what do you think of food

[bev]

Hi all,

I am watching BBC2 (Masterchef the Professionals) and it has me wondering what your views are on eating food. Watching the pleasure and the excitement of people eating at the 'Fat Duck' makes me feel a little sad that maybe Alex doesnt get that sort of 'instant fix' in terms of just tucking in! It seems to take the shine off a special meal having to do the carbs and work out the dual wave or fat content or blah blah blah.So far Alex enjoys his food - but he does sometimes say he cant be bothered having X because it will mean more testing or too much fat or whatever - so just wondering how diabetes interferes with your enjoyment and pleasure of eating food and special treats.🙂Bev

 

[Ginnie]

I find it a huge pain but im only a few months in so still worrying my main struggle is eating out sends me into a panic even if I know what food they have.... It does take some of the enjoyment out of food but I suppose in way I also appreciate treats more 🙂

 

[Twitchy]

Weeell, we were watching too 🙂 I just read your post to hubby & his instant comment was 'well it doesn't stop you'! Cheeky git. To be fair, I have a love / hate relationship to food. Probably because I hark from the pre precision control era of diabetes I'm a bit more relaxed about carb guestimating & ironing out the creases later with corrections if need be but there are foods I just would love to eat but do tend to trump my efforts at carb guestinating (shepherds pie for one)...I usually find buffets a pain too but generally it's not the end of the world. Try not to feel bad about it - we all need brakes on our appetite in one form or another & overall I'd say the D has given me far more awareness of food & nutrition then I'd otherwise have had. 🙂 Silver linings & all...

 

[Northerner]

It does affect me I think bev. I've been watching Heston's current series and am constantly thinking about how I would not be able to experience the pleasure that all of his 'samplers' are getting from his amazing concoctions. There are so many cookery programmes on the tv these days and most of them seem to completely overlook the potential problems people with a variety of conditions may have with their products - not just diabetes.

On the other hand, I will treat myself and do the best I can regarding my levels - but not worry about getting things a bit wrong for those special occasions. In some ways, I think we probably appreciate them more, and something else I have found is that I actually no longer like things that are really bad for me! 🙂

 

[sweetsatin]

Hi Bev
I too think having food out is a pain, once I've eaten there's no going back as I am diet and exercise control, either the meals are too large, or fatty and the sweets are mouth watering but at the same time you know you cant have it when you really want it. So annoying!
I hate this time of year too because everyone in the family knows I cant have sweet stuff and keep offering it to me, deep down I wish I could have it, makes me so angry that I cant eat what I want. Its ok having a small portion but I know the temptation would get the better of me.
I have learnt to adapt recipes and cook myself rather than go out and feel as if I'm a burden.
I do love watching the cooking programs tho.🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I never have the problem with watching the programes as have no TV
Food I can take or leave it. I just decide 30 mins before I'm going to eat as to how many carbs I'm having for that meal. If I'm not hungry I just don't bolus or bother to eat.
Being diagnosed at such a young age carb counting is normal for me so no meal is ever an issue.

 

[Northerner]

I never have the problem with watching the programes as have no TV
Food I can take or leave it. I just decide 30 mins before I'm going to eat as to how many carbs I'm having for that meal. If I'm not hungry I just don't bolus or bother to eat.
Being diagnosed at such a young age carb counting is normal for me so no meal is ever an issue.

Actually, that's a good point - I had 49 years of eating whatever I wanted before this was inflicted on me, so maybe harder in some ways to change the habits and preferences of a lifetime

 

[MeganN]

For the last year food has been the Bain of my life.

I go on MDI in the new year which will help massively.

I'm not looking forward to Xmas food at all. Dreading it if anything. I hate it when people offer me things just to be 'nice' when they know that I can't say yes and eat it. My family are worried I'm developing an eating disorder

 

[Homedaze]

A lot of the stuff we see cooked on TV would play havoc with my BS levels but we can have a day off now and again.

Perhaps if we all wrote to the celebrity chefs to ask them about adapting or creating dishes for people with special dietary needs, we might be able to get one of them to take it on.

I know Hairy Bikers had a short weight loss series in 2012 but they only touched on diabetes very briefly.

 

[bev]

I never have the problem with watching the programes as have no TV
Food I can take or leave it. I just decide 30 mins before I'm going to eat as to how many carbs I'm having for that meal. If I'm not hungry I just don't bolus or bother to eat.
Being diagnosed at such a young age carb counting is normal for me so no meal is ever an issue.

Hi Sue,

So dont you really take much pleasure in eating certain foods?🙂I am just wondering whether because you were diagnosed young you dont remember the 'feeling' of the excitement and pleasure of eating a bowl of something lovely. Alex can remember eating foods before he was diagnosed at 10 - and sometimes says he wishes he could just eat like he used to.🙂Bev

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Actually, that's a good point - I had 49 years of eating whatever I wanted before this was inflicted on me, so maybe harder in some ways to change the habits and preferences of a lifetime

Oh most def harder from teenage years onwards.
I don't miss what I never had So have always said I was lucky to be diagnosed at such a young age.
Saying that I ate exactly the same meals as the rest of the family, except for puds/sweets when Mum always made mine in a seperate dish as used artificial sweetener.
Sweets/biscuits/soft drinks were never on offer ad lib due to financial restraints on the family budget. So a normal childhood in the 60's and 70's.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

For the last year food has been the Bain of my life.

