Diabetics Observed

[bill hopkinson]

I was on a short cruise last week, and of course had the chance to sit and eat with lots of different people.

Dependent:
One spry lady from Bucks aged about 80 sat down at the table and announced to the waiter that she was diabetic. She then accepted everything that was brought to her. For example, instead of rich chocolate pudding, she was offered rice pudding which she took. (I had cheese and celery at the same table for dessert). Mid afternoon buffet I saw her with a plate of 4 scones piled with cream and jam - noone to whom to say "I am diabetic".

Vegetarian:
A woman from Cornwall with serious mobility issues because of neuropathy was not able to go to the buffet so asked her husband to get her something. No meat she said. While he was gone she told me how difficult it was for her to control her diabetes because she was vegetarian. He came back with a plate of potatoes, rice and vegetables. No protein. She ate the potatoes and rice, and left the vegetables.

Will-power
A well-rounded woman from Hampshire shared her experiences of diet as a diabetic. I know what I should eat, she said, but I have no will power. She was eating chips and pie at the time. I try to eat as much salad as I can, she confided later, whilst she had a plate of four chocolate cakes in front of her.

I am not like that. What is different? I guess my will power relates to living a full active life and the wrong food would weaken that. And I am an educated diabetic, whenever I am offered tools for self-management I grab them.

Am I really such a minority?

 

[Northerner]

...I am not like that. What is different? I guess my will power relates to living a full active life and the wrong food would weaken that. And I am an educated diabetic, whenever I am offered tools for self-management I grab them.

Am I really such a minority?

I think this is the key - you are educated and take an active part in managing your diabetes, and I'm guessing that you probably have better support from your GP/nurse. I've heard of quite a few people who seem to be very fatalistic about their diabetes, and even some who seem to enjoy the sympathy they can elicit from talking about their 'burden'. I've also heard of people with Type 2 who say 'I would never go on insulin', even if it's patently clear that, without it, their levels will be out of control. I think the fatalism is often encouraged by HCPs who engender feelings of guilt and hopelessness - if they never hear how manageable this condition can be, they are left with few options other than steady decline

This annoys me so much - diabetes is an extremely common and well-researched condition and people who do get the right education and tools, plus support and motivation can live healthier and happier lives than many people who look down their noses at people unfortunate enough to be diagnosed.

 

[bill hopkinson]

and I'm guessing that you probably have better support from your GP/nurse.

If I don't get the support I need, I ask for it. So Jenny, my diabetic nurse, knows I want the best answers and enjoys rising to the occasion.

 

[Northerner]

If I don't get the support I need, I ask for it. So Jenny, my diabetic nurse, knows I want the best answers and enjoys rising to the occasion.

I think that may also lie at the root of the problem for a lot of people - passivity and acceptance of a doctor's authority. Hard for some people to challenge, especially if they don't know there are alternatives.

 

[Amigo]

I never ceased to be amazed by the Type 2 diabetics I meet who seem to think they're 'getting one over on the disease' by cheating! The kind of 'it's not telling me what to eat as if it's a separate entity and not the way they function.

But the biggest problem is pure ignorance of food effects and the refusal to see a negative link between that 'nice, innocent piece of cake' and serious bodily damage. People still say, 'oh it's only a small piece', how bad can it be?

I must confess I was quite ignorant on the subject when my mum was diagnosed and the medical advice then was woeful. And she's suffered the consequences.
As have a couple of male friends who just don't get it.

I've now learned to just 'keep my own counsel' and do what I need to do and what my meter tells me is working because otherwise people seem to think I'm some kind of food zealot!

Rant over! 😉

 

[Sally71]

I can remember learning at school that all fats turn to fatty acids, all proteins turn to amino acids and all carbohydrates turn to glucose (i.e. sugar) in your digestive system. So it always amazes me how few other people seem to know this!

I realise that we all forget a large amount of what we learnt at school, and I can't remember exactly when I learnt it - if it was during O Level biology classes then a lot of people don't even take biology to that level in the first place. But GPs, DSNs and other medical people really ought to have a better idea, hadn't they, so that they can give all the poor newly diagnosed diabetics (of all types) a better idea what they are dealing with! We are lucky and have a fab team who seem really on the ball, but many many people out there are not so lucky, especially T2s

Of course there will always also be a few people out there who just stick their head in the sand and don't want to be told what to do!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I was on a short cruise last week, and of course had the chance to sit and eat with lots of different people.

Dependent:
One spry lady from Bucks aged about 80 sat down at the table and announced to the waiter that she was diabetic. She then accepted everything that was brought to her. For example, instead of rich chocolate pudding, she was offered rice pudding which she took. (I had cheese and celery at the same table for dessert). Mid afternoon buffet I saw her with a plate of 4 scones piled with cream and jam - noone to whom to say "I am diabetic".

Vegetarian:
A woman from Cornwall with serious mobility issues because of neuropathy was not able to go to the buffet so asked her husband to get her something. No meat she said. While he was gone she told me how difficult it was for her to control her diabetes because she was vegetarian. He came back with a plate of potatoes, rice and vegetables. No protein. She ate the potatoes and rice, and left the vegetables.

