Energy drink for someone who is pre-diabetic

[OakLeaf]

NUUN just reformulated most of their products, and while I haven't tried the new formulation, they've removed the artificial sweeteners, foaming agent and preservatives, and added more sodium, so next time I order, I may try NUUN Active. I've been using GU Hydration Drink Tabs, which don't supply calcium or magnesium. For the running I do, I'm able to get enough magnesium from supplements I take regularly, but I think if I were cycling as I used to or ultra running - i.e., if I were out for more than around five hours at a time - I'd probably need to supplement calcium and magnesium during my workouts also. That would be a reason to use the new NUUN over GU.

As far as your calories, how do you do with long chain carbohydrates? Most of the energy products available emphasize maltodextrin over simple sugars; most of them have so little simple sugar that they add stevia and/or a small amount of sucrose just for a sweet flavor. Skratch Labs is an exception; all its calories come from simple sugars.

I'm not sure who we have participating currently in this forum, who's diabetic. You might be best to talk it over with a sports nutritionist who has expertise with diabetes, or a diabetes-focused nutritionist who has experience with endurance athletes. It's important that you be able to sort out how your body processes sugars and what happens to your insulin level during endurance activity. Based on the experience of many of us with other types of issues, a lot of health professionals who deal with people with chronic health issues have no idea what to do with endurance athletes, or what happens in our bodies during exertion.

[Crankin]

I don't have diabetes, but I do have a stomach that is sensitive to the sugars in most energy drinks. I use the Nuun without the sorbitol (haven't tried the new formula) for shorter, hotter rides (like 20-30 miles) and I use Skratch Labs hydration mix for long rides. It has the lowest amount of sugar I could find and it tastes awesome. No after taste or sickening side effects.
I second the idea of going to an RD with a sports nutrition background.

[Eden]

As far as I know NUUN has never used any artificial flavors or colors….. the reformulation looks like they've replaced the sorbitol with dextrose and are using monk fruit and stevia as sweeteners now. I'm not a big fan of stevia as I taste it as leaving a rather nasty aftertaste even when present in relatively small amounts, so the new NUUN may not please me. I don't know about monk fruit, I'm not sure if I've ever tried anything with it.

[OakLeaf]

You're probably right about the artificial colors, I posted before I looked again at the ingredients. But the old NUUN contained polyethylene glycol, sodium benzoate and acesulfame potassium. That's why I used to use NUUN U-Naturals before GU came out with their tablets, which contain much more sodium. NUUN is clearing out their old stock and still has links to the nutrition information on the old formula.

[Crankin]

I don't do well with Stevia, either, but we will see. I have about 3 cylinders left, so I won't be ordering new stuff for a bit.

[OakLeaf]

I'll save you from looking it up, the GU tablets I use have stevia. Also xylitol, which is easier on most people's stomachs than sorbitol, but still a sugar alcohol.

[rebeccaC]

As far as I know NUUN has never used any artificial flavors or colors….. the reformulation looks like they've replaced the sorbitol with dextrose and are using monk fruit and stevia as sweeteners now. I'm not a big fan of stevia as I taste it as leaving a rather nasty aftertaste even when present in relatively small amounts, so the new NUUN may not please me. I don't know about monk fruit, I'm not sure if I've ever tried anything with it.

Yeah I don’t think they’ve used any artificial colors. Monk fruit's antioxidant mogrosides are nuun's primary sweetener and are low glycemic. Not a lot of studies done so far but Buddhist monks in China have been using it for centuries. (years not rides)

Jean...I remember a pro bike team with its riders all being diabetic....which is good for inspiration, education and empowerment!!!

eta Team Novo Nordisk