Event catering

[DianeD]

Hi, I'm going to a gala dinner and there is a fixed menu. The organisers have requested notification of dietary requirements. I like the look of the menu and as it is a one off occasion I'm looking forward to it. I figure one night isn't gonna kill me. As I'm new to all this I have requested a carb count. They have flat out refused! What do I do? Should I cancel? Very upset at the thought of cancelling, I have quite a few this summer should I cancel them all?

 

[Inka]

Why would you cancel @DianeD ? Just estimate the carbs and enjoy your meal. You can make it easier by practising a bit beforehand and choosing things that are easy to estimate.

 

[Inka]

P.S - what’s the menu? We can give you some guidance.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi, I'm going to a gala dinner and there is a fixed menu. The organisers have requested notification of dietary requirements. I like the look of the menu and as it is a one off occasion I'm looking forward to it. I figure one night isn't gonna kill me. As I'm new to all this I have requested a carb count. They have flat out refused! What do I do? Should I cancel? Very upset at the thought of cancelling, I have quite a few this summer should I cancel them all?

If you know what the menu is you could make your best guess by looking at the carbs for similar meals where they do have a carb content.
You will become more experienced at eyeballing something and assessing the carbs, some will be more obvious than others.

 

[Inka]

If you know what the menu is you could make your best guess by looking at the carbs for similar meals where they do have a carb content.

That doesn’t always help because the commercial carb counts often include things that Type 1s don’t count. They’re also averages. It’s easier to look and judge yourself.

What will be more obvious? I don’t get what you mean.

 

[Leadinglights]

If you know what the menu is you could make your best guess by looking at the carbs for similar meals where they do have a carb content.

That doesn’t always help because the commercial carb counts often include things that Type 1s don’t count. They’re also averages. It’s easier to look and judge yourself.

What will be more obvious? I don’t get what you mean.

Just that for some meals it may be more obvious what the carbs would be.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Just that for some meals it may be more obvious what the carbs would be.

There are nutritional values for some similar dishes with recipes online or in some modern recently published cookbooks. But It could still be a ball park guestimation in my experience.
A reasonable suggestion, by my book.

Hi, I'm going to a gala dinner and there is a fixed menu. The organisers have requested notification of dietary requirements. I like the look of the menu and as it is a one off occasion I'm looking forward to it. I figure one night isn't gonna kill me. As I'm new to all this I have requested a carb count. They have flat out refused! What do I do? Should I cancel? Very upset at the thought of cancelling, I have quite a few this summer should I cancel them all?

Go to the gala. I’ve done a few “black tie” doo’s in my time. Find a way (understandably difficult with a “frock.”) to keep hypo treatment about your person or your “plus one’s” order a sweet drink (maybe tonic water? Coke may look strange amongst the wine glasses.) at your table place just incase. & have fun!

You can & shall go to the ball.

 

[DianeD]

Here's the menu
Ham Hock Terrine served with Piccalilli, Pea and Mint Salad, Micro Leaf and Sour Dough Crostini


Pan Seared Chicken Fillet with Bubble and Squeak Cake, Rainbow Carrots, Broccoli Tenderstem ,accompanied by a Wild Mushroom Sauce


Eton Mess served with a Shortbread Finger

Coffee

 

[Wendal]

Hi I fully understand your concerns but as you said yourself one night is not going to make much difference and it would be a shame not to go.
So on the premise you would much prefer to go and enjoy the evening which is equally as important to managing diabetes, it probably helps curb any excesses by following some of the suggestions here.
That is to estimate the carb count as best you can and possibly even consider splitting your dose so that you can better judge any insulin requirements after you know how your body may have responded to the meal.
You will not call it perfectly for a whole host of reasons and I for one have got it wrong the last 24 hours but I was happy enough to know it won’t do me any lasting harm,I can get back in control fairly quickly and most importantly it gave me enjoyment not only the food,but the occasion and even not checking my BG levels at the table ( which I sometimes do) and simply forgetting about the diabetes for a short while.
Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[rebrascora]

Sounds wonderful. If you take me with you as your plus one, I can carb count it for you and we can jab our insulin together!

My guesses would be :-

15-20g carbs for the starter, mostly in the sourdough crostini.

Maybe 20-25g in the main course with the bubble and squeak and carrots.

About 15g for the Eton mess and another 25g for the shortbread finger.

I would inject for each course as it arrives and if you are drinking wine or other alcohol with it you might be wise to reduce the dessert bolus by a unit or two especially if there is going to be dancing afterwards. Those would be my thoughts.

 

[Lucyr]

Hi, I'm going to a gala dinner and there is a fixed menu. The organisers have requested notification of dietary requirements. I like the look of the menu and as it is a one off occasion I'm looking forward to it. I figure one night isn't gonna kill me. As I'm new to all this I have requested a carb count. They have flat out refused! What do I do? Should I cancel? Very upset at the thought of cancelling, I have quite a few this summer should I cancel them all?

Just estimate the carbs, you can’t expect to receive a carb count everywhere you go.

If you’re not confident in your guess, just guess on the lower side and correct later on.

