People with diabetes choosing an everyday drink
Diabetes UK recommends water as an all-round drink. Plain bottled water is a straightforward choice for regular hydration; a flavoured sugar-free option may suit someone who prefers a different taste.
Who these choices suit
Shoppers who prefer flavoured water
Compare sugars per 100ml as well as the ingredient list. The listed Volvic and Sainsbury's flavoured waters contain sweeteners and other ingredients that plain water does not.
People who need to prepare for hypos away from home
Keep everyday hydration separate from hypo treatment. Sugar-free bottled water cannot provide the sugar needed to treat a hypo; carry and follow the treatment agreed in your care plan.
What to check when choosing
Decide whether you want plain or flavoured water, then check the exact bottle’s label and a pack size that suits where you will drink it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Plain water | Check that the ingredient list is water alone, or water and carbon dioxide for a sparkling option. Compare bottle size and still or sparkling format. | I want an everyday drink without added sugar or sweeteners. I can choose still or sparkling according to preference. |
| Flavour and sugars | Read sugars per 100ml and the full ingredient list. Tesco Groceries lists 0g sugars per 100ml for Volvic Lemon & Lime Sugar Free; Sainsbury's lists below 0.5g per 100ml for its Strawberry & Kiwi No Added Sugar water. | Plain water does not appeal to me, but I want to compare flavoured options without assuming that “no added sugar” means 0g sugars or water-only ingredients. |
| Hypos | Keep the fast-acting carbohydrate specified in your agreed hypo-treatment plan separate from sugar-free water. Diabetes UK distinguishes sugary drinks used for hypos from sugar-free drinks for other occasions. | If I need to treat a hypo while out, my hydration bottle must not take the place of my planned treatment. |
| Pack and storage | Check bottle and pack size, current availability and the exact product’s instructions after opening. Sainsbury's says its 5L still spring water should be refrigerated and used within three days of opening. | A small bottle may suit a bag; for a larger bottle or multipack, I need room to store it and a format I can use as directed. |
Buying pitfalls
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Assuming “no added sugar” means 0g sugars
Sainsbury's lists sugars below 0.5g per 100ml for its Strawberry & Kiwi No Added Sugar water, while Tesco Groceries lists 0g per 100ml for Volvic Lemon & Lime Sugar Free.
Compare the sugars value per 100ml on the exact bottle rather than treating the two labels as identical nutrition statements.
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Assuming flavoured water has the same ingredients as plain water
The listed plain Evian, Highland Spring and Volvic waters identify water as their ingredient. The listed flavoured examples also contain sweeteners, acids or flavourings.
Choose plain water if you want to avoid those additions; otherwise, read the flavoured bottle’s complete ingredient list.
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Using sugar-free water to treat a hypo
Sugar-free water does not supply the sugar needed for hypo treatment. Diabetes UK treats sugary drinks for hypos as an exception to its everyday sugar-free drink advice.
Keep your agreed hypo treatment available separately and use bottled water for hydration.
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Overlooking instructions for an opened bottle
A larger bottle may be used over several days. Sainsbury's instructs shoppers to refrigerate its 5L still spring water and use it within three days once opened.
Check the instructions on the pack you buy and choose a size you can use accordingly.
Relevant brand references
Highland Spring
A plain spring-water reference for shoppers considering portable multipacks.
- The Highland Spring Still 12x500ml listing identifies natural spring water as its ingredient.
- Check availability for the exact pack before ordering.
Evian
A plain natural mineral water reference in a 6x1.5L pack.
- The Evian Still 6x1.5L listing states natural mineral water as the ingredient and 0g sugars per 100ml.
- Choose its mineral-water taste and pack format by preference, not as a diabetes-specific advantage.
Volvic
Its listed range illustrates the difference between plain mineral water and flavoured sugar-free water.
- The listed plain multipack identifies 100% Volvic natural mineral water as its ingredient.
- Tesco Groceries lists sweeteners, citric acid, flavourings and a preservative in Volvic Lemon & Lime Sugar Free. Check the variant rather than assuming it has plain water’s ingredients.
Buxton
A still natural mineral water reference for shoppers comparing plain-water bottles.
- Tesco Groceries lists Buxton Still Natural Mineral Water in a 1.5L bottle.
- Read the exact bottle label for its current ingredients and nutrition information.
