Can you, will you?
Eating sugar does not cause 2 Diabetes. However, ingesting too much of it when you have the disease can cause problems. Sugar is a form of carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are important for the body to maintain energy levels. Eating too many carbohydrates in one go and all at once will cause problems however. The human body takes carbohydrates and converts them into glucose that the body uses for energy. If you have 2 Diabetes, too much glucose can cause severe medical problems. The body uses insulin to convert glucose into useable energy. When the glucose levels go too high, if the body cannot produce enough insulin, hyperglycemia can develop.
Should you avoid sugars if you have type 2 diabetes? The answers is no. The key to being able to have your cake and eat it too, is to do it in moderation and combined with other foods. This means if you want that cake or cookie, plan it as part of a larger meal. Balance the carbohydrates in the sweet you plan to eat with a good balance or dose of vegetables or healthy proteins. This will help slow down the food digestion and keep glucose levels in check. You also need to be realistic about portion sizes. You cannot eat a quarter of a cake and expect good glucose results.
What foods do you need to regulate to keep sugars under control if you have type 2 diabetes? Sugars come from many sources including fruits, fruit juices, some vegetables, milk, and dairy products, sodas and sweets like cake and cookies. There is no difference in how the body takes in one carbohydrate over another. The body doesn’t distinguish whether a carbohydrates comes from an apple or a cookie. However, a difference does affect how the body takes it in. The apple has something extra going for it. The apple has pectin fiber. Pectin is also a natural insulin regulator. The fiber also helps slow down food absorption. Does that mean avoid the cookie/biscuit all the time? The answer is no. It just means to now learn about what you are eating and how it impacts your glucose levels.
What else do you need to know about eating sugar with Type ii diabetes? Moderation and portion control are the two things to remember about all foods, including sugars. Spread out your sugars. Don’t eat a full box of cookies or biscuits in one go. Eat one a day for a week instead. Using your head will allow you to eat sugar.
Sure.
I think it’s just me that’s guilty of this crime!!
I once did a trial on ‘oral insulins’ (research work).
When the insulin action ‘kicked in’, I asked my helper to put down the clinical note as follows:
"Big Mac Attack!.
Kinda reminds me of that.
I am afraid to even buy a box of cookies because I know I will eat them all at one sitting, no self control!
Me too. I stay away from the cookie isle because it makes me cry. No point in torturing myself any further. If I bought any, I probably would be too scared to eat them. The worst is those Trader Joe’s Jo-Jos - I used to love those. I stay away from that isle when I go TJ shoping. Of course just looking at the carbs on the box makes me want to throw the box across the isle and scream “Unfair!” 
Seriously though, I don’t think we have to avoid sugar all completely - just in moderation - I able to have some items that have “sugar” in them. Like chocolate, a small sucker, mints, gum, clif bar pieces. And i know having a bit of cookie wouldn’t kill me - but who can do that? That is like that potatoe chip commerical - who eats one potatoe chip?
I am one of those people who has no control at all of my sugar consumption, otherwise known as an eating disorder. Like an alcoholic who can’t have one drink, I am completely incapable of one of anything sweet. So for me the only solution was to stop eating sugar completely which I did 16 years ago long before my diabetes diagnosis. The only exception I make today is glucose tabs which I consider “medicine” to treat hypoglycemia. For myself, I’m pretty rigid on this subject. For other diabetics? Everyone is different and some people seem able to incorporate small “treats” into their diet without problem. I do notice though that some people talk about being “deprived” and wonder if eating small amounts regularly keeps the cravings going? Again, I’m biased.
The only thing I am sure doesn’t work is “eating whatever you want and bolusing for it”. That way lies unpredictable blood sugar results, weight gain and insulin resistance. NG.
Cookies are a finger food slippery slope. Unless they are low carb cookies, I just don’t bother.
The best way to deal with cookies we love is to go to a gas station… they have packets of 2 or 4 cookies a package. I just give the husband 2, and have 2… IF I must have a cookie. And they have virtually almost all the flavors. That way I don’t have a humongous package sitting in my cupboard.
