am under the firm belief that not all doctors are good. They don't live with the illnesses that they treat. Most of them just dictate general guidelines on how to treat certain illnesses. But with diabetes and many other diseases, there are variations you can take when you have to live day by day with this.

It's best to be as well educated not only about your disease, but also about how your body in particular reacts to different foods. I believe we are the best doctors of our own bodies.

I totally agree with you.
Actually, that’s why I posted and will post other questions here because I am sure that nobody understands me or the disease then a person involved.
I try to learn as much as it is to learn, experience every way, keep the goods, and drop the others.

[DeusXM]

Diet Coke, Coke Light and Coke Zero are sugar-free. The colouring you're thinking of in Coke is called 'Caramel' or E150d (Sulphite Ammonia Caramel). Whilst it is derived from sugar, it has either no carb value or is present in such tiny quantities that it doesn't affect your blood sugar. It is perfectly safe to drink 'diet' soft drinks with diabetes without suffering adverse effects on your blood sugar.

[Stuboy]

UGH! you have an hbA1C already?! i want one!!!!!!

I was also discovered late july 2006 and i have no idea what my hbA1c is! :(

Dont take (you can have any sugar) too much to heart, while i was in canada a couple of weeks ago, i had lots of things like pancakes with syrup, funnel cakes and all sorts, if you're an active person you will burn the sugar off quickly so it wont effect you so badly.

Have you been told to eat lots of carbs? Just comparing you're ways over there to england as when i was diagnosed i was told to eat plenty of carbs... but the peeps on here tend to stay away from carbs, or stay low carb.

[anmi]

Diet Coke, Coke Light and Coke Zero are sugar-free. The colouring you're thinking of in Coke is called 'Caramel' or E150d (Sulphite Ammonia Caramel). Whilst it is derived from sugar, it has either no carb value or is present in such tiny quantities that it doesn't affect your blood sugar. It is perfectly safe to drink 'diet' soft drinks with diabetes without suffering adverse effects on your blood sugar.

E150d (Sulphite Ammonia Caramel) ... wow ... this got me down :proud:

Ok, got it.
Anyway, it does not have the same taste as the normal coke and this one I really miss it... :argh:

But I can live with Coke Light ;)

Also, I found many other drinks light... Ofcourse, I find them now because I didn't have eyes for them before... There are some which really have hcs... around 10 per 100ml... This is actually what I take between meals because I got borred with eating... :)

[anmi]

UGH! you have an hbA1C already?! i want one!!!!!!
I was also discovered late july 2006 and i have no idea what my hbA1c is! :(


What??? It was the first thing they told me... I mean when I got to hospital they took all the blood they could take :) and made all the analyses. And now on the 15th of September I will go to take the second one, to see the evolution. And they told me that I have to come to take it every three months. Very odd... they didn't tell you...


Dont take (you can have any sugar) too much to heart, while i was in canada a couple of weeks ago, i had lots of things like pancakes with syrup, funnel cakes and all sorts, if you're an active person you will burn the sugar off quickly so it wont effect you so badly.


Well... I do not exaggerate... I am still in the honeymoon so I can still afford :) but something like one cake in a week or a piece of pie... I had some days when suddendly I had a high bg (something around 270) without eating anything wrong... or very slow (even reached 35) and because I want just to keep them stabilized I try not to cheat...


Have you been told to eat lots of carbs? Just comparing you're ways over there to england as when i was diagnosed i was told to eat plenty of carbs... but the peeps on here tend to stay away from carbs, or stay low carb.

Yes... a lot ... 200 per day. And for me, it is very much to eat. I even got weight, around 8 kg... Now, after 2 month I stopped getting 1kg per week and even lost 500g. That's why sometimes, in order to skip a meal, I want to eat something sweet and cover the necessary hc.

[Hillhuck430]

I eat whatever I want too, however much i want to...

I just bolus for all of it