Made me think....

[SueEK]

I have had a similar discussion with both my neighbour yesterday and my daughter today regarding my eating. At my neighbours I was offered a coffee to which I said yes but as they didn’t have sweetener and I didn’t have my bag with me I declined and she questioned why, knowing I have diabetes. Similar conversation with my daughter today. They both know a number of people with Type 2 but these people don’t question all that they eat/drink. I found myself defending my way of eating, explaining that I do have carbs but nothing compared to what I did have and that I don’t intend to knowingly damage my eyes, feet, kidneys, have a stroke etc. and not doing what I can to help myself. My daughter told me she had had a chat with a friend of hers who happens to be one of the nurses at the surgery where I work who commented that she thought my diet seemed rather ‘intense and severe’. My daughter was concerned and so wanted to talk to me about it which is great as I know she cares about me but was a bit miffed that the nurse should make such comments.
I don’t have an eating disorder but there are many foods I simply cannot physically eat so when I see all the recipes put on here, although they sound lovely I know there is no way I could eat them, so I am limited in what I have . I have even given up having breakfast as it would only be carbs, toast, weetabix or cornflakes. I couldn’t face fry up, unless going out, omelette etc.
It just made me think do we all find ourselves defending our way of eating to people, I wouldn’t dream of questioning what somebody ate if they had IBS, coeliac or Crohns etc. I guess the whole thing has just unsettled me a bit and wondered if you have the same problems. Sue x

 

[rebrascora]

It is an interesting subject and I have even found my low carb way of eating challenged on this forum because I am type 1 and could therefore essentially eat more or less anything and just inject insulin to cover it.
I don't think it is a bad thing to be challenged as it is important to revise things to make sure the reasons for doing what we do are still valid. I don't want to go back to being addicted to carbs/sugar and that could so easily happen. I don't know if that actually qualifies as an eating disorder but I mostly have control of my diet now (even if my BG is still somewhat wayward) and I want/need to maintain that control. I do not feel particularly deprived as I have low carb treats I can indulge in, I just need to be careful about what I eat, which is no different to people with the other conditions that you mention.

 

[Ljc]

Personally I would be miffed about that nurse even though she meant well, patient confidentiality. It must have worried your daughter too , I trust your daughter understands now.

TBH it really irks me when someone knowsI have diabetes and ask things like , should you be eating that or offer un asked for dietary advise based on all the misinformation out there.
Sorry rant over.
What ever type of diabetes we have Imo there is nowt wrong with LCHF, Keto , Paleo etc etc so long as the person is happy , healthy and doing well on their dietary regime.

Yes I have had to defend what I eat.

 

[Drummer]

First of all - that nurse should know better than to break patient confidentiality - and secondly using descriptions with such negative associations - when you have seen your Hba1c reduce so significantly shows a reluctance to accept that you are doing well.

 

[SueEK]

First of all - that nurse should know better than to break patient confidentiality - and secondly using descriptions with such negative associations - when you have seen your Hba1c reduce so significantly shows a reluctance to accept that you are doing well.

To be fair she’s not a nurse from the surgery I attend, she is a nurse from where I work and happens to know my daughter so she didn't break any patient confidentiality and she doesn’t know my numbers, however I did feel that was the wrong thing to say as she knows nothing about me and it did worry my daughter. Just goes to show how little true understanding there is of diabetes.

 

[TinaP]

I have had to defend myself against other peoples lack of knowledge of diabetes. I know it's complicated but others have no idea how complicated the condition is for us diabetic people. My mother in law got upset with me when she made a jelly & tinned fruit for desert and I politely refused to have any. The following month I showed her in the Carbs and Cals book how many carbs/sugar were in the jelly and she now understands a little more about the importance of being careful with my foods. If we struggle understanding diabetes we just need to educate the most important people around us and not to judge us.

 

[zoombapup]

Given that I get confused enough about it myself having been relatively recently diagnosed, I think we can cut some slack for the average civilian out there. I'm a bit more harsh on the doctors and nurses who apparently all have zero training on diet and its effect on our systems. But that's not really their fault either, more a training issue.