Sainsbury's
Its listed own-label products include plain still spring water and a no-added-sugar flavoured drink.
- The 5L plain-water listing describes still spring water.
- Its Strawberry & Kiwi No Added Sugar water lists sugars below 0.5g per 100ml and contains sucralose, acids, flavourings and preservatives.
A comparison of listed waters
This is a decision order, not an external quality ranking: plain water comes before flavoured drinks in line with Diabetes UK’s everyday-drink guidance, followed by flavoured examples distinguished by their listed sugars and ingredients. The order does not make a product suitable for every preference.
| Rank | Product | Main specifications | Reason for position | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evian Still 6x1.5L | Still natural mineral water; 0g sugars per 100ml. | The Joybuy listing identifies natural mineral water as the ingredient. This is a plain-water choice in a larger-bottle pack, consistent with Diabetes UK’s everyday water guidance. | Joybuy |
| 2 | Volvic Still Natural Mineral Water 6x500ml | Non-carbonated natural mineral water; six 500ml bottles. | The Joybuy listing identifies 100% Volvic natural mineral water. The smaller bottles distinguish its pack format from the Evian example; the positions do not establish a nutritional advantage between them. | Joybuy |
| 3 | Volvic Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime Sugar Free 6x500ml | Flavoured water; 0g sugars per 100ml on the Tesco Groceries listing. | A flavour-led option rather than plain water. Tesco Groceries lists sweeteners, citric acid, flavourings and potassium benzoate, so check whether those ingredients suit you. | Joybuy |
| 4 | Sainsbury's Strawberry & Kiwi No Added Sugar 4x500ml | Flavoured spring-water drink; sugars below 0.5g per 100ml. | Sainsbury's lists sweetener, acids, flavourings and preservatives. Its reported sugars value differs from the 0g-per-100ml Volvic example; compare the exact labels rather than treating this order as an overall verdict. | Sainsbury's |
Joybuy bottled-water options
These options include plain still and sparkling water, alongside sugar-free flavoured water. Choose the drink type first, then compare the stated sugars, ingredients and bottle sizes.
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FIJI Water Natural Artesian Still Water, 24x330ml
A plain still-water option in small bottles for everyday hydration. The listing identifies natural artesian water as the ingredient and reports 0g sugars per 100ml; the pack contains 24 330ml bottles.
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SAN PELLEGRINO Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, 6x1L
For shoppers who prefer sparkling water rather than still. The listing names natural mineral water and carbon dioxide as ingredients, reports 0g sugars per 100ml and specifies six 1L bottles.
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Volvic Touch of Strawberry Sugar Free Water, 6x500ml
A strawberry-flavoured alternative when you want a drink other than plain water. The listing reports 0.0g sugars per 100ml and specifies six 500ml bottles. Check the exact bottle’s ingredient list if sweeteners or other additions matter to you.
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Volvic Touch of Fruit Lemon & Lime Sugar Free, 6x500ml
A lemon-and-lime flavoured option rather than plain water. The listing reports 0g sugars per 100ml and specifies six 500ml bottles; its ingredients include citric acid, flavourings, potassium benzoate, sucralose and acesulfame K. Check the bottle label for its current nutrition details.
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Highland Spring Sugar Free Strawberry Water, 1.25L
A larger strawberry-flavoured bottle for shoppers comparing alternatives to plain water. The listing reports 0g sugars per 100ml and names sucralose, citric acid, natural flavourings and potassium sorbate; it also states that the drink contains sulphites. Its instructions say to keep it chilled after opening and use it within three days.
Frequently asked questions
Is plain bottled water an everyday choice when you have diabetes?
Yes. Diabetes UK describes water as an all-round drink for people living with diabetes. Choose still or sparkling plain water by preference, then check the bottle and pack size that suit you.
Does “no added sugar” mean flavoured water contains only water?
No. The listed Volvic and Sainsbury's flavoured examples contain additions such as sweeteners, acids or flavourings. Read the ingredients and sugars per 100ml on the exact product before buying.
Can sugar-free bottled water treat a hypo?
No. Sugar-free water does not supply the sugar needed for hypo treatment. Diabetes UK distinguishes sugary drinks used for hypos from sugar-free alternatives for other occasions; follow your agreed hypo-treatment plan.