View Full Version : Regular vs Diet Coke
Aftiel
02-03-2006, 05:24 AM
Stella mentioned this in another thread.
I have had this happen a few times - order a Diet Coke and they give you regular coke.
You would THINK the taste difference would be obvious - but to be honest, when I am eating I can't really tell the difference.
I never tell the waitress/waiter "I am diabetic, make sure its Diet Coke" -- does anyone else?
It will screw up your night in a hurry drinking a big glass of regular coke :/
- Aftiel
DeusXM
02-03-2006, 05:58 AM
I can tell the difference between the two if I have both of them side by side and taste both of them. Individually though, I can't.
I don't press onto the serving staff that I'm diabetic and HAVE to have diet cola but I think sometimes I should. However, I've got some workarounds for the problem.
1. If you're ordering a Coke at the bar, they usually use one of those soda guns with the buttons on them - they press the button to choose the appropriate drink. Diet cola is ALWAYS on the second row - if you see them press the larger top button, it's regular Coke.
2. If you're not sure about your drink and you're out with friends who have regular Coke, ask to have a sip of theirs for comparison. If you can taste a difference between them, then you've got diet. Well, hopefully. It might be that they've got diet and you don't.
3. I think you can actually put Coke on a BG test strip to see if it's got sugar in it.
4.(The 'Never Fail' Test) Tip some of the Coke on your hand and let it dry off. If your hand goes sticky, then it's regular Coke. Diet Coke doesn't go sticky because it doesn't have any sugar in it.
I've found that usually most places are pretty good about getting your order right. But you're absolutely right, nothing screws up your control quite like a non-diet softdrink. I think it's something like every can of coke has about 10 tablespoons of sugar in it or some similarly horrific amount.
Actually I've found one of the best ways to make sure you get a suitable drink is to order beer!
http://www.diabetesforums.com/monitoring/5356-checking-your-drinks-sugar.html
kgm0612
02-03-2006, 06:44 AM
I try not to order diet soda when I am out just for this very reason.
Here on the East coast, Dunkin Donuts iced coffee is a very big staple! I now have to order that with "cream, no sugar" instead of asking for Equal. Several times they put sugar in it, I couldn't tell the difference, and was sky high afterwards.
Karen
Aftiel
02-03-2006, 07:04 AM
Nice info folks - I will definitely be implementing these tips.
- Aftiel
lelggren
02-03-2006, 08:52 AM
I know that for me, I am able to taste the difference usually. Regular coke seems to taste a little thicker than diet coke, if that makes sense. I know that usually, when I am in doubt, I have tested the coke on my meter. If it comes back as HI, then don't drink it. I am not sure how recommended it is to do that, but I know that it has been the lifesaver for me before. Just don't do it too often though because test strips aren't cheap...lol
amccrazgrl
02-03-2006, 08:56 AM
I can usually taste the difference. I'm usually with someone who drinks regular so I sip theres and mind.
Sometimes its just the foutain drink syrup that makes it taste different.
Once I had the waiter change my drink a few times and then I just switched to iced tea instead cause I think there foutain drink syrup was messed up.
liz32
02-03-2006, 09:22 AM
I only drink out of the can...that way I'm sure they haven't messed it up. I can't tell the difference between diet coke and regular. they both taste like battery acid to me! yuck! They few time I have had fountain pop and I wasn't sure they got it right, I did mention diabetes and that it was important to get it right. It's a little tacky but better safe than sorry.
Liz
SugaryOne
02-03-2006, 03:33 PM
I can tell the difference immediately, but I've never had that happen. Usually when teenagers order a diet soda, they know there's a good reason for it. :P
Now that diet products usually have Splenda now, it is getting harder to tell the difference though.
I try not to order diet soda when I am out just for this very reason.
Here on the East coast, Dunkin Donuts iced coffee is a very big staple! I now have to order that with "cream, no sugar" instead of asking for Equal. Several times they put sugar in it, I couldn't tell the difference, and was sky high afterwards.
Karen
French Vanila iced coffee from DD every day ..... regular, 2 Splenda (I get a medium) and the only times they screw up is when they put in 1 Splenda instead of 2.
Years ago I ordered a diet soda at a restaurant and got very sick and since then, never ever order a diet soda when out unless they serve it in a can or self-serve bottles.
