Restaurant service

[Pwinnock13]

Hi all

I would like to know if anyone has the same problem as me. Last night I arrived at dinner, in the restaurant, in a hotel.

I had informed them that I had diabetes, type 1, and that I needed to eat. The meal was at 7.00 pm. My sugar level became really low 2.1 and I told the staff that I needed to eat ASAP, It was now 7.30 and explained the issue, but they informed me that the whole coach party got served at the same time.

I explained the importance of the situation but they dismissed it. Eventually I did get a meal.

I had to take some dextrose tablets prior to meal.

This seems to happen a lot of time to me, surely it is time for restaurants to understand the importance of people with diabetes that they need to eat on time.

We complained and the next day it got sorted out, which was good.

I would like to hear other people's opinion on this matter.

This has not been a one off.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

My opinion for what its worth is that your diabetes is your problem not the hotels or any other establishment.
You were hypo so treat it end of story, if it happens on a regular bases then you need to do some basic tests of your basal to find out what is going on.

Nothing in the world works like clockwork, you have insulin hopefully basal bolus if not get it changed and you can eat when ever you want as long as your basal is correct.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

Sorry to hear you had a worryingly difficult situation to deal with like that.

I am just wondering... Are you on a mixed insulin or a basal/bolus MDI regime?
If the latter then the general consensus here on the forum is not to inject your bolus insulin until the food is in front of you, because there can be a delay for all sorts of reasons and some of them may be beyond the control of the restaurant and it's staff.
If you are on mixed insulin, then when would you normally inject that?.... And have you been gicve the opportunity to upgrade to a more flexible basal/bolus system. I appreciate that some people will be happy to continue with what they know and works for them.

 

[Docb]

Hi @Pwinnock13 and welcome to the forum. I don't often join in on T1 issues but thought I would comment that although @Pumper_Sue 's comment sounds a bit harsh - she does not normally reply in that vein - she is absolutely right.

By all means ask if something can be done to help but always have a plan B if for some reason or other you cannot be accommodated. That is exactly what you did and things worked out OK, so look on it as a good result all round and above all don't let such an experience spoil your meal.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi @Pwinnock13 and welcome to the forum. I don't often join in on T1 issues but thought I would comment that although @Pumper_Sue 's comment sounds a bit harsh - she does not normally reply in that vein - she is absolutely right.

By all means ask if something can be done to help but always have a plan B if for some reason or other you cannot be accommodated. That is exactly what you did and things worked out OK, so look on it as a good result all round and above all don't let such an experience spoil your meal.

Not harsh at all, just blunt and to the point. We all have to make adjustments in life and as diabetics quite a few more than others 🙂
I do wonder if OP injected his/her bolus before the meal was on the table only to find there was delay. Obviously much better to bolus 15/20 mins early when at home but out and about it's a dangerous game as some have found out

Perhaps if OP eats out a lot then it might be worth asking about Fiasp as that kicks in very quickly and can be injected just before you eat.

 

[Pwinnock13]

Thank you all for your replies, but I feel it is important that restaurants are made aware of serving people with diabetes at an appropriate time. As I am in a restaurant I cannot eat my own food.

 

[rebrascora]

There is no "appropriate time" for serving diabetics in my opinion. I can eat whenever I like and always do. The basal/bolus insulin regime gives me that flexibility to do that. I have no experience of mixed insulin but I imagine delaying it for an hour would not be a major problem rather than taking it before you "know" food is imminent and then risking a hypo.

I think the hospitality industry are currently under enormous pressure due to Covid, particularly with staffing levels, so it doesn't surprise me that you didn't get served promptly and I think that will continue to be a problem for some time to come so you may be best finding a strategy with your insulin regime which enables you to cope better with that situation.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Thank you all for your replies, but I feel it is important that restaurants are made aware of serving people with diabetes at an appropriate time. As I am in a restaurant I cannot eat my own food.

Erm nope this idea went out with the ark 🙂
You have the tools insulin and a meter so you use them so you can eat safely when ever you want. Before I developed MS I used to be a herdswomen and also have my own small holding with calves lambs and a collection of Welsh Cobs and I can assure you livestock have no idea about appropriate time.

As I said in a previous post if you are on basal bolus and your basal is correct then you can eat at what ever time suits you as your basal will stay steady.
As to eating your own food in a restaurant not sure what you mean by that because if you are hypo then it quick acting carbs ie glucose tabs so no issue that I can see. It's medication.

 

[MarkGeordie]

The thing is, whether your in a restaurant as a walk in or part of a group as you describe. I don’t think there’s the element of been served on time because you were never promised that and restaurants don’t tend to say that you will receive your food by X time.

I worked in a Scottish hotel for a while and dealt with coach groups and we had to run it like a military operation to ensure all 3 groups ate throughout the evening.

Main meals would always be served at certain times otherwise they wouldn’t be ready early.

I’m diabetic and I had many guests who were too, they were fine, carry snacks with you in case you need one, also carry anything you require to treat a hypo, in my opinion you should be carrying those anywhere you go really as you can’t predict when you may need them.

