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Disaster

M

Miss90

Well-Known Member
Messages
223
Location
UK
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes
So, for the first time since diagnosis 11 years ago, I've had a 'HI' reading on my meter!!!!

Went out for a birthday and ordered two vodka and diet cokes...asked 4 times if the coke was diet (it was Pepsi, I never drink Pepsi so I can't tell) and the bar lady was like 'oh yeah it's deffo diet don't worry.....

Half an hour later I start feeling very sick, lethargic, back ache, ask my boyfriend to pick me up and checked my sugar - 'Hi'. Only one explanation, I was given normal Pepsi!!!!!!!

Has this happened to anyone before?
 
No I suggest complaining to head office or manager 'once ' you have a name for staff member.
Just explain Monday morning you'll be visiting local council to complain.
That is who gives them a 'license to trade'
Once removed because a surprise visit by HSE or licence to trade people they will change there ways.
A staff member failed to follow correct procedure. However unless you described that you had a medical condition which required diet coke or Pepsi or lidls
 
Drinking alone can spike you, I'd not blame the bartender for the issue - you chose to drink knowing the possible risks for doing so
 
Nyxks said:
Drinking alone can spike you, I'd not blame the bartender for the issue - you chose to drink knowing the possible risks for doing so
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I know drinking can spike you, I'm a careful drinker and I've never had a problem before.
 
Sounds like it was the Pepsi. I'd want to see proof that the Pepsi was a diet variety. If they won't show you what they are serving you, it's maybe best to take your custom elsewhere!
 
Yeah it's happened to me a couple of times - I don't know whether it's because they think it doesn't make a difference or whether there's a legitimate reason. I can tell the difference in taste between diet and non diet coke/Pepsi when it's on its own but not when mixed so I used to buy the vodka and coke separately haha.

But now I actually go with full coke as a mixer because I usually drink spirits that don't have any carbs (vodka, JD etc.) so my BG goes quite low - the sugar in the coke balances it out and means that I don't have to buy something to eat.
 
I'm not a drinker, but did like a drink when out occasionally socialising.

Years ago now, a friend worked behind a bar in a night club and she questioned why the staff gave ordinary coke and not diet , when the customer asked for it, and they said it doesn't matter, as its just coke/pepsi anyway and basically didn't really care!!
 
With so many diabetics in the population you'd think bar staff would be more clued-up. The only answer is to be clued-up for them, and check with our own eyes what they are doing. The customer is always right, we're giving them our money.
 
I'm sure I have read on the forum that some folks use their meter to test drinks they are not certain are sugar free.

(BTW - great pizza, @Nyxks)
 
Same happens to me. Ordered a diet coke but it must have been the mixer, the pipe or something. I don't think it was all full sugar coke as I didn't taste the sweetness in it but my sugars rocketed. Vowed after this that it has to be a can/bottle of diet coke or water from then on. On hols in Greece it's great as they only serve soft drinks from cans/bottles. Personally I wouldn't complain but just put it down to experience and avoid their made-up coke.
 
czj said:
I'm sure I have read on the forum that some folks use their meter to test drinks they are not certain are sugar free.

(BTW - great pizza, @Nyxks)
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Could be a waste of a good test-strip and extra hassle. Annoying if it's just a clueless bar-person who doesn't know what he/she is serving.
 
lizdeluz said:
With so many diabetics in the population you'd think bar staff would be more clued-up. The only answer is to be clued-up for them, and check with our own eyes what they are doing. The customer is always right, we're giving them our money.
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Nice idea, but when so many bars are staffed by people on zero hours contracts/students/seasonal workers, the educational programme, which would be difficult to police would be rather impractical.
 
AndBreathe said:

Nice idea, but when so many bars are staffed by people on zero hours contracts/students/seasonal workers, the educational programme, which would be difficult to police would be rather impractical.
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Of course. I think it's preferable anyway to take full responsibility for what we consume.
 
AndBreathe said:


Nice idea, but when so many bars are staffed by people on zero hours contracts/students/seasonal workers, the educational programme, which would be difficult to police would be rather impractical.
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This is a case of trust. It's as clear and simple as that. The people that serve you drinks have a duty of care to you when serving. It's no different than going in to restaurant and with a nut allergy and you asking if a dish has nuts in it and then having a reaction
 

Of course, but on so many occasions in the past we have heard about products being sold which are not as described; recent examples being horse meat, beef not lamb in lamb curry and so on. Sadly it happens, and isn't always in our control. We all have our own personal risk thresholds, and on that basis we each have to decide if we're going to risk it (for me, the risk is massively less than for a T1, obviously), or take the potential out of the equation.

I have ended up with a supply of Diastix, which were acquired on my doctor's advice, before I understood they are the chocolate teapot of day-to-day diabetes management. but I have played around dipping one into drinks, just to check them out. It's not something I do on a regular basis, as I'd rather stick with water and a slice of lime than have too many diet drinks.
 
Only buy drinks that are in bottles,carton or cans and marked diet or sugar-free. Those pump dispensers in pubs, restaurant and fast food chains often have the wrong product attached, so the server may well be pressing the diet coke button but you could in fact be getting full sugar coke (or Pepsi in your case Miss90).
 
It's happened to me with a glass of plain coke, from one of those pump soft drink dispensers. I didn't even notice the difference. When driving home my vision was really blurred and couldn't see the road signs clearly. Twigged it was the blood sugar and sure enough it simply said HI. Since then I've only drank soft drinks from unopened cans and bottles.
 
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