Diabetic Dilemma

[SusieGriff]

I'm currently orgainising an outdoor party in June, I have to do the catering, I was wondering if there are any good ideas out there as to what to do for a diabetic buffet (there will be 3 of us) to include with all the regular foods for the others.

AND, what and how do you go about eating at one of these functions? as people nibble at stuff all day... do you just have one plate of food and be done with it not much fun there...

 

[Copepod]

Personally, I find buffets are the easiest provided meals for me, as I can choose exactly what and how much to eat, and bolus for it. The only issue is guessing carbohydrate quantities - I practice occasionally by weighing food at home & memorising carbohydrate, so I can recognise portions when eating out. If in any doubt, I prefer to inject less and if necessary, have a correction dose a few hours later. Low carbohydrate nibbles are good for eating without injecting. So, my advice is ask everyone for any specific food requirements / likes / dislikes - type 1 diabetes doesn't really bring any specific requirements, but people with type 1 diabetes can have preferances. If any of the three have type 2 diabetes, then offering lower carbohydrate foods and drinks is more important. You might want to offer diet soft drinks, as fruit juices and normal soft drinks are high sugar; alcohol is OK, as long as you're sensible and not driving.

For example, today I was working, 11am - 1pm organising an orienteering session, so lots of running and standing oround outdoors, so had a muesli bar before start, then a sandwich after finish; afternoon was an orienteering party for 7 year old children, 2pm to 3.30pm, followed by tea - was offered and accepted (was starving) hot dog sausage in roll, baked cheescake, sticks of carrots, peppers & cucumber. Plus, normal 3.5 miles cycle in each direction and 1 mile foot patrol before 11am. About time to check blood sugar before tea, being cooked by my partner as I type, lucky me 🙂

 

[shiv]

Hi Suzie, there's no such thing as a diabetic diet, so just a normal buffet will be absolutely fine! You could make small adjustments such as having wholegrain bread etc available but there is no need to provide a special spread.

You'll be carb counting and adjusting insulin by then 🙂 so you need to tot up the carbs you eat and cover it with the appropriate amount of insulin. The main thing to watch out for is insulin 'stacking' - that is, if you do lots of little injections, the insulin stacks up and can cause a hypo. The way I get around this is to bolus once or twice during the buffet, having slower releasing carbs first, and faster acting ones (ie most puddings/sweet things) later on when the insulin is peaking. That works for me, but everyone is different.

 

[SusieGriff]

Thanks Shiv, I've no idea about eating out yet, as I daren't venture out !! coward..... as you say by then, I should b able to tot up a few carbs. I'll maybe, as you suggest, do a little run through first and jot it down.
Hey! a good idea would be to put the carb values on each thing stuck under the plate!!! hehehe.
Yes, there'll be 2 t!'s and a T2 there, so low fat things, and some wholemeal sarnies. Oh the mind boggles.... I have every respect for you guys, I never knew there was soooooo much involved in being diabetic! all hail to you !!

 

[shiv]

You know what, I think I would actually hug someone who organised a buffet and put the carb count for each thing under each plate...sounds like heaven!

 

[margie]

I would have some fresh fruit in the desert area, sliced melon, berries etc.

There are cookbooks around where you can make low sugar deserts - I made a mandarin cheesecake from one (the book was produced by Diabetes UK)