Anyone else a Colaholic? I've got a neat trick!

[DaveC426913]

I loooove my cola. Switching to Diet cola was better than doing without, so now I'm a diet cola drinker.

Whenever I go out shopping or on the road, I have to stop by McD's for a coke. I hate bottles and cans because I like icy cold drinks. This is why I always go to fast food joints where they have soda fountains.

But I've noticed they occasionally make a mistake and forget the "diet" part of my coke order. I can't always tell if it's regular or diet, and I spend the next half hour worrying while I sip my diet?/sugar? cola. At the drive-through you can't be sure, and even asking usually nets you a "uh...sure!"

What I needed was a way to know for sure if they gave me a sugar-free drink. I tried using my glucometer to test the cola but of course the reading is off-the-scale. I can't get any kind of reliable result.



But I finally stumbled across a perfect solution! I bought urine strips from the pharmacy. They test for sugar in urine but they work great on any solution of sugar.

I simply keep the jar of strips in my car. If ever I get a drink from the drive-through and I suspect it may be filled with sugar a quick dip and the strip turns a dark green in seconds. If it's diet there is no change at all.

I have caught them several times trying to slip me 20oz. of The Nasty and I get it changed immediately. No one yet has demanded proof that they made a mistake - but I've got it if they do!

The strips cost 10-20c apiece and are easily available over the counter at a pharmacy.

[sweetblood]

wow...never thought of that. thats one way to find out what yur gettin...and a good one too ;)

[jjames]

I used to do that when I was first diagnosed and was out alone or with someone who wasn't willing to "taste test" for me if I got into the situation where I couldn't tell.

You can always tell the person at McDonalds or any waitress that you don't think it's diet, and 9 times out of 10, they're happy to replace it. And if they're not, just tell them that you paid for a diet, and that it's not diet. They're not going to taste it to see if you're lying. :T

[Kubilee]

Right after I was first diagnosed we went to a local buffet and I ordered a diet coke, but she brought me a regular, I didn't know until she came to refull it and I told her diet coke and she looked at me like I'd lost my mind...... I showed her my receipt and it clearly said diet and being new and paranoid, I asked to make very sure..... that turned very ugly and I needlessly went into a panic, but being new I was so paranoid.

Anyway, sometimes it is hard to tell the difference in fountain drinks, so now, since that incident, my 9 yr old refuses to let me touch a fountain drink until she has tried it first. It is so cute..... if she is gone and comes home and sees I have a drink from somewhere, she will test it to make sure... she is so funny.

We went to McDonald's Friday night and she, as usual, took my drink and says she has to try it. The girl behind the counter gave her a strange look and she very plainly says to her, "My mom is diabetic and I don't want her to get sick". The girl behind the counter nearly cried I think. lol

This is an awesome idea, I can tell my baby that I have a sure way to tell and I can go to a place to get a fountain drink all by myself now, like a big girl. lol

[DaveC426913]

I can tell my baby that I have a sure way to tell and I can go to a place to get a fountain drink all by myself now, like a big girl. lol
I'd keep the tradition though. I'd tell her it's only for when she's not able to be there to test it for you. Kids love the chance to look after their parents.
;)

[Sheralyn]

Hi Dave!

I became a colaholic (diet only) when I gave up cigs. I drink about a 12-pack a day; my doc says it's a lot better than smoking! I also have to watch sodium, so I buy low- or no-sodium diet cola. However, as a treat, sometimes I get the new Diet Coke Plus (it's fantastic!). I even drink cola for breakfast :)

[owlyn]

Old trick. Been around since at least 1991, but always good to bring it up now and again for those who never heard of it.

[Jan B]

An aquantaince of mine has worked part-time at concessions (sports) for many years. Recently, without her remembering I was diabetic, she told me when they ran out of diet, and had lots of people waiting, they just used real coke.

The lady had NEVER even considered diabetics. She just thought people asking for diet drinks were too concerned about their weight.

Oh geez . . .

[DCaplinger]

I have just recently started trying out diet drinks. So far, I've tried Diet Rite, Diet Shasta Root Beer and Diet Dr Pepper. Of the 3, I preferred the Diet Shasta Root Beer (made with Splenda and Ace K) and the Diet Dr Pepper (made with Aspartame) better than I did the cola (made with Splenda and Ace K). I think the cola was just too sweet. That's been the case for most diet drinks I have tried in the past.

Now, when they start making Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr Pepper exclusively with Splenda (or anything other than aspartame), I'll start drinking them. Til then, I'll stick with Shasta.

Regards,

[desperado]

A neat idea! I seldom drink colas any more and years ago I was so addicted to them. I drink the caffiene diet free cola if I do drink one.

