I was recently diagnosed with Type II diabetes. Needing tips for substitution.

United States
April 22, 2007 3:23pm CST
I wanted a cup of koolaid today and I got to looking and my Splenda box says each packet is two tsp of sugar. I researched and discovered it takes 24 pkgs of splenda to equal the one cup of sugar needed to make koolaid. This was great for me but it got me thinking. What other things can I substitute so that I can continue to enjoy my favorite foods and drinks? I am still trying to find a good way to make ice cream without sugar. :) Does anyone have any ideas or tips for a newbie to the diabetic world?
2 people like this
4 responses
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
22 Apr 07
Gracie, There are some wonderful sites online that offer freebies like recipe books for Diabetes patients. I have a wonderful cookbook and a boxed set of books on various asspects of diabetes. Here are some links that have free cookbooks to help you. http://www.diabetesaction.org http://www.takediabetestoheart.com http://www.diabetes.com The best cookbook is from the medication glucotrolXL by pfizer. I dont see the website but try this one. http://glucotrolxl.com There are many more such as the AmericanDiabetes Association. If you put that in a search engine, you should come up with the web page. Hope this helps some and good luck.
• United States
22 Apr 07
Sorry about that last link. I forgot to put the www. in it.
• United States
22 Apr 07
Those are great. I love cookbooks and have been looking over some of my recipes to try to "adapt" them to my new diet needs. Thanks a lot for your help.
• United States
23 Apr 07
Link to free diabetic cookbook http://www.smartrevenue.com/diabetessurveybegin.asp
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
22 Apr 07
I don't know if this will help much because they aren't available everywhere yet. When you said you wanted koolaid it made me think of a new soda I just got. It's from Jones Soda. They're just starting to distribute in cans nationwide. They flavor I just tried is Black Cherry and it tastes just like black cherry koolaid. The good part (for you I think) is that this kind is sugar free. It uses (and I'm taking this right off the ingredients list) Sucralose-a nonnutrative sweetener. Here's the link to their website so you can see what else they offer: www.jonessoda.com I don't know enough about diabetes to offer any other suggestions though. Perhaps you could find a diabetic cookbook that would give you some ideas.
• United States
22 Apr 07
I looked over the jones soda website and didn't see anything like you described. The only things I saw in cans were made from sugar cane or were energy drinks. Maybe they don't have it on the site yet. I didn't see anything flavored black cherry either. Oh well, I will keep my eyes peeled for it. Thanks. :)
• United States
24 Apr 07
I like crystal light, I have been drinking it since before I was diagnosed. Thanks for your help.
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
22 Apr 07
Hmmm...That's weird, I have a can of it right in front of me. Maybe it just got overlooked somehow on their site. Well it was a thought anyway, sorry...Crystal light drinks mixes are alright I think. A family friend drinks them and she's diabetic.
@toonatoons (3737)
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
i suggest that you make a thorough research about splenda first, because i've encountered an article somewhere that it could have worse effects than the artificial sweeteners, especially if you have diabetes
• United States
24 Apr 07
I looked into it briefly back when it first came out. My dietitian recommended I use splenda. I will look into it further. Please let me know if you run onto anything in particular.
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
23 Apr 07
There are alot of really good sugar free ice creams available now. The one treat my husband really likes is the White chocolate flavored Sugar free jello. It is really yummy. I use splenda for baking to. I have a really good sugar free peanut butter cookie recipe I'll hunt it up and post it.
• United States
24 Apr 07
That Jello sounds really good. Let me know if you find that pbutter cookie recipe.