Everyone is different and some people seem able to incorporate small “treats” into their diet without problem. I do notice though that some people talk about being “deprived” and wonder if eating small amounts regularly keeps the cravings going? Again, I’m biased.
Actually, this is true. Its a psychological and biological thing. It is just like a smoker giving up smoking, if you stay away completely, after a time, you honestly won’t crave it or even remember the taste but one taste (if you had an addiction to it before) and you honestly could awake those old biological cravings and addition in your body and not be able to stop yourself. For me, it would be bread (the GOOD bread - like french or sourdough) - I don’t think I would eat a whole loaf or anything but I couldn’t just have one little bit or little piece, I would want several (and at 23 carbs a piece -not a good thing)
Liz, has it right. If you only have so much of it available to eat, than it is easier to stop yourself. I hate that more things don’t come in smaller packages.
But true if you had a bad addiction problem with it before it is problem in your best interest not to indulge at all - even a teeny bit and find some other substititute for your craving that you can control.
You are absolutely right, KimKat, I am just very careful not to push my own knowledge and experience with sugar addiction, because we are all different. People want to know how I’ve gone so many years without sugar and I tell them that “stopping” was hell and took me years. “Staying stopped” is easy. I can sit across from someone eating a scrumptious dessert and it doesn’t phase me. I actually don’t have any cravings at all anymore, so need for substitutes. When I first stopped sugar everyone wanted to turn me on to their favorite sugar substitute item. To me, those didn’t taste very good (I understand they’ve improved) and just made me crave “the real thing”. Nowadays I just don’t do dessert. Sometimes if I am lingering over a dinner with friends I’ll order an espresso which I love after a good meal.
Yep, always a good substitute - it is nice that you can have something while others are eating their sugary stuff!
People say the same thing to me about meat and dairy - how can you have been so long without it? Don’t you crave it? No. I haven’t forgetten what it tasted like but I have no desire to eat it. Everyonce and while a weird old “taste” will pop up in my memory and I can even taste it a bit - like the taste of Planter’s Cheese Balls. It is very odd. Probably ten years since I have had those and out of the blue - I get a 2 second taste for them.
That is precisely the problem with cookies. If I eat one I will eat them all. So best avoided. Not necessary. I did not eat them before diabetes.
I don’t miss meat at all either, but it’s a very different thing for me than sugar. Sugar is something that used to have a great deal of power over me and I’ve stripped it of that power. Meat, on the other hand, I once ate and enjoyed and now no longer do so and don’t miss it. But not missing sugar for me, is a miracle. Btw I meant to type “no need for substitutes” above. Good bread I love and found I could eat just one piece with my breakfast and do ok, but recently I have gotten in the habit of making frijoles (refried black beans) for the week’s breakfast because I can take less insulin and have better numbers. It just dawned on me reading this post that I haven’t missed the bread!
I just saw your future business empire:
Judith’s low-carb almond cookies and walnut cake and cheesecake, etc?!!! : nut flours and stevia or other sugar.
I mean sooner or later Big industry will catch up and understand (I hope).
I also hope the majority of consumers and kids get the bigger picture about 'empty nutrition and use the more nutritious smarter eating and cooking alternatives
Just a matter of time…
R U Kidding me? Eat just 1 Mint Girl Scout Cookie or just One Oreo?
It’s like being a Alcholic… You can’t just eat 1 or 2, so Don’t have any to begin with…
Unless? Your a Massokist…
Well thats the theory…
As Orson Wells said 'history is bunk!"
So is theory I suppose!
(giggles)
Nope, I can’t do it. I tried and failed too many times. Now I just don’t buy cookies, chocolate, etc.
If people are able to eat in moderation, then great, but I found that I can’t. So I quit all together and now I don’t even miss it that much.
When I want something sweet, I eat plain yogurt with cocoa powder and Splenda. Yummm…
Having a box of cookies in the house is too tempting. Don’t know why anyone would want to venture there.
OMG a box of cookies every day for a week? One part of me would be in heaven, then again, every part of me might be in heaven by the end of the week. LOL, I know what u meant but I couldn’t resist. Not sure if I could stop at just one cookie each day though. Maybe 2 or 3… or 4 or 5.