Sugar Or Sweetener?

[gobbly2100]

Hey,

I am now on a pump which makes giving insulin not a problem at all so now my question is this.

Do I stick to using sweeteners or would I be better switching to sugar?

The reason I ask is because I don't know if there are any known health risks with sweetener and such.

[UpNorth]

For me it varies... If i'm ok bloodsugarwise, then i might use sugar in my tea and coffee, but if i'm on the high side, i might choose sweetener... I do tend to use sugar in my tea and sweetener in my coffee though :T I'm not pumping these days... If needed i just take an extra injection :)

[Gary_W]

Depends entirely on your point of view.

Sugar has been used for centuries, so we know most of its good bits and bad bits. We know it raises BG quickly, has calories but no 'useful' nutrients and isn't so good for the teeth. If you drink tea like most Brits (i.e 4+ mugs per day) then you can soon add a couple of hundred calories per day in sugar. Might not seem much, but if ever you are trying to lose weight it is something that can go and have an impact.

Artificial sweetners have every conspiracy theorist on the www going for them, and get blamed for numerous ills. How true any of the claims are, time will tell. Until time does tell, it's a very personal decision as to weather or not to use them. Certainly kinder to teeth, BG and the waistline than habitual sugar use, but some would argue they have other costs.

You could always go for plan C. Tea and coffee without sugar or sweetener taste absolutely revolting for the first few weeks. If you can get through that cold turkey, you'll be free of them forever and it's amazing how much your taste buds perk up when you do have something sweet. I will admit to a couple of sugars in tea or coffee if I'm going hypo and I do enjoy it.... Otherwise, sugar and sweetener free for many years now.

You could also look into fruictose; buy it near the sugar in supermarkets. Slightly sweeter than regular sugar so you use less of it and the GI is lower so it is kinder to the likes of us.

Are there any bad bits to pumping so far? I'm looking into it at present and viewpoints are always welcome (either here or PM me if you feel like it and think this takes the thread OT (which it kind of does)).

Gary

[Dimes]

I was told by my diatebes educator that aspartame and splenda are ok to use, with no proven bad side effects from using either one of them.

[Real4]

If you use sweetner, and stay away from beverages that have carbs, like milk and beer, then you never have to bolus for what you drink, only what you eat. It makes my life much easier.

[JediSkipdogg]

Like Gary said they each have their own. There's been alot of theories lately that sweeteners can cause cancer after long term use. Unfortunately there hasn't been indepth research into that yet.

I guess I'll be the proof later in life since I drink about 4 cans worth of Diet Coke/Pepsi a day.

[someone]

Go for the sugar. It's less than 5g of carb per package.

[ant hill]

now my question is this.

Do I stick to using sweeteners or would I be better switching to sugar?

The reason I ask is because I don't know if there are any known health risks with sweetener and such.

Being a type1 and better insulins after 1980 you can afford strait sugar, However sugar by it's self will not be in your system for too long but if you have chocolate that will have the BG high for a good while.

So you can have that cuppa with the sugar and bolus or go for a good walk. ;)
I have been on a long bike ride and had a mars chocolate bar and no bolus!!! and feel fine. :D And the BG's are quite acceptable. :T

[Alice]

Sugar (in moderation) is no worse than any other carb...it has become more of a "moral" issue with diabetics now that total carbs are being counted...sugar is a carb. My concern is more with the people who don't count the "little bit here, little bit there" sugars...such as in coffee, cereal & teas. It does add up if your dipping that spoon in often.