first xmas with diabetes

[Steff]

This is following on from donalds post r.e christmas catalouge and a comment that was made in there about it also being some ones first xmas since diagnosis, this is the case for me also and last 2 weeks i have been thinking about how diffirent it will be the days are gone of filling my face from 12 o clock onwards then opening the tin of roses , another prob i have been worrying over is we have a family xmas lunch at o/hs brothers and I dont want to have to be sitting there turning my nose up to everything on offer saying ohh no i cant have that cant have this.Does anyone think im worrying over nothing or is they any advice you can give so it dont spoil it for me.Slightly early but it will be upon is before we know it .

cheers
Steff 🙂

 

[SacredHeart]

Can't really offer any particular advice, Steff, since it'll be my first Christmas since diagnosis as well. I think this is probably the case for quite a few people on here, actually!

 

[Steff]

yeah i think they is a fair few in this situation surely others will me well not so much panicking but wary, I just want to know if they are many changes need to be made , fair enough moderation is the key but its the fussyness of trying to satisfy a diabetic at the table.

 

[coldclarity]

You can add me to the first Christmas list

My attitude (at least at the moment) is that it's just one day and if it all goes to hell a bit for one day it's not the end of the world. I'm lucky(!) though that Christmas dinner is at mine, so I'm in a bit more control. I'm a bit worried about Christmas/New Year 'dos', but I'll work it out nearer the time.

Any of you old timers got any strategies to share?

 

[am64]

You can add me to the first Christmas list

My attitude (at least at the moment) is that it's just one day and if it all goes to hell a bit for one day it's not the end of the world. I'm lucky(!) though that Christmas dinner is at mine, so I'm in a bit more control. I'm a bit worried about Christmas/New Year 'dos', but I'll work it out nearer the time.

Any of you old timers got any strategies to share?

Last year my first as a diabetic I was at my mother in laws they always cook loads of veg so that was great. too stuffed for pud or cake...don't really like anyway...my best strategy was to have 5 small pieces of the best chocolate you can buy. Lindt do a 90%. put them in a fancy little box and quietly savour or do what i did and dunk in sloe gin...oh yes tell everyone else they cant even try them as they make none diabetics turn bright green heheXX

 

[Steff]

lolol thats great tip ty a.m , the fact that lindt is like the best choccie is great to

 

[cazscot]

As I was only diagnosed a fortnight ago I hadnt really thought about Christmas yet! I dont really have a sweet tooth (I would rather eat a whole box of crisps lol). Suppose now I will need to watch what I am eating and bulk my food out with vegteables...

 

[Steff]

what a fanatastic idea sharpaa all of us working together and coming up with a xmas dinner fit for a king

 

[Peter C]

This is following on from donalds post r.e christmas catalouge and a comment that was made in there about it also being some ones first xmas since diagnosis, this is the case for me also Does anyone think im worrying over nothing or is they any advice you can give so it dont spoil it for me.Slightly early but it will be upon is before we know it .

You don't need to worry too much. Sensible care is all that is necessary plus a couple of five mile walks between christmas and New Year.
Christmas dinner just limit yourself to about 30 grams of potato ( that amount is about the size of 2 new potatoes ) and a spoonful of stuffing. You might want to go easy on the gravy as well if it is flour based. Parsnips have a bad name among the diabetic gurus but a bit at christmas isn't going to do much damage. Pudding - have a sliver but usually in the run-up to christmas someone reads all the labels and tells us which puds have the lowest carbs in. Or make your own low carb pud. Watch the sauces that go with the pud because they are usually flour oriented. Chocolate - small amounts of dark choc ( Lindt 70% is OK for bgs ).
Try to keep a grip on the fruit consumption over the festive season as well.
It all looks beautiful, colourful and fresh but its going to clout your bgs.
Good quality nuts with plenty of "good" fats in are OK ( pick out any raisins and flirt them at friends and family).
You'll have to battle with mince pies, basically have one and test its effects with your meter to decide whether they are poison or not. I'm sure there must be recipe on line for low carb mince pies. I have started seeing lots of mince pies in the shops at the moment but I am going "cold turkey" on them until Christmas when I will have a couple.
Booze - you have to be aware of the alcohol lowering effects if you have too much, also the sugar content of soft drinks and mixers. If you're drinking perhaps be very saintly and just stick to a couple of glasses of a good red wine.
Avoid "diabetic products" at Christmas, they're meaningless, expensive and laced with sweeteners which give you the runs. This being your first christmas you might get some "diabetic chocolate" or sweets as well-meant gifts. A couple of squares a day only or you will be on and off the toilet.Or give it to the neighbour's dog.

There is certainly no need to a be a Party Pooper so get your paper hat on and enjoy it. As a last resort just have a normal christmas but half the portions of everything that you would normally have. And don't sit, slumped on the sofa watching the TV for ten days.