 

[helli]

@Pwinnock13 whatnis your insulin regime?
I agree with the comments above if you are on a a basal bolus regime. If you are on a fixed mixed insulin dose, I have sympathy for your situation. But this is rare.
When there is no pandemic going on, I eat out a lot and do not consider my medical condition something I need to share. Given the timing of food service is variable, I will give myself my bolus when I see the food. This is later than ideal but not a big problem.
If I find myself going low before my food arrives, I treat the hypo.
In fact, I always treat a hypo before starting a meal because I need fast acting carbs which are rarely available in a meal.
If I did not have my hypo treatment with me, I may request a coke or fruit juice.
But this definitely my problem not the venue.

 

[Deleted member 33972]

Hi all

I would like to know if anyone has the same problem as me. Last night I arrived at dinner, in the restaurant, in a hotel.

I had informed them that I had diabetes, type 1, and that I needed to eat. The meal was at 7.00 pm. My sugar level became really low 2.1 and I told the staff that I needed to eat ASAP, It was now 7.30 and explained the issue, but they informed me that the whole coach party got served at the same time.

I explained the importance of the situation but they dismissed it. Eventually I did get a meal.

I had to take some dextrose tablets prior to meal.

This seems to happen a lot of time to me, surely it is time for restaurants to understand the importance of people with diabetes that they need to eat on time.

We complained and the next day it got sorted out, which was good.

I would like to hear other people's opinion on this matter.

This has not been a one off.

It’s quite frightening that you allowed yourself to go so low. Sorry if your offended I don’t mean it that way x

 

[Jimmy2202]

I echo the comments above. I’m only a few months into this type 1 game and we eat out quite a lot. I always have a hypo box on me at ALL times containing jelly babies/orange juice and some little cereal bars aswell just in case I’m in a situation where I need it like you were.
Yes you can ask the hotel if they perhaps speed your food up perhaps but certainly under no circumstances do you rely on them and then point blame at them if your levels are as low as yours were. Everydays a school day?

 

[ColinUK]

I understand the

Thank you all for your replies, but I feel it is important that restaurants are made aware of serving people with diabetes at an appropriate time. As I am in a restaurant I cannot eat my own food.

Of course you can. You can keep jelly babies in a pocket and have a couple of those easily. Nobody will even know that you’re eating then. And then there’s no problem.

I do tend to agree that it’s down to you to manage your diabetes not the restaurant.

Ask yourself what would you do if you were late getting to the restaurant perhaps?

Would you be happy to have had your meal served up and just waiting for you whenever you walked in or would you like it cooked fresh to order and served when it’s ready?

If you’re allowing your BG to get dangerously low on occasion then that really is your responsibility. I don’t see how it can in any way be blamed on the restaurant.

 

[Kaylz]

Echo all of the above, I'd never expect preferential treatment just because I have Type 1 diabetes, my condition, my problem, I carry Lift glucose tablets wherever I go and would have used them in a situation like this and not kick up such a fuss just because I hadn't been served my meal, it happens, expect the unexpected as they say, I wouldn't hold anyone responsible in the restaurant for this but you seem to have come here in the hope people would agree with you

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Pwinnock13 🙂 Are you recently diagnosed with Type 1? I can remember how scary the early days are. What insulins do you take and when?

When I was first diagnosed, we went out for a meal and the restaurant couldn’t have been kinder. That was a small restaurant though so maybe larger ones can’t be so helpful to individuals? I tend to assume there’ll be delays now and am ready to nibble at Dextro tablets or biscuits if needed. I then inject when my food is in front of me. Not ideal but the safest way, I’ve found.

 

[ColinUK]

Welcome @Pwinnock13 🙂 Are you recently diagnosed with Type 1? I can remember how scary the early days are. What insulins do you take and when?

When I was first diagnosed, we went out for a meal and the restaurant couldn’t have been kinder. That was a small restaurant though so maybe larger ones can’t be so helpful to individuals? I tend to assume there’ll be delays now and am ready to nibble at Dextro tablets or biscuits if needed. I then inject when my food is in front of me. Not ideal but the safest way, I’ve found.

If the restaurant was large enough to cope with coach parties I’m guessing it was a military style run kitchen with everything timed to perfection so that all members of each large party are served at the same time.
It wouldn’t work if some were finished before others on the same coach had even been served their first course.

 

[Lucyr]

I’d never expect any different treatment at a restaurant and wouldn’t tell them that I’m diabetic. There is no set time that diabetics need to eat, and you should always carry fast acting carbs with you so that you can look after your blood sugars yourself. If having your dinner late makes you low then you need to change your insulin doses, or insulin regime. If you give more information we can help with advice on sorting your diabetes out.

 

[mikeyB]

I would agree with all the above comments. In addition, being a Creonista, I have to keep a supply of Creon capsules to take during a restaurant meal, particularly because of the gap between courses, and the late decision on a sweet, which also demands a late dose of insulin after a lower dose for the earlier courses. (I only eat sweet courses in Michelin Starred restaurants). That’s done with Fiasp, it’s easier with a pump. Yes, it adds insulin on top of insulin, but it works for me without any great problems.

And I always carry a pack of Dextro tabs. I was told to do that when I was first diagnosed 25 years ago. And by my mum, who was also T1.

 

[rebrascora]

Just for info, the OP is using something which they refer to as a "sliding scale" for their insulin regime according to their "Intro post". I am guessing this is a mixed insulin where they can adjust the ratio.

 

[Inka]

Could be @rebrascora or it could just be another name for carb-counting. It would be helpful to know because two injections a day do require regular meals. I still remember that feeling of my lunchtime insulin kicking in. It brooked no delay!