February 12, 2000
Exercise and Sports, Meal Planning, Food and Diet
Question from Dallas, Texas, USA:
I am a nationally ranked USA swimmer specializing in the breaststroke. As a borderline diabetic, I want to know how to measure the sugar content in sports beverage drinks, like Gatorade, that are promoted to athletes like myself. There is a real discussion brewing with my coach and doctor about which beverage is better for an athlete, water or a sports drink like Gatorade. I also want to know how I can test the sugar content in these sports drinks to make sure that the sports drinks have the exact amount of sugar in them that they claim too.
Can you provide me with a simple way to measure the sugar content in these beverages?
Answer:
Water is the preferred drink. Gatorade can be worked in the meal plan for someone with diabetes, although water is preferred. Usually we consider Gatorade to be 15 gm carb/1 cup (or 8 oz.). Of course it has the added minerals, but you would get those by eating a normal diet. Basically it is just expensive sugar water.
I am unsure what you mean by borderline diabetes since we do not use that terminology anymore. Pretty much, you either have diabetes or you do not.
LSF
