Eating Out Anxiety

[Manda]

Hi 🙂

I have had type 1 for just over a year and a half, I only take a little fast acting along with basal at the moment as I'm in my 'honeymoon' phase.

When eating out I avoid dishes with medium/high carbs and sugar as I haven't learnt how to carb count yet, as well as it being a guessing game in restaurants. To make it trickier, I'm also vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free due to intolerances haha. I do manage to find a few places I can eat but I don't tend to enjoy the food, as it's often a cold salad or plain vegetables. I find I get really down seeing my friends eating all the foods I used to love, especially dessert!! It makes me feel isolated and I struggle to make conversation as I don't want anyone to see how upset I am. I end up feeling sorry for myself which I hate, but it becomes a downward spiral in terms of my mood. Has anyone else experienced this and what did you do about it? Considering avoiding eating out until I've learnt how to use my fast acting insulin...

Thanks! x

 

[SB2015]

Hi 🙂

I have had type 1 for just over a year and a half, I only take a little fast acting along with basal at the moment as I'm in my 'honeymoon' phase.

When eating out I avoid dishes with medium/high carbs and sugar as I haven't learnt how to carb count yet, as well as it being a guessing game in restaurants. To make it trickier, I'm also vegetarian, gluten free and dairy free due to intolerances haha. I do manage to find a few places I can eat but I don't tend to enjoy the food, as it's often a cold salad or plain vegetables. I find I get really down seeing my friends eating all the foods I used to love, especially dessert!! It makes me feel isolated and I struggle to make conversation as I don't want anyone to see how upset I am. I end up feeling sorry for myself which I hate, but it becomes a downward spiral in terms of my mood. Has anyone else experienced this and what did you do about it? Considering avoiding eating out until I've learnt how to use my fast acting insulin...

Thanks! x

Hi Amanda

Is there a reason why you have not yet been taught to carb count yet? I note you are already 18 months in and I know that the honeymoon period makes things a lot less predictable, but if you were able to carb count that would take one variable away. I realise that this wouldn’t solve the problem of eating out but it would certainly help.

As well as becoming more adept at working out carbs by eye, I have found certain restaurants locally where I have got to know them and they have sought out the carbs info for me. Without carb counting ting I am not sure how this would help though.