Regular vs Diet Coke

Aftiel · #1 (**permalink**) 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 · #2 (**permalink**) 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!

duck · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2006, 06:32 AM

checking your drinks for sugar

kgm0612 · #4 (**permalink**) 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 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2006, 07:04 AM

Nice info folks - I will definitely be implementing these tips.

- Aftiel

lelggren · #6 (**permalink**) 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 · #7 (**permalink**) 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 · #8 (**permalink**) 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 · #9 (**permalink**) 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.

pam · #10 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kgm0612

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.

duck · #11 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 08:53 AM

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 · #12 (**permalink**) 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 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusXM

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.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeusXM

Actually I've found one of the best ways to make sure you get a suitable drink is to order beer!

Amen!

sbuff28@charter · #14 (**permalink**) 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 · #15 (**permalink**) 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

. 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.