People daily meal routines

[Ali11782]

Hi.
I haven't used this forum for a long time but it's nice to be back.
I am interested to know what people eat in a day, do they find set routines help there diabetes control.
We read and and told as a type 1 we can be flexible, do people find this works or is it better to be more strict.
I struggle mentally with my diagnosis even 6 years later. I prefer strict routines but life doesn't always allow for this. The minute I have to change routine or become emotional I give up, eat whatever etc which makes me feel worse.

 

[helli]

I don't follow a strict food regime.
I eat when I want which is often 3 meals a day but not always: I usually eat breakfast but sometimes I don't. I often snack between meals unless I am too busy/engrossed in what I am doing. I get bored with the same food so vary my meals a lot.
This approach suits my personality and lifestyle but makes diabetes management harder because i often have insulin on board from my last snack and constantly having to carb count something new.

I believe eating patterns have nothing to do with diabetes but mostly to do with personality. Strict regimes would drive me crazy but, if they suit you and are what you prefer, maybe you could find some techniques for coping when life affects your regime such as carrying easy snacks to eat when you normally do

 

[Inka]

I don’t obsess about it but I tend to eat my three meals at similar times each day, simply because of my routine. I think I’d do the same if I didn’t have Type 1. I have a very busy life and I just slot my meals in where they work. I do find certain things are easier to keep a certain way, eg it’s the weekend now so I’m already ‘late’ for breakfast. That’s ok, but I won’t leave my bolusing and breakfast too much longer because if I do I find it often messes up my blood sugar.

I eat similar breakfasts and lunches most days when I’m working and busy. I’m more flexible on holiday, but that’s a whole different routine.

I think routines are fine and take less thought, but from what you’ve said, yours have become overly strict and are causing you upset. Try breaking them ever so slightly and hopefully that will help you deal with unexpected change. If the routine you’re talking about is more a restricted diet than set meal times, then that’s more serious IMO and I’d make a real effort to reduce that.

 

[Lauren]

I struggle to eat to a routine although it would probably be better for me in terms of being organised if I did.
I often skip breakfast and have a lunch and a late main meal. I snack if I'm hungry but not every day. I sometimes have a quick bite in the late evening but this is usually an indicator that I'm tired and need to sleep!

 

[Ali11782]

Thank you everyone.
Yes personality has a lot to do with it. I get frustrated with what I want and fitting in with life. X

 

[Proud to be erratic]

I suspect, @Ali11782, we all can get frustrated about the relentless background of needing to to do the right things at the optimum time. I'm retired, so have no pressure to fit into a tight schedule.

But I still choose to eat the same sort and size of breakfast (55 gms carbs, thick creamy yoghurt with fresh fruit and 2x lattes - all with lots of double cream) just to make that start to my day consistent, relatively easy to measure out and thus carb count. Plus it's filling, can take me to lunch or dinner - if I'm busy; without feeling hungry. My pre-bolus time for breakfast is always quite lengthy AND I have found if I eat too soon (ie before my bolus insulin kicks in, my BG will routinely go high from the food and not come down without a further correction. This is where the trial and learning has become essential, to help me mitigate against the daily frustrations of my insulin dependency.

If I have lunch it's usually something very simple and easy, eg a meat or cheese sandwich (or crackers), perhaps a small bag of crisps; carb counting for this is a doddle. Dinners vary a lot from c. 30 gms carbs up to 80 gms; we have many regular choices, most now have been repeatedly carb counted and tested against that count, so dosing has become pretty routine.

Right now, with the amazing April weather, the garden needing undue attention and just enjoying the warm outdoors - my BG has been fairly irregular. My basal needs a further small reduction and I'm still (annoyingly and stupidly) not reducing my bolus enough for the exercise and activity I'm doing. I need to reduce my bolus by more than 50% for breakfast, in particular. This feels too contradictory, but the evidence is clear: I'm starting each day with too much insulin on board and (surprise, surprise) I'm quickly going too low by mid-morning, needing to grab some high GI response carbs.