I should say that I have noticed when I go places where you or they can add the sweetener, if I say I want the "yellow stuff" (Splenda) or the "pink stuff" (Sweet-n-Lo), I always get what I want. But if I say I want Splenda or SweetnLo, I run the risk of getting some other non-caloric sweetener, because to most people, it's all the same.
buzzborne
02-04-2006, 09:13 AM
Today i went out for lunch... 1st drink ordered a diet coke... they gave me diet and then when my mate ordered, she said diet coke and she saw the waitress putting in normal coke... ans she was like.. umm excuse me I said diet coke... its for a diabetic.
I never say i have to have diet as I am diabetic to ppl serving me... but of ppl ask why diet an not normal i will say.
I can also tell the difference b/w diet and normal, can't stand normal stuff its tastes waaaay too sickly! lol
travis
02-04-2006, 09:20 AM
4.(The 'Never Fail' Test) Tip some of the Coke on your hand and let it dry off. If your hand goes sticky, then it's regular Coke. Diet Coke doesn't go sticky because it doesn't have any sugar in it.
What a lo-tech, common sense approach. Thanks, I'm going to try it.
Actually I've found one of the best ways to make sure you get a suitable drink is to order beer!
Amen!
sbuff28@charter
02-04-2006, 10:13 AM
i've found that if i breathe out my nose right after taking a sip of coke there is a distinct difference smell/taste than regular coke. BUT im guessing that i can tell this because ive been drinking regular soda for ever until now. i dont know mabye you guys could test this out and see if you notice a difference too.
never thought of dripping soda in my hand... excellent idea
For right now i feel comfortable just telling whoever im ordering from to make sure they label the diet drink(coffee, soda ect). That way they make sure its diet and so do you, so you wont accidentally take someone elses reg drink.
Cinnabon
02-04-2006, 01:36 PM
I have been to places where they actually have their soda machine tubes all messed up! The diet in the regular and the reg in the diet:vroam: . I usually can tell and most of the times my daughter is with me, she is always my "taste tester" LOL. The smell also is a great thing to keep in mind. Most sit-down restaurants usually serve the can.
stella117
02-04-2006, 08:10 PM
I obviously can't tell the difference. The restaurant where it happened it was hard to tell--diet usually has a bit of a "bite" whereas regular seems too sweet. But when they serve it from a fountain where they mix the syrup (flavor) with the carbonated water, I swear they water it down a bit so that you can't tell the difference.
The test strip idea is brilliant--I thought of doing it next time but why waste a good test strip? I think I'll order mineral water instead.
I obviously can't tell the difference. The restaurant where it happened it was hard to tell--diet usually has a bit of a "bite" whereas regular seems too sweet. But when they serve it from a fountain where they mix the syrup (flavor) with the carbonated water, I swear they water it down a bit so that you can't tell the difference.
The test strip idea is brilliant--I thought of doing it next time but why waste a good test strip? I think I'll order mineral water instead.
It's not a waste if it keeps you healthy. :burnout:
I've stopped drinking most diet drinks, now when we go out I ask for unsweetened tea, most places have that. That way, I can definitely control what sweetener is being used.
someone
02-04-2006, 09:50 PM
If you brush your teeth frequently, you will notice that regular leaves a texture on your teeth from the sugar. I always order water at restaurants, though. I can no longer stand diet coke. It gives me a head ache.
Belinda
02-05-2006, 04:26 AM
My favorite is when they do serve you the wrong drink and some smart#ss says...NO big deal I will get you a diet...this is when I lose control. There is an Arby's here that is notorious for giving me the wrong drink so I always double check when I (rarely) go there. I usually just tell the server the drink doesn't taste right....and they bring another. Best option...drink water and bring in one of those to go mixes........:vroam:
I for some reason, had a whole bunch of urine test strips (for glucose, not ketones) lying around at one point. These were great for testing coke! Use the straw to drop a drop on the strip, diet stays green, regular turns dark brown immediately.
I usually only order drinks at places that it comes in a can or a bottle now, so it's a non-issue. I get McDonald's once every 6 months or so, and Micky D's screws my numbers up so much I can't tell if it's a diet or regular coke anyway... I should try the hand drying trick! That's a great idea.
If I'm at a sit down place it's either coffee or beer, and both of those are idiot proof. (as I don't take my coffee with any sweetener)
My favorite is when they do serve you the wrong drink and some smart#ss says...NO big deal I will get you a diet...this is when I lose control.
Oh I once had a server say "You're so thin, what are you doing drinking diet anyway?" She was going to walk away and not give me my diet drink! I guess she missed the day when they told them that the customer is always right.
Needless to say I FLIPPED, (I'm a rather frightening person when I'm angry, petite frame or not) and she got me my diet coke. She also got a 5% tip. (this is NY, it's pretty much mandatory to leave 20%) I would have left nothing, but i felt kinda bad for yelling at her.
someone
02-05-2006, 08:24 PM
I for some reason, had a whole bunch of urine test strips (for glucose, not ketones) lying around at one point. These were great for testing coke!
