What sugar-free drinks are available for diabetics?

We have not been to India for 10 years but I can recall that on our last visit it was almost impossible to find sugar-free drinks (non-alcoholic) suitable for my diabetic husband... in spite of the huge numebrs of diabetic Indians.

We are visting again in December/January (Kolkata/Kalimpong/Delhi/Goa/Hyderabad) from a few earlier posts I ahve read it seems that situation is different these days and its easier to find sugar-free drinks. True?

I am expecting that chai wallahs on trains won't be able to supply sugar-free chai but is it available in your average eating place? Is Diet Coke readily available? Any other sugar-free drinks that are commonly available(other than water!)?

Another earlier post mentioend sugar-free Indian sweets in Kolkata. Can anyone give me more details about what's available and where? Can't imagine how it would be possible to make jalebi without sugar but my husband would be in heaven if he could have some.

You are right about the chaiwala on the train. However on a train that has a Pantry Car, you can get sugar less chai.

Diet coke is available, but its availability is less than that of the regular coke. However in the places that you are likely to visit - i.e Touristy places - you will get it.
The best sugar lass drink I can recommend is Tender coconuts - available almost everywhere and very refreshing and fresh. If you are a little more adventurous and don't mind ingesting local water, Chaas or buttermilk should also be good.

Hope that helps

It may have less sugar, but is it really sugarless?

One option could be Amul tetra packs of chhanchh, -- water used isn't an worry there. Salt lassi made with packaged water should be good too. Or salt lemonade, similarly made.

sugar in tender coconut? Just checked - There is little sugar in tender coconut. about 2gm/100 ml: source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_water

The Amul chacch idea is good. Missed that.

This maybe true at many places, but not necessarily! From the same source as yours:

The tender version could sometimes have a fair amount of sugar too. And diabetics do really count their sugar intake.

Coconut is bound to contain fructose, lassi will have its share of lactose: it all ends up as glucose in your bloodstream. I survive on bottled water and tomato juice while travelling.

Is there anything in India that isnt full of sugar?

Bhim Nag in North Kolkata is famous for its "diabetic sondesh". The pista barfi is amazingly good. I have forgotten the exact address since we were puja-hopping at the time.

Not unless it is full of salt. As a diabetic with chronic hypertension I'm off sugar and salt in their typical Indian dosages. While travelling in India I stick to things like these. Scroll down till you get to the Oat Cookies and Ragi Cookies. I can strongly recommend them.

I guess beer's out!? Just kidding.

Other than beer & wine, I don't drink anything but water here in the U.S. In India I like tender coconut water, but don't know its glycemic index.

This is going to sound crazy but what the heck I'll share anyway for anyone looking for a change of pace but not interested in sugary drinks - I drink tamarind water. I don't have any health problems, but I like the taste, and swear by it for prevention of gastric problems.

I just put in a bit of tamarind pulp (very easy to find in India) in my water bottle, shake well, and sip from it. I don't mind getting the pulp, I quite like the taste. I don't know if it's available commercially or not, but if anyone bottles it, I won't say no to a royalty check or 2 or 3!

In the "good old days" there used to be a bottled drink called Rimzim. I'm fairly certain that it was manufactured by Bisleri. It was there even before Limca. It had a cumin flavour but I'm sure there was a lot of sugar in it as well.

I drink black tea (without sugar) - but it takes some effort to convince Indians (waiters, cooks) that I want WATER and a tea bag and not milk with a tea bag.

Alternatively one could buy tea bags and just ask for hot water. I've done it.

I had no problems at small chai stands getting tea made without sugar, and I carried a stash of saccharin tablets to sweeten this.

I also got lemonade (nimbu soda and nimbu pani) at various places, again without sugar, and used the saccahrin tablets.

In Kolkata, I found Diet Pepsi, and Diet Coke in Pushkar .. though it was hard to find it cold enough for me!

You'll want to consider the food in India, as well. The curd, for example, often is sugared...

For Delhi Its Cool You get Sugarfree drink almost every where , but for rest of the places as well It shouldn't be a problem but try to keep some stock when you are going for a trip in the remote, as its readily available in Big cities but for the small own thats not the story

If you are in Chennai, you may want to check this out.

http://www.diabeticsdezire.com.

-S