Watch for Hidden Sugars

[katharina]

When you're planning menus for someone with diabetes, it's important to watch for "hidden" sugars... I've read that even some foods marked "sugar free" are not good for people with the disease. The most obvious, too, is things like fruit that you'd think would be good to eat isn't always the case when people are watching sugar intake.

[hurgoll]

I was told by a new coffee shop that a drink was sugar free and I tried it and it nearly killed me, I asked them several times if it was sugar free because it tasted so good. I went back to work and passed out at my desk. I was sent home and slept forever. I later went back and asked them again and they still stated the drink was sugar free. I asked to see the box and the girl showed it to me and proudly said see, no sugar listed. I pointed out the first thing listed was "Cane syrup" and asked her where she thought sugar came from. I never went back.

[katharina]

Originally Posted by hurgoll

I was told by a new coffee shop that a drink was sugar free and I tried it and it nearly killed me, I asked them several times if it was sugar free because it tasted so good. I went back to work and passed out at my desk. I was sent home and slept forever. I later went back and asked them again and they still stated the drink was sugar free. I asked to see the box and the girl showed it to me and proudly said see, no sugar listed. I pointed out the first thing listed was "Cane syrup" and asked her where she thought sugar came from. I never went back.

Oh dear, that's horrible! Did you tell them what it nearly did to you so that
they wouldn't try to serve the same to someone else who can't have sugar?
I've heard this happening with caffeine, too... some places just don't CARE
if they're serving decaf when someone asks for it... not knowing what the
caffeine may end up doing to the customer.

[riskey58]

My husband was just told that he was a border line diabetic, and really am not sure what should eat or not ear. I can use all the help I can get. Thank you.

[katharina]

Originally Posted by riskey58

My husband was just told that he was a border line diabetic, and really am not sure what should eat or not ear. I can use all the help I can get. Thank you.

Google for recipes or check out the diabetes association... The closest person to me with the disease is my aunt so I've not had to do the special cooking, but I think that those places should have recipes that will help you. I think we're so lucky to have so much info at our fingertips via the 'Net these days!

[riskey58]

Originally Posted by katharina

Google for recipes or check out the diabetes association... The closest person to me with the disease is my aunt so I've not had to do the special cooking, but I think that those places should have recipes that will help you. I think we're so lucky to have so much info at our fingertips via the 'Net these days!

Thank you I will check it out. I can use all the help I can get. I am sure that it will help me a great deal. It is hard when you have to learn to cook all over again.

[mollyL]

Originally Posted by hurgoll

I was told by a new coffee shop that a drink was sugar free and I tried it and it nearly killed me, I asked them several times if it was sugar free because it tasted so good. I went back to work and passed out at my desk. I was sent home and slept forever. I later went back and asked them again and they still stated the drink was sugar free. I asked to see the box and the girl showed it to me and proudly said see, no sugar listed. I pointed out the first thing listed was "Cane syrup" and asked her where she thought sugar came from. I never went back.

There are several different ways that the ingredients list pass sugar off ."fructose" and "sucrose" are also other names for sugar that I've seen listed.

[katharina]

Originally Posted by mollyL

There are several different ways that the ingredients list pass sugar off ."fructose" and "sucrose" are also other names for sugar that I've seen listed.

Yes... and if anyone in the household needs to watch sugar intake, it's vital
to find out what some of those ingredients are. I don't know why some
things are allowed to be sold as "sugar free" when it simply isn't true.

[Swastik]

Hi,
But what i know is it is difficult to diagnosed hidden blood sugar. Is this is true that it is not easily diagnosed. As my family is having a diabetes history so I have to be very craeful about all this.

[riskey58]

Thank you for the sites. I have checked them out and it was very helpful. It is like starting all over, and I can use all the information I can get.

[mollyL]

Here's something I never realised: fruit juice, even fruit juice with no added sugar are usually not recommended for those who need to watch their blood sugar. My husband loves orange juice and I serve it to him often; that turned out to be one of the reasons of his elevated blood sugar. Silly me!

[mollyL]

No, it's actually very easy to diagnose diabetes with simple blood tests a doctor orders. There are very simple blood sugar home testers now that you can use as often as a doctor wants, generally twice a day.

[The right way]

A trick I learned on a health show. To test sugar count in food (at home). (this does not look nice in a restaurant)
If you use those strips that test for kidney sugars they will come in handy for this test.
You would normally pee on the end of the test strip......
This time instead you put the food you are testing in your mouth, swirl it around and spit it out on something, maybe a sandwich baggie or something you can toss out after. The food and the saliva need to be together because the saliva is what breaks down the sugars you are looking for. You CAN'T put the test strip in your mouth!!!. Now after you have spit the food and saliva combo onto what ever you are using as a surface (on TV they used a glass, so what ever you want to use) place the test strip in it and follow the rest of the directions as far as timing and color chart like you would if you used it in a urine test.
DO not put the strip in your mouth! Just the food to mix it up with saliva and spit.
I have not tried this so I don't know how well it works. The strips are not that cheap so before we all go out and buy some it would be nice if someone who is already using them could perform this test and let us all know how it works out.

[Taggart]

Originally Posted by katharina

The most obvious, too, is things like fruit that you'd think would be good to eat isn't always the case when people are watching sugar intake.

Just yesterday my doctor mentioned possibly cutting down on orange juice to lower calories and possibly stop affecting BP meds.

I never questioned orange juice in general, as well as a base for fruit smoothies. I always thought there was a benefit from getting extra portions of fruit.