Ideas

my hubby is a diabetic and knowing that my kids might have a higher chance of becoming diabetics we use crystal light. they have many different flavors. I also would add more water to the juicy juices.

I have a B.S. in Holistic Nutrition from Clayton College of Natural Health. My studies are very different from mainstream hosptial, dietician studies. My preference on sweetners is Agave Nectar (I make lemonade with this), it is the Vegan alternative to honey, and does not alter blood sugar levels. Also, Stevia is an herb that is safe for diabetics (some do not like, aftertaste). I have learned that avoiding anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup is key, Corn tends to inhibit insulin production. Also, avoid any artificial colors/preservatives, MSG, HVP, and especially aspartame (all are neurotoxins). Juice can be ok, it is not necessarily the bad guy, also it is best to buy high quality organic juice (Lakewood is my fav)and can be diluted with water or buy a juicer and make your own (vegetables can be included and beets can be added as sweetener). A good read is Skinny B!)@%, by Rory Freedman (Masters in Holistic Nutrition) has chapter on diabetes. I also know that Milk is huge in the American Diet. I am not a great fan, check out www.notmilk.com they have studies where milk can actually predispose you to diabetes. If you have to drink milk, please buy Organic milk.

If you get 100% fruit juice and then dilute it with water, it should not be too bad to give sometimes.
You might want to check out Xylitol. It is a real sugar that doesn't raise insulin levels.
What you have to be real careful about is foods with High Fructose Corn Syrup, because it really messes with your body's ability to process the food.
You are smart to stay away from those artificial sweeteners. They are not good for anybody.

C.,

What about the light juice mixed with carbonated water? Also, Crylstal Light's orange drinks might do occassionally.

would it be better to make juice yourself? like buy a juicer, you'd be able to get away from all the added sugars and even toss in some veggies for an added boost of goodness.

We use Stevia in our house to sweeten things like coffee or tea, and I'll bet you could use it to sweeten things like kool-aid if you wanted to try it. We also dilute juice. My kids, ages 6 and 4, are fine with that. We have to be careful and monitor DD's juice intake because she would drink it all day if we let her, but we try to stick to the 4 oz. or less. Diluting it helps, and it means she gets less sugar. I don't know how closely you have to watch your GDD's sugar, so maybe even a little juice isn't an option. If not, then I would give Stevia a try.

A dear friend of the family is diabetic and she goes to the natural food and health food stores. They offer a wide variety of foods for folks with all types of sugar issues. They offer low sugar natural fruit juices. Another thing she does is to regulate her blood sugar is to make sure she has some protein and fiber rich foods with her juice. The protein helps to balance the sugar.

C.: Well, I've been studying nutrition for about 9 years now - and to make the long story short - I wanted to find out who the "Big" guy was in my nutrition business - and so we sought him out. He flew in from Washington and showed our group and presentation - anyway he gave us a sample of this soap and neutralizer. I was thinking "No way!! I set it aside and my friend Jennifer and her family actually tried it. Her husband Dan had Diabetes, carpal tunnel, asthma and prostate problems. Anyway, she comes to my house 6 months later all excited saying "M., remember how Dan was so sick, guess what, it's gone --- everything!!! I was in awe and almost didn't believe her for a long time until I actually saw him and saw them helping hundreds of people with their health problems. Here you go. www.missdaisy.com. You're gonna love this!! The site has helpful tips on utilizing the products (how it normalizes your PH and your blood sugar is normalized) Also it rids your body of toxins and oxygenates you significantly!!

I would recommend taking juicy juice and diluting it with water, half and half or one fourth juice to three parts water. It will cut the carbs, taste good, many flavors and its all natural, no artificial sweetenters or any high fructose corn syrup. Good Luck. You could try calling a dietician at a local hospital to see what information she may have as well.