How to tackle 3 courses

[betheaton]

I’m fairly new to this lifestyle (diagnosed just under 2 months ago) and I’ve yet to really push the boundaries of my diabetes and properly go for it carb wise.

My boyfriend has surprised me with a fancy meal out this Friday night, at somewhere where it’s pretty impossible to NOT get 3 courses because it all looks incredible, and it’s more than likely that alcohol will be consumed.

so - how do you lovely lot tackle 3 courses in an environment where it’s uncertain when food will be coming out? And how would you go about drinking? Any tips would be wonderful! Thanks in advance

 

[Ditto]

Hello. Something nice to look forward to.

 

[SB2015]

My honest answer is do a best guess at carbs, thoroughly enjoy the meal, and then expect a bit of wobbly night. But when the menu is that good it will be worth it.

Can you walk home? That could help to reduce the highs. I sometimes check at the end of a meal at friends and the reading will determine whether we walk home or get a taxi.

Test before you go to bed (often I get a great reading at that point) but remember alcohol will be dealt with by your liver as the priority over dripping out glucose, so perhaps lower background insulin a tiny bit if you have had more than usual. Then I would test at least once in the night. For me that is easy, I just do it when I have the inevitable loo visit.

Most of all don’t let D stop you going out and enjoying the meal. Our compromise nowadays is that we both have two course meals, we share a starter, have our own main meal and then share a pud. I SOMETIMES think about going for a low carb option but they often closely resemble what we prepare at home, so just keep a watch on the carbs as best I can. I do avoid mash potatoes as that I know is a nightmare for spiking me.

Enjoy your evening and just come back with info and what you chose and make us all jealous.

 

[betheaton]

My honest answer is do a best guess at carbs, thoroughly enjoy the meal, and then expect a bit of wobbly night. But when the menu is that good it will be worth it.

Can you walk home? That could help to reduce the highs. I sometimes check at the end of a meal at friends and the reading will determine whether we walk home or get a taxi.

Test before you go to bed (often I get a great reading at that point) but remember alcohol will be dealt with by your liver as the priority over dripping out glucose, so perhaps lower background insulin a tiny bit if you have had more than usual. Then I would test at least once in the night. For me that is easy, I just do it when I have the inevitable loo visit.

Most of all don’t let D stop you going out and enjoying the meal. Our compromise nowadays is that we both have two course meals, we share a starter, have our own main meal and then share a pud. I SOMETIMES think about going for a low carb option but they often closely resemble what we prepare at home, so just keep a watch on the carbs as best I can. I do avoid mash potatoes as that I know is a nightmare for spiking me.

Enjoy your evening and just come back with info and what you chose and make us all jealous.

Amazing, thank you!
We’re staying in a hotel across the town centre so we will be walking back so hopefully that helps! we’re eating at the ivy (yum) which has their menu online so tonight I’ll be deciding what I’m having and then trying to roughly count the carbs!!

 

[PhoebeC]

I would inject in parts, so some before your starter comes and then some during the main.

Drinking wise I like to have low sugar options then normal options. Alcohol is really something that will take time to get your head around. Shouldn’t take insulin for it and the next day you might get a few sneaky hypos.

The Ivy have amazing cocktails which are sugar packed but if your next drink is then like Diet Coke and vodka for example it’s a good balance. Have a look at the cocktail menu in advance but it’s likely there’s no low sugar ones ha! But they will be great.

Makesure you’ve been well hydrated in the day before and ask for water at the table too. Then for your hotel when you get back.

Bit most importantly enjoy! And @SB2015 is right try to forgot about the diabetes it’s one meal one night just enjoy it

 

[SB2015]

Amazing, thank you!
We’re staying in a hotel across the town centre so we will be walking back so hopefully that helps! we’re eating at the ivy (yum) which has their menu online so tonight I’ll be deciding what I’m having and then trying to roughly count the carbs!!

That sounds like a perfect plan.
You might just need to add in some extra carbs for sauces.
Taste them, enjoy then then add a bit if needed.

If I am walking back it takes us about 40 min, so I tend to half my Bolus for pud, and do the rest when I get home. Keep a tab on any mixers for drinks. For a G&T ask for a light, but if it is fevertree it still has some carbs.

Have fun.

 

[PhoebeC]

Oh yes try to ask for low mixers. I always have the low ones at home and bigger nice bars normally have them.

Excited for you!

 

[SB2015]

What did you choose?
How did it go?

 

[betheaton]

What did you choose?
How did it go?

Okay, so -

I had an aperol spritz for my drink as well as plenty of water because I’d been bad and not had a lot to drink throughout the day.
For my starter I had prawn and squid tempura with an amazing spicy dip, for main I had a prawn and monkfish curry with jasmine rice, and I had creme brûlée for dessert! Safe to say I did not hold back!

I pre-bolused by about 5 minutes for my starter and main and did 5 units of my novorapid which I thought would cover the majority of my starter and the rice from my main (I didn’t actually eat all the rice as it was a fairly big portion and I really would have been pushing it then!). Then after my dessert I did another 2 units, I probably could have done 3 but I knew I’d be walking home so went a unit under as a precaution. When I got back to the hotel my bloods were around 4 so thought about having a jelly baby but thought I would leave it for 10 minutes to be safe - glad I did because I shot up to around 9 with an upward arrow on my libre - so I did another 2 units to correct that. And that was it for the night! I sat at around 5 all evening and slept through the night with no highs or lows! All together - a very positive experience! Will deffo be pushing my limits a bit more often if it means I can eat an amazing meal and still stay in range!

 

[SB2015]

So glad that it all worked out well, and that you had such an amazing meal.
Also pleased that it has given you the confidence for next time.

 

[trophywench]

I've only had lunch at the Ivy and have to say - I went for a creme brulee too; but I forgot it wouldn't be like No1 daughter makes. She makes the base sugar free so only the crunchy layer is actually sugar. Hence the Ivy one was far too sweet - serves me right for being piggy!