Holiday Carb counting tips

[Adehem]

Hi Guys,
Hope you are well.
I am going to Spain soon and would like some tips on counting carbs. I am a skinny diabetic on insulin due to high blood sugar. It is not high now due to the insulin. I inject 4 units before breakfast and 7 units before evening meal. I can eat 70 carbs for breakfast 40 for lunch and 70 for evening meal. The emphasis is on putting on weight. I am just concerned about getting 70 carbs down me at breakfast, I need to eat low GI carbs. Also at evening meal I think I may have to have a sweet to get enough carbs. I will eat a few more carbs at lunch as we are walkers and will walk after breakfast and again after lunch. Any tips would be very welcome. I do have the Carbs & Cals book. I do not use it to reduce my portions but increase them🙂.

 

[Robin]

Hi Guys,
Hope you are well.
I am going to Spain soon and would like some tips on counting carbs. I am a skinny diabetic on insulin due to high blood sugar. It is not high now due to the insulin. I inject 4 units before breakfast and 7 units before evening meal. I can eat 70 carbs for breakfast 40 for lunch and 70 for evening meal. The emphasis is on putting on weight. I am just concerned about getting 70 carbs down me at breakfast, I need to eat low GI carbs. Also at evening meal I think I may have to have a sweet to get enough carbs. I will eat a few more carbs at lunch as we are walkers and will walk after breakfast and again after lunch. Any tips would be very welcome. I do have the Carbs & Cals book. I do not use it to reduce my portions but increase them🙂.

I've found the best way of dealing with carbs at breakfast when I’m on holiday is to look at the overall picture of the whole meal, not just each individual component. So, for example, I can get away with a croissant, which is relatively high GI, if I've had a plate of cheese and cold meats or fish first,( or scrambled eggs or omelette if a cooked breakfast is available).

 

[Adehem]

I've found the best way of dealing with carbs at breakfast when I’m on holiday is to look at the overall picture of the whole meal, not just each individual component. So, for example, I can get away with a croissant, which is relatively high GI, if I've had a plate of cheese and cold meats or fish first,( or scrambled eggs or omelette if a cooked breakfast is available).

Thanks Robin that is a good idea. Yes the high GI part would get slowed down by the low GI food. I will cruise round all the food first and weigh it up.😉

 

[trophywench]

Yes in Spanish hotels there's normally a wide selection of cooked meats - many of them of the ilk of salami. mortadella, pepperoni etc except with Spanish names LOL - and they all tend to be a bit fatty. This is no bad thing when you don't want to lose weight - plus of course if you follow that with something carby and/or sweet - it slows the carbs in that down so it isn't hitting you like an express train. There's always orange juice so that's carby and not much of anything else.

Depending on which insulin it is - if you eat less carbs that you're used to consuming - you may be able to reduce the amount of insulin you have and this might well be necessary if you are taking more exercise than at home and if the weather's warm. And I hope it is!

 

[SB2015]

I use carbs and Cals a lot more when away. Although the book doesn’t cover all the tasty options it is a good guide. The continental breakfast is sounding a good option, and those sneaky little pastries that all look interesting can suddenly become ‘allowed’ if you are out for a days walk.

It sounds as if you have a good plan, and I hope that you have a good time.

 

[Adehem]

Yes in Spanish hotels there's normally a wide selection of cooked meats - many of them of the ilk of salami. mortadella, pepperoni etc except with Spanish names LOL - and they all tend to be a bit fatty. This is no bad thing when you don't want to lose weight - plus of course if you follow that with something carby and/or sweet - it slows the carbs in that down so it isn't hitting you like an express train. There's always orange juice so that's carby and not much of anything else.

Depending on which insulin it is - if you eat less carbs that you're used to consuming - you may be able to reduce the amount of insulin you have and this might well be necessary if you are taking more exercise than at home and if the weather's warm. And I hope it is!

I am on Novomix 30. Thanks for those wise words. I will be finger testing 4 times a day so I will see the results of what I am eating. I do keep a food diary at home and am getting used to the meals that I eat now. Sitting there thinking this is 45 carbs instead of thinking hmm this is nice🙂.

 

[Adehem]

I use carbs and Cals a lot more when away. Although the book doesn’t cover all the tasty options it is a good guide. The continental breakfast is sounding a good option, and those sneaky little pastries that all look interesting can suddenly become ‘allowed’ if you are out for a days walk.

It sounds as if you have a good plan, and I hope that you have a good time.

Thanks me duck (Derbyshire) That`s it have a plan and it makes it easier. When I was just on metformin and I went away I did find it quite easy to stay away from the carbs I will just have to hunt for them this time

 

[trophywench]

I 'get' me duck (first encountered in my early 20s working at a certain club above a certain Mann Egerton Rolls Royce showroom on London Road, Derby! LOL) but also prevalent around Newcastle under Lyme - whereas round 'ere its always just luv and would only have me in front of it when addressing someone you actually love or hold dear.

They say Britain and America are two nations separated by a common tongue - but it can be equally true in Britain when you think about it !

Useful Spanish words when you're a bit low - 'with sugar' is con azucar and without is sin azucar - when you just need a proper coke (but that time don't have any Bacardi in it LOL) tostada = toast and I LOVE churros - those long, piped with a star nozzle, extruded sort of doughnuts into the deep fat frier, fished out when golden brown and dusted with vanilla sugar. I haven't yet met anyone who hasn't liked em but I'd advise you to only buy the small bag - cos they're VERY more-ish!

You can usually find ice cream anyway! Just enjoy it.

 

[Adehem]

I 'get' me duck (first encountered in my early 20s working at a certain club above a certain Mann Egerton Rolls Royce showroom on London Road, Derby! LOL) but also prevalent around Newcastle under Lyme - whereas round 'ere its always just luv and would only have me in front of it when addressing someone you actually love or hold dear.

They say Britain and America are two nations separated by a common tongue - but it can be equally true in Britain when you think about it !

Useful Spanish words when you're a bit low - 'with sugar' is con azucar and without is sin azucar - when you just need a proper coke (but that time don't have any Bacardi in it LOL) tostada = toast and I LOVE churros - those long, piped with a star nozzle, extruded sort of doughnuts into the deep fat frier, fished out when golden brown and dusted with vanilla sugar. I haven't yet met anyone who hasn't liked em but I'd advise you to only buy the small bag - cos they're VERY more-ish!

You can usually find ice cream anyway! Just enjoy it.

Blimey Mann Egerton!! Was the club Clouds? The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd played there. I was a bit too young then. I did go to that club tho. Si I do try out some pigeon spanish and usually get a spanish lesson from the barstaff.

 

[trophywench]

Clouds it was indeed ! Brill disco - and the beer was 16p a pint …..