Ambushed at Work

[Fatbellycustard]

Having just been diagnosed with T2, I don't yet feel ready to share this with my employer. Normally, I work from home, but have had occasion to go into the office twice this week. Trouble is, these meetings come with a working lunch and a team building emphasis, and not joining in is viewed as a slight to the company. Weds was a typical finger buffet (sarnies, pork pie, sausages on sticks, samosas, etc) while Thurs was pizza.

What sort of coping strategies does anyone employ? I'm happy at work and don't wish to paint them as unreasonable, but there is a strong "join in" culture. Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

[ColinUK]

Is there anyone you can confide in at work?
Is it possible that you can suggest a “healthier workforce” initiative?
Can you say you’ve gone vegetarian?

I’ve never worked anywhere where a working lunch wouldn’t automatically include healthy options including salads.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Well, at least some of that should be perfectely OK for you to eat. You could try telling them you're "doing healthy eating!", without mentioning health issues.

 

[ColinUK]

You can always take the sandwiches and just eat the filling and leave the bread.

If you just do it then they won’t even notice.

 

[Fatbellycustard]

Yeah, the "doing something healthy" thing might work. Obviously, I try to avoid the situation as much as possible, and eat my own prepared lunch/packed lunch when at home/on the road.

I'm going to have to develop a liking for salad ....

 

[ColinUK]

Yeah, the "doing something healthy" thing might work. Obviously, I try to avoid the situation as much as possible, and eat my own prepared lunch/packed lunch when at home/on the road.

I'm going to have to develop a liking for salad ....

Salad isn’t just lettuce 🙂

And remember to season your salad no matter what it is!

 

[Toucan]

Hmmm, this can be a tricky one.
I was in a similar situation once and used to take my healthy packed lunch, and eat it pre the meeting when no one was around. I'd take a small item form the main lunch, and then do a lot of talking so that it wasn't so obvious that I wasn't eating much. It can go wrong though!

 

[Lucylemonpip]

I think the easiest thing to say, without having to reveal the diabetes, is to say that you are trying to lose a bit of weight. You’re not lying one bit by saying that, just not mentioning the reason behind it. Although, people do have a habit of trying to encourage someone to ignore their diet and say things like, “go on, it won’t hurt, just a tiny bit...” etc, so then you could say that you really don’t want to muck your diet up. Or, if it’s pizza day, you could always pick the cheese off and the ham or pepperoni or chicken etc, and eat those bits, as they’re fine on low carb diets, leaving the base or just eat a very small mouthful, to “look” like you’re eating it all and then move across somewhere else, so when you are next asked if you’ve eaten or want more, you can then say “Phew, yes. I’m full! Can’t possibly eat any more!”. 🙂

 

[Fatbellycustard]

I need to practice my subterfuge!

The art of misdirection, though - sounds like a plan.

 

[Lucylemonpip]

I need to practice my subterfuge!

The art of misdirection, though - sounds like a plan.

Lol. Yes, slight of hand, or mouth, in this case.

 

[PhoebeC]

Also why don’t you take in a salad or whatever you like to eat, that’s sharing size then you are still taking part and you are sharing with them to whilst eating what suits you best x

 

[Grldtnr]

I am sorry, but I shall be blunt about this, just tell them that you are diabetic, and that to stay healthy you must follow a strict diet, it's better I think they know than not!
Who knows they might lay on something more beneficial to you, there are many non diabetics who would welcome healthy options, it's perhaps more the case of laziness amongst caterers than anything else.
Being 'picky' won't help, it might make the situation worse.

 

[KookyCat]

Well until you’re ready to tell them about the diabetes, I’d go with a quiet word with whoever is in charge and tell them you’re having some gastrointestinal issues so need to stick to a specific diet, but you don’t want to make a big deal of it in front of the others. Most people won’t probe much further if digestive issues are mentioned for fear you might elaborate so it should sort things nicely 🙂

 

[AndBreathe]

Personally, I'd do the sausages, hoping there wasn't too much rusk in then, the sarnie innards and on pizza day, I'd have the toppings.

When diagnosed, I didn't want to share, and have pity or be labelled, or whatever, so aside from close family and a couple of friends, I said nothing.

The times my change in eating we're mention I'd justness say I'd had some blood tests that showed some foods weren't doing me any favours, so I was swerving them. I didn't offer any more than that and it was accepted. Probably the fact I said it positively and unapologetically helped.

I don't expect anyone's not eating fish, meat, lettuce or anything else to have to explain why not, so why should I.

Nowadays I'm just known not to eat those things.

To be honest, most people are pretty wound up in their own lives and lunches to get too side-tracked.

 

[Laconic]

I just tell people the truth, it’s being a follower that partly made me a diabetic in the first place, although as an adult I accept that I’m responsible for my own actions. But my health comes first now, and people don’t even offer me certain foods because they know what the answer will be....

 

[Grldtnr]

I just tell people the truth, it’s being a follower that partly made me a diabetic in the first place, although as an adult I accept that I’m responsible for my own actions. But my health comes first now, and people don’t even offer me certain foods because they know what the answer will be....

It's bad enough having to be a hostage to Diabetes,so you shouldn't hide it, people are more accepting towards 'us ' afflicted, you will be surprised by how many say 'Oh , my so & so , has diabetes' and accept it , we are not pahriahs anymore.

 

[MikeTurin]

I am sorry, but I shall be blunt about this, just tell them that you are diabetic, and that to stay healthy you must follow a strict diet, it's better I think they know than not!
Who knows they might lay on something more beneficial to you, there are many non diabetics who would welcome healthy options, it's perhaps more the case of laziness amongst caterers than anything else.
Being 'picky' won't help, it might make the situation worse.

The only problem is that people could talk on the back, because people with diabetes are considered lazy fat donkeys that can't control themselves and deserve the illness.
Besides tell them that you are on a low-carb diet (true) and you have to lose some weight (also true) and that was a suggestion by the GP (I suppose also true).
You could explain that pizza has a lot of calories and you don't like to jeopardize the diet...

 

[Mephistophlillie]

this is a tough one. And one I haven't cracked yet myself. My wife knows, and my immediate boss (because of all the time off I needed) but thats it.

I'm busy on working it through, and getting it straight in my own head, before I tell anyone. I'm going to have to do it soon, as I've lost a stone and 3 pounds since New Years day, so the questions are imminent

 

[Laconic]

The only problem is that people could talk on the back, because people with diabetes are considered lazy fat donkeys that can't control themselves and deserve the illness.
Besides tell them that you are on a low-carb diet (true) and you have to lose some weight (also true) and that was a suggestion by the GP (I suppose also true).
You could explain that pizza has a lot of calories and you don't like to jeopardize the diet...

I’ve never thought that of people with diabetes, even before I was diagnosed. I just never knew it was such a serious illness. But if that’s what some people think. In such a situation we’ve got the perfect opportunity to prove them wrong

 

[Grldtnr]

The only problem is that people could talk on the back, because people with diabetes are considered lazy fat donkeys that can't control themselves and deserve the illness.
Besides tell them that you are on a low-carb diet (true) and you have to lose some weight (also true) and that was a suggestion by the GP (I suppose also true).
You could explain that pizza has a lot of calories and you don't like to jeopardize the diet...