 

[Steff]

well im ok on the mince pies bit and the booze as i dont have either, but thank you very much peter for your detailed reply

 

[am64]

As I was only diagnosed a fortnight ago I hadnt really thought about Christmas yet! I dont really have a sweet tooth (I would rather eat a whole box of crisps lol). Suppose now I will need to watch what I am eating and bulk my food out with vegteables...

funny that I didnt and still dont really have a sweet tooth....i bet that loads of diabetics are the same... thats what does my brains in the non diab. think its cos you ate too many sweets!😱

 

[Andy]

It is one day of the year. I eat and drink everything on offer!!! Luckily I dont like xmas pudding but certainly accept everything on offer for my xmas main dinner!! It wont do you any harm is my opinion....

 

[HelenP]

Lol, I think it was me who mentioned it being my first Christmas since being diagnosed!!

Personally the 'problem' for me is not the Christmas dinner or the booze, it's the fact that Christmas isn't 'one day' for us in this family, it's a week long choc-fest!! Traditionally it's always been the only time of the year when the kids have been allowed free reign with chocolate/sweeties and pop - and funnily enough, they're pretty self-regulating when it's freely available - cos once New Year's Day has been and gone it's back to me being strict mum again. (and somehow, I am the only fat one in the family!!)

As a life-long chocoholic, and having very little or no self restraint when surrounded by the stuff (I'm sure we're responsible for Cadbury's staff annual bonuses), I'm sorry to say there will be NONE in the house this year!! For those family members who wish to satisfy their sweetie cravings, there will be Haribos, Wine Gums and boiled sweets a-plenty, as I can't stand them, and will not be tempted in the slightest!!

I will obviously be spending my Christmas week polishing my halo!! And, of course, sparing a thought for those poor Cadbury's workers who will be going without their Christmas bonus this year.........

xx

 

[am64]

Lol, I think it was me who mentioned it being my first Christmas since being diagnosed!!

Personally the 'problem' for me is not the Christmas dinner or the booze, it's the fact that Christmas isn't 'one day' for us in this family, it's a week long choc-fest!! Traditionally it's always been the only time of the year when the kids have been allowed free reign with chocolate/sweeties and pop - and funnily enough, they're pretty self-regulating when it's freely available - cos once New Year's Day has been and gone it's back to me being strict mum again. (and somehow, I am the only fat one in the family!!)

As a life-long chocoholic, and having very little or no self restraint when surrounded by the stuff (I'm sure we're responsible for Cadbury's staff annual bonuses), I'm sorry to say there will be NONE in the house this year!! For those family members who wish to satisfy their sweetie cravings, there will be Haribos, Wine Gums and boiled sweets a-plenty, as I can't stand them, and will not be tempted in the slightest!!

I will obviously be spending my Christmas week polishing my halo!! And, of course, sparing a thought for those poor Cadbury's workers who will be going without their Christmas bonus this year.........

xx

Hi helen i think that you sound brillant keep at it sweetie see my post re chocolate..X

 

[HelenP]

Hi helen ....... see my post re chocolate..X

Thanks am64, I read your post which sounds like a great idea - now all I've got to do is work on being able to stop after two squares....................

xx

 

[insulinaddict09]

Thanks am64, I read your post which sounds like a great idea - now all I've got to do is work on being able to stop after two squares....................

xx

LOL me too , if it's there and opened it's going to get eaten !! 😱😱

 

[am64]

LOL me too , if it's there and opened it's going to get eaten !! 😱😱

Thats why you wrapp up an individual peice like itcost a million quid... and remeber no one else can try itX

 

[insulinaddict09]

Thats why you wrapp up an individual peice like itcost a million quid... and remeber no one else can try itX

Yes good idea to be individually wrapped , there is more chance of me not eating the lot in one go that way lol !! 😉 I live alone so don't have to share anyway hehe 😛

 

[Copepod]

First Christmas after diagnosis

Not to hijack a type 2 thread, as I reckon it's harder for them to cope with celebration foods, as they can't adjust medication doses, unless on insulin. My first Christmas after diagnois came just a few weeks after being started on bimodal insulin (1996, but even then I think diabetes team should at least have told me that multi dose insulin regime existied - as soon as I found out a few months later, I asked to change and haven't looked back since!) An uncle and aunt with no children lived in a small holding in northern France and invited me over. This was extremely welcome, as I hadn't been overseas since diagnosis, and my sister had just had a baby, while I was stying with parents, having just returned from working overseas, diagnois making finding suitable work very difficult, had no partner, no friends within 100s of miles etc. So, we had a great time - lots of livestock - cats, ducks, chickens, guinea fowl, goats, rabbits; good food, mixed home grown produce - meat & veg etc. I remember hoping for rain wherever the English cricket team were playing, so that Radio 4 long wave would have normal programmes instead of cricket commentary, as my French wasn't really good enough for French Tv or radio.

 

[Proudspirit]

Grrr, hadn't thought about Christmas, I get given lots of chocolates from the children at work, we always have chocolates in the house too but biggest worry is party tea! sausage rolls etc..
Lucky for me because i don't like cake s or puddings and Christmas dinner is just a sunday roast with a few extra bits, i don't like stuffing, will do celeriac and BNS roasts and just have 1 potato.

does anyone know if you can make yorkshire puddings with wholemeal flour?

Julie x