[Isometric]

Hey, good idea - and one I had not considered before! I usually have my wife taste test if I'm not sure, but I do remember accidentally grabbing a liter bottle of regular Pepsi instead of diet once. I got through about half the bottle before my wife pointed out that it wasn't diet! The labels looked exactly the same, except that the diet was just a shade or two lighter blue at the time.

Once I made the switch to diet, I drank an awful lot of it. It was kind of my escape from all the other changes I had to make - my freebie. I drink much less now, but when I'm starting to feel a little pinched by the diet, I'll go stock up on several different flavors to give myself the illusion of variety. :) My favorites are (all diet of course) Dr. Pepper, Pepsi w/ Lime, Wild Cherry Pepsi, Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper, A&W Root Beer, and every now and then, Coke Zero.

Thanks for the tip!

[notme]

Good lord I need to read closer. I thought the headline said "Catholic". I couldn't figure out what cola had to do with this thread.

[Kberryma]

THANK YOU FOR THAT! I drink obscene amounts of diet soda and never felt as confident as I should about what I was sipping. I once had a drive-thru worker ask "does it matter?"..yes it does so I am so greatful to you for finding a solution.

[Bunkins]

I've never heard of that, I'll have to remember to do that when I'm not sure.. I drink tons of diet coke, I shouldnt, but everyone needs a bad habit :D I drink about twice the amount of water per day though.. I'm a thin guy, so sometimes when eatting out I'll ask for diet, and they bring me the regular stuff.. I dont know how many times I've downed a glass or 2 then about half way through dinner I notice I'm not feeling very well... Check my BG and it's out of sight... It's messed up it's fair share of evenings... Anymore I drink tea while I'm out, unless I know the waitress... Dont buy fountain drinks much either because I've ran into the same things with that..

I cant stand the taste of regular coke, but sometimes if the mixture isnt right on the fountain machine diet coke will taste about the same to me..

[ladytaz]

Good lord I need to read closer. I thought the headline said "Catholic". I couldn't figure out what cola had to do with this thread.

LOLOL Nancy! That's what I thought it said at first too, but it just didn't look quite right! So I RE-read it, and it still wasn't quite making sense (in my defense, i'm not feeling too well, gotta cold with a major headache going on) so I started reading the post ... THEN it all made sense! LOL

*****

I've been drinking Diet Soda since I was around 11 or 12. Not for diet reasons, just because I got to where I didn't like the "regular" soda anymore. They're too syrup-y like for me. Too sweet, I guess? I dunno. I just know that I don't like them. I can usually tell the difference, but, there has been a few times that I was unsure. Fountain drinks, this has happened with. Never a mistake with canned or bottled!

Thanks for the tip Dave! Never knew that!

[Kim_in_TN]

This thread is funny to me because I always have a tough time being able to distinguish if my cola is in fact "diet" or not. My husband makes the most gosh awful face if he accidentally gets my diet one! He now refuses to do the taste test for me! LOL! I'll say, "I can't tell if this is diet or not" and he replies, "Oh no you don't!" *snicker*

[Stuboy]

Great idea... does it work with any of the BG meters at all?

Another little test you can do is dip the tip of your finger in the cola and wait for it to dry... if it's sticky... it's not diet!

[UpNorth]

I used to drink a lot of diet coke, but now my favourite is Coke Zero :D

[Keezheekoni]

Okay, every time I see this thread I think that it reads: Are you a carboholic... of course, other times I see: Are you a Catholic...

Something is wrong with my brain. :)

[Fawkes]

Another little test you can do is dip the tip of your finger in the cola and wait for it to dry... if it's sticky... it's not diet!

That'll work. I've been drinking it for so long that I can just tell by taste. However, fountain drinks are harder because it's mixed in the machine.

Stuboy, do you follow Portsmouth FC?

[Stuboy]

Not particularly... i guess i would say i support them if asked, but football isn't really my thing :) However, my Dad is a die hard PFC fan and he is obsessed with football lol.

[Jules49]

I can't tell the difference in taste from a fast food place. I carry water in my purse. I keep A & W Diet Root Beer at home but seldom drink one. I am in the Spiced SF Cider since it is winter. Don't won't anything cold.

[JediSkipdogg]

Some BG meters out there are actually able to tell the difference. I guess their method of reading. I can't recall which ones can tell though, but I think if it's not diet it reads high and if it's diet it reads error or something like that. I believe it's only 2 or 3 meters, but of course at the average of 80 cents per strip. this idea is way more cost effective.

Thanks for bringing it up again.