 

[DianeD]

Hi I fully understand your concerns but as you said yourself one night is not going to make much difference and it would be a shame not to go.
So on the premise you would much prefer to go and enjoy the evening which is equally as important to managing diabetes, it probably helps curb any excesses by following some of the suggestions here.
That is to estimate the carb count as best you can and possibly even consider splitting your dose so that you can better judge any insulin requirements after you know how your body may have responded to the meal.
You will not call it perfectly for a whole host of reasons and I for one have got it wrong the last 24 hours but I was happy enough to know it won’t do me any lasting harm,I can get back in control fairly quickly and most importantly it gave me enjoyment not only the food,but the occasion and even not checking my BG levels at the table ( which I sometimes do) and simply forgetting about the diabetes for a short while.
Good luck with whatever you decide

So far my outside catering batting average is 0 for 3 either I'm either under estimating carbs or I need to bolus earlier, or both. Going high on all occasions. Not experienced or confident enough to 'correct' as I'm worried I'll cause a hypo.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

Here's the menu
Ham Hock Terrine served with Piccalilli, Pea and Mint Salad, Micro Leaf and Sour Dough Crostini


Pan Seared Chicken Fillet with Bubble and Squeak Cake, Rainbow Carrots, Broccoli Tenderstem ,accompanied by a Wild Mushroom Sauce


Eton Mess served with a Shortbread Finger

Coffee

Fantastic choice. Hard to assess. (Haven’t had time to look up like for like?) Personally, I’d give a reserved bolus then correct for any BG infractions later?
Sorry to say this, go easy on any alcohol. It will help retain any hypo awareness? (My apologies if you don’t drink.)
I tend personally not to do desert.

 

[Lucyr]

So far my outside catering batting average is 0 for 3 either I'm either under estimating carbs or I need to bolus earlier, or both. Going high on all occasions. Not experienced or confident enough to 'correct' as I'm worried I'll cause a hypo.

You shouldn’t be bolusing earlier because you should be bolusing only for each course when the course is in front of you (edit to clarify this is advice when eating out. Only ever prebolus when you’re in control of food timings). You can expect to spike afterwards but if the dose is right to get back down to your starting bg when the insulin finishes working

If you’re always underestimating and always ending up high when the insulin is finished then maybe guess slightly more than you normally would, or add a small amount of insulin, or dance a bit more. So long as you’re making small changes at a time eg an extra 0.5 or 1unit not an extra 10, and you check by / have alarms on, you’ll be able to treat any issues.

 

[DianeD]

Sounds wonderful. If you take me with you as your plus one, I can carb count it for you and we can jab our insulin together!

My guesses would be :-

15-20g carbs for the starter, mostly in the sourdough crostini.

Maybe 20-25g in the main course with the bubble and squeak and carrots.

About 15g for the Eton mess and another 25g for the shortbread finger.

I would inject for each course as it arrives and if you are drinking wine or other alcohol with it you might be wise to reduce the dessert bolus by a unit or two especially if there is going to be dancing afterwards. Those would be my thoughts.

Thank you, I have screen shot this and will try it. I don't expect it to be perfect, I would rather be high and safe as I will be on my own. Just needed something to go on as I just don't trust myself yet.

 

[DianeD]

Fantastic choice. Hard to assess. (Haven’t had time to look up like for like?) Personally, I’d give a reserved bolus then correct for any BG infractions later?
Sorry to say this, go easy on any alcohol. It will help retain any hypo awareness? (My apologies if you don’t drink.)
I tend personally not to do desert.

I'm not a big drinker, will probably only have one glass of champagne. I have enough liquid problems with the insulin.
Thank you

 

[rebrascora]

I would say that those are probably top end estimates I have given as portion sizes at these evens tend to be small. As @Lucyr says you should not bolus in advance when you are eating out because something could happen which means it doesn't arrive when you expect it so you will get a spike but the important thing is that you keep yourself safe..... and have a good time.

 

[DianeD]

You shouldn’t be bolusing earlier because you should be bolusing only for each course when the course is in front of you (edit to clarify this is advice when eating out. Only ever prebolus when you’re in control of food timings). You can expect to spike afterwards but if the dose is right to get back down to your starting bg when the insulin finishes working

If you’re always underestimating and always ending up high when the insulin is finished then maybe guess slightly more than you normally would, or add a small amount of insulin, or dance a bit more. So long as you’re making small changes at a time eg an extra 0.5 or 1unit not an extra 10, and you check by / have alarms on, you’ll be able to treat any issues.

Thank you. My pen only does full units. Not been confident enough to correct yet.

 

[Satan’s little helper]

You shouldn’t be bolusing earlier because you should be bolusing only for each course when the course is in front of you (edit to clarify this is advice when eating out. Only ever prebolus when you’re in control of food timings). You can expect to spike afterwards but if the dose is right to get back down to your starting bg when the insulin finishes working

Eating out in a large party. The table service in my experience is designated by the cook & waiters. If I don’t get served first. I can gauge it’s coming to me soon. On the first course. The other courses are pot luck. (& also based on everyone in the dinner party on that particular table finishing the course.
I would also suggest @DianeD keep some bread or bread sticks located on the table nearby. (You never know.) 😉

 

[Satan’s little helper]

My pen only does full units. Not been confident enough to correct yet.

So does mine. Corrections are another “thing.” It’s just working out for you, how much a unit of insulin can lower you if above the normal. Best wishes.