Will-power
A well-rounded woman from Hampshire shared her experiences of diet as a diabetic. I know what I should eat, she said, but I have no will power. She was eating chips and pie at the time. I try to eat as much salad as I can, she confided later, whilst she had a plate of four chocolate cakes in front of her.

I am not like that. What is different? I guess my will power relates to living a full active life and the wrong food would weaken that. And I am an educated diabetic, whenever I am offered tools for self-management I grab them.

Am I really such a minority?

You sound very much like the dreaded food police 😱
Surely what other people do and eat is their business and no one else's?

 

[Northerner]

You sound very much like the dreaded food police 😱
Surely what other people do and eat is their business and no one else's?

Only Food Police if you attempt to arrest the behaviour! 🙂 I think Bill makes a very interesting point - yes, people can do as they wish, but are they making informed choices?

 

[trophywench]

LOL - if it was waiter service I'd just ask him to ask the chef for a carb count before I ordered as I don't spend my life eating 'restaurant' food and guesstimating on odd occasions is no great prob, but not for a whole week. I can eat stodge as can everyone - but if I'm going to I'd like to enjoy it properly !

 

[happydog]

I have come to the conclusion that there is amazing ignorance about what T2 can eat., Some of it is through incorrect information. I was told two pieces of cake a week and one or two biscuits a day, not both chocolate, plenty of fruit including grapes (5 portions a day) and that only simple carbs convert to glucose, but we need some glucose for energy and this was from the nurse who is supposed to be the diabetes specialist! I was also told that if I did not have 60% carbs at meals my body would not function properly. Carbohydrates are the building blocks of life she said. When I went on the education course, that was not exactly brilliant, there were several people who declared that they would not change their lifestyle. So I also think that some people know but choose to ignore what to do. It is really up to the individual but good clear and consistent information from the professionals could make a difference. Hope you enjoyed your cruise Bill?

 

[Flower]

It is interesting to observe diabetics in the wild.

I had diabetes explained to me today. A couple in front of me in the hospital cafe queue were arguing over whether to have chocolate or lemon icing on the cake they chose. I must have sighed just a bit too loudly as she turned to me and said "I'm diabetic see, I can eat the cake but my husband has to eat the icing"

An interesting approach.

 

[bill hopkinson]

Hope you enjoyed your cruise Bill?

The cruise was pretty good, to Norway and back. Scenery fantastic, and ankle deep in snow in June is interesting.
It was one of those things, under £50 a day for all-inclusive, leaving locally, London Cruise Terminal, so why not?

Actually food-wise, being a UK owned line, it was better than other cruises I have been on. Plenty of veg, fruits were Temperate rather than Tropical (less sugar) and generally less rich main courses. And glass of wine at £2.50 is better than the £6 on the previous cruise.

 

[Robin]

Glad you enjoyed your cruise.
I've gone on a cruise, either river or sea, most years since diagnosis. Until I found this forum, it was the only time I'd ever spoken to other diabetics, and it was interesting to find a lady who, like me, had been diagnosed type 1 at 50.( we both took out our insulin pens at dinner the first night, and went 'snap')
I've found the choice of food has always been done really well, to suit a wide range of diets. The cake and pudding portions are tiny, and there are mini croissants at breakfast, so OK, it's up to you if you want to eat six of them, but if like me, you'd like a small temptation at the end of a low carb meal, it's ideal. There have always been things like DIY muesli, where you can put your own nuts, seeds and berries on the basic mix, and plates of sliced melon, smoked salmon, grilled veg, etc at breakfast. then a salad buffet at lunch, and a well balanced dinner, low carb starter, light choices for pud ( including the 'diabetic mousse' option, which made me wonder how many diabetics you have to whizz up in the blender.....) All presented beautifully and looking wonderfully tempting, so I never felt I was missing out.
What with all the walking I do when we are in port, I must be one of the few people actually to have lost weight on a cruise without trying!

 

[trophywench]

.... I fear that eg the gin in the G&T's would make up handsomely for the calories I might not otherwise consume ......

 

[Amigo]

That's exactly what I was thinking Jenny! 🙂

When I was on a cruise the cocktails were deliciously but expensively inviting (I hadn't been dx at that point).

It does occur to me though that many quite elderly T2's seem to make a decision not to restrict themselves despite the consequences. I have a very elderly Aunt who is a T2 and even though she recognises the risks has decided she'd rather go from a chocolate overdose than boredom. And if I ever make my late 80's (which is highly unlikely), I may feel the same and risk the consequences!

 

[Bosie]

You ask if you are in a minority. The answer is no you are not. If you find a solution to how to engage with people to help them to help themselves then please tell your nearest Public Health Department. 🙂
However it is also true that some health professionals do not give accurate information. My partner is adamant that he should eat lots of carbs at each meal because the practice nurse told him too. He is type 2. I was told to eat more carbs to prevent my hypos just a week ago, yet I'm feeling better eating fewer carbs. It is so difficult to know which advice to take sometimes. That's why I've joined this forum to learn.

 

[Robin]

.... I fear that eg the gin in the G&T's would make up handsomely for the calories I might not otherwise consume ......

Calories in a two finger kitkat, 107. Calories in a double gin and slimline tonic, 105. And alcohol lowers your blood glucose! I'll forego the kitkat any day.

 

[trophywench]

Oh, drinking singles are we???? LOL