I've been having a few giggles with my family when my mother offered me something over christmas and I pretended she was trying to kill me with it. I think humour and gentle nudging for people to remember that some stuff is out of bounds is probably the best bet.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I was eating at a friend’s recently - someone I’ve known for years who knew I had T1, but had never really ‘seen it in action.’

I’d had a bit of a Diabetes runaround with driving and hypo dodging during the day and then was talking through dosing for the meal, and (because it was pasta and I was driving later) some of the guesswork and double involved.

He was absolutely amazed at all the faffing about that was involved!

 

[trophywench]

That last bit, is the part that hardly anyone not somehow involved with D, would even imagine takes place. Well - would any of us before we had D?

 

[Toucan]

Yes people can be harsh and judgmental, - I usually try to counter it with humour but it doesn't always work. Recently I was at a buffet event and all that was on the table was sandwiches and sausage rolls. I took the sandwiches and just ate the fillings and did the same with the sausages in the rolls. I got scathing reprimand from someone about wasting food.
For those that are interested and empathetic though, it is worth taking the time to explain. My family was very concerned for me when I was first diagnosed and understand my 'strange' eating habits and the consequences of not following this. My young grandsons have turned into quite a vigilante group. One of them caught me eating some illicit chocolate cake recently and said 'Nanna stop eating that of you leg will drop off!'

 

[Felinia]

I have freely admitted being diabetic since being diagnosed and had no problems with people treating me like a leper, or in restaurants when I ask for items to be omitted or asked what's in a dish. Strangely the most usual comments I've received are: "I know XYZ who's diabetic and they eat what they like, just take the medication" or: "well you know you'll end up on medication no matter what you do". The latter from someone who had been in the medical profession over 40 years, although now retired. When I told them about the success with low carbs they admitted it was news to them. Which just goes to show the changes in recent years, and that the medical profession at grass roots level has not caught up.
I recall meeting a couple of ladies on holidays abroad who literally only ate salad, as they did not trust anything made by anyone else, saying they did not know what was in it, or how it had been cooked. I now understand where they are coming from, and my go-to dishes are also omelette and salad. It will be put to the test soon, as I have 2 weeks holiday with an all inclusive buffet.

 

[Flower]

I find the lack of knowledge about the mystical carb hard to deal with sometimes. The all sweet things are off limits for you/ savoury things are all fine for you. The ‘I won’t offer you any cake because I know you can’t eat it but here’s a lovely selection of savoury things wrapped in pastry/bread that will be just fine’

My diabetes, my choice, leave me to it thanks! 🙂

 

[DebbieC]

I also get frustrated when visiting cafes and coffee shops, went to one with son over Xmas and there were vegan option galore but only cakes biscuits or scones and pies, not one diabetic friendly snack in sight... luckily I had taken home made scotch eggs (low carb lol) and retrieved them from my handbag... luckily no one asked us to leave as we hadn’t bought the food there but I am amazed that places don’t offer at least one low carb option!

 

[SueEK]

Quite a wide range of stories, just goes to show I think that there is very little general information out there about diabetes whether T1 or 2. One thing that is frequently said to me is ‘can’t you have gluten free bread etc’. I guess the truth is I also had very little knowledge before diagnosis so shouldn’t criticise others. I try to be informative to those who ask but certainly don’t want to preach, sadly some people think I am over dramatic about my food but hey ho, it is what it is and we all do the best we can. I’m very thankful for this forum, for me it has been a godsend x

 

[Drummer]

Yes people can be harsh and judgmental, - I usually try to counter it with humour but it doesn't always work. Recently I was at a buffet event and all that was on the table was sandwiches and sausage rolls. I took the sandwiches and just ate the fillings and did the same with the sausages in the rolls. I got scathing reprimand from someone about wasting food.

I'd have replied that it wasn't food, just the wrapping for it - which was often the case in previous centuries.
Pie cases were sometimes reused, with fresh tops, several times throughout Christmas and New year, then handed out on Twelfth Night. Loaves often had the bottom cut off, the inner was carefully removed to be sliced but the upper crust was used as edible carriers for pates or savoury creams.
The bottom was used to hand out leftovers, sometimes with a bit of gravy, to those who might not have given back a good plate.