You can still buy those. I looked a little bit on google. They are called Uristix.
http://cgi.ebay.com/URISTIX-2184-Reagent-Strips-4-Urinalysis-BLOWOUT_W0QQitemZ5664000637QQcategoryZ31822QQssPag eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000960MHQ/sr=1-17/qid=1139196357/ref=sr_1_17/104-5744101-4744718?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3760931&s=hpc&v=glance
They seem a little expensive for testing coke though.. unless of course you can get your doctor to write a prescription so that your insurance will cover it.
You can still buy those. I looked a little bit on google. They are called Uristix.
http://cgi.ebay.com/URISTIX-2184-Reagent-Strips-4-Urinalysis-BLOWOUT_W0QQitemZ5664000637QQcategoryZ31822QQssPag eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000960MHQ/sr=1-17/qid=1139196357/ref=sr_1_17/104-5744101-4744718?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3760931&s=hpc&v=glance
They seem a little expensive for testing coke though.. unless of course you can get your doctor to write a prescription so that your insurance will cover it.
Someone said the ketostrips worked well for testing diet vs regular as well...
You can still buy those. I looked a little bit on google. They are called Uristix.
http://cgi.ebay.com/URISTIX-2184-Reagent-Strips-4-Urinalysis-BLOWOUT_W0QQitemZ5664000637QQcategoryZ31822QQssPag eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000960MHQ/sr=1-17/qid=1139196357/ref=sr_1_17/104-5744101-4744718?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3760931&s=hpc&v=glance
They seem a little expensive for testing coke though.. unless of course you can get your doctor to write a prescription so that your insurance will cover it.
My point was at some point i just HAD them, I'm not sure when/how I ended up with them... I wouldn't just buy them for testing coke.
gettingby
02-05-2006, 08:39 PM
I have been to places where they actually have their soda machine tubes all messed up! The diet in the regular and the reg in the diet:vroam: . I usually can tell and most of the times my daughter is with me, she is always my "taste tester" LOL. The smell also is a great thing to keep in mind. Most sit-down restaurants usually serve the can.
LOL Cinnabon. I have a younger brother who used to be my "taste" tester when I was first diagnosed. Sometimes, if I'm in doubt, he will taste it for me.:D
someone
02-05-2006, 08:43 PM
My point was at some point i just HAD them, I'm not sure when/how I ended up with them... I wouldn't just buy them for testing coke.
LOL. But there are people who would buy them just for testing coke..
hehehe, you guys are making me remember when I was younger... I'd give my soda to my dad to "test." If he looked like he was about to vomit the waiter got my order right. If he didn't, it became his coke. (Dad HATES diet coke)
am1977
02-06-2006, 05:05 AM
I can usually tell the difference between diet and regular coke/pepsi, but sometimes I'm still paranoid about it that I have to ask the server again if it's diet. I think, maybe, only once or twice, the server has admitted to making a mistake. Well, that mistake would have landed me in big sh%t :eek:.
Eri's mom
02-06-2006, 05:58 AM
When I used to drink soda, I could always tell the difference...so can Eri, but I only drink water and she is on a propel kick...and if out, she will order a water as well.
stella117
02-06-2006, 07:23 PM
You can still buy those. I looked a little bit on google. They are called Uristix.
http://cgi.ebay.com/URISTIX-2184-Reagent-Strips-4-Urinalysis-BLOWOUT_W0QQitemZ5664000637QQcategoryZ31822QQssPag eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000960MHQ/sr=1-17/qid=1139196357/ref=sr_1_17/104-5744101-4744718?%5Fencoding=UTF8&n=3760931&s=hpc&v=glance
They seem a little expensive for testing coke though.. unless of course you can get your doctor to write a prescription so that your insurance will cover it.
Cheaper than blood glucose test strips (at least mine!) and think--if it turns brown you can then call the manager. Act outraged. What are you trying to do, KILL me? You'll probably get your meal for free. Could save a lot of money in the long run--LOL!!!
someone
02-07-2006, 05:40 AM
Cheaper than blood glucose test strips (at least mine!) and think--if it turns brown you can then call the manager. Act outraged. What are you trying to do, KILL me? You'll probably get your meal for free. Could save a lot of money in the long run--LOL!!!
Yeah, just keep a brown one, and say they gave you regular.. they will never be able to prove you wrong. What are they going to tell you to test it again? LOL
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