I go on MDI in the new year which will help massively.

I'm not looking forward to Xmas food at all. Dreading it if anything. I hate it when people offer me things just to be 'nice' when they know that I can't say yes and eat it. My family are worried I'm developing an eating disorder

Megan,
there is no way on earth you should be left feeling like that 😡
Please ring your DSN and ask if you can have some quick acting to suppliment your mix. This way you can enjoy Christmas the same as everyone else.

 

[MeganN]

Megan,
there is no way on earth you should be left feeling like that 😡
Please ring your DSN and ask if you can have some quick acting to suppliment your mix. This way you can enjoy Christmas the same as everyone else.

I saw the dietitian at the hospital this morning. Told her exactly how I felt. She agreed that it was a problem that was affecting me mentally. No offer of rapid was made just an appointment booked for basal/bolus insulin change on jan 16th.
My hospital DSN is on holiday until Monday. I will contact her to ask for help then. Some rapid for lunchtime would help a lot as I have no accuracy or flexibility on just the mix. Xx

 

[trophywench]

Hey Megan, I really hope they will let you have some! However it would just be my luck if I was you, to find the family had finally taken the hint and didn't offer me anything carbohorrific!! LOL

Well I don't worry about it. It's a special occasion and it's not gonna kill me, but I have learned what makes me feel ill and what doesn't by now, and so I don't eat or drink what does that. Like alcohol; I actually know my limit, I don't actually care if I'm drunk by then or not you understand. Don't mind being 'merryu' and slurring a bit, at all. But I do know if I get further drunk I will suffer for it so Mrs Sensible takes over.

One night on holday about 6 years ago me and daughter decided we would get squiffy and duly made up a goodly supply of Kir Royale. I made it to bed just about whilst daddy restrained her bodily (to stop her going face first into the nettles whilst she was upchucking) ably assisted by his son-in-law NOT but next morning she was fine though 'quiet' whilst I tried to demolish the grandkids tents by sitting on it when I got up and hit the fresh air, and our Neil was the only adult available to pick me and the tent up and find the Lucozade.

The worst of this was it was a fishing holiday and there Grandma was, compltely starkers with a load of (fully dressed) French and Dutch anglers ****ing themselves laughing at me all round the lake ...... never again ...... !

I had to promise him.

And I have a large dollop of trifle in a small dish and damn well enjoy it, Xmas night. Always bolus after supper though, and always start off with bread and whatever I fancy to fill me up now and that really sorts it. Just have little bits of this n that after - until my lovely treat at the end!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Sue,

So dont you really take much pleasure in eating certain foods?🙂I am just wondering whether because you were diagnosed young you dont remember the 'feeling' of the excitement and pleasure of eating a bowl of something lovely. Alex can remember eating foods before he was diagnosed at 10 - and sometimes says he wishes he could just eat like he used to.🙂Bev

Hi Bev,
sorry I didn't answer this last night, my apologies as I didn't see it.
The simple thing is bev I have always eaten what I wanted, so have never ever missed out on anything food wise at all. As a youngster any food not known for carb content was found out. Mum and dad always taught me if you don't know ask. So I did by writing with the help of my Mum in my younger days to the food manufactures and asking for the carb content. I always had a reply and quite often some goodies to go with it.

 

[AJLang]

The diabetes has never spoilt my love of food and experimenting with new recipes and I love cocktails. Not quite so easy with the the gastroparesis but I won't let it affect me as much as it could.....in fact one of my New Year plans is to try lots of new recipes, there are lots of cookery books on my Christmas wish list. I just aim to have smaller portions so that my tummy isn't too bloated

 

[bev]

Hi Bev,
sorry I didn't answer this last night, my apologies as I didn't see it.
The simple thing is bev I have always eaten what I wanted, so have never ever missed out on anything food wise at all. As a youngster any food not known for carb content was found out. Mum and dad always taught me if you don't know ask. So I did by writing with the help of my Mum in my younger days to the food manufactures and asking for the carb content. I always had a reply and quite often some goodies to go with it.

Hi Sue,

We dont know how lucky we are getting it all printed on the packets these days do we! It must have been lovely getting little treats from the Companies - how nice.🙂I think what I am getting at more is not so much *knowing* the carbs and missing out on foods - but more about whether having to sit there and your first thoughts are about carbs and fats rather than simply thinking about tasting some glorious food - and the pleasure and excitement in tasting something you havent tasted before. I know you dont have a TV but if you had seen the programme you would see what I mean more - people being fooled by thinking they are eating an ice-cream that turns out to be pate! So all an illusion and pure pleasure of what your taste-buds are enjoying!Bev

 

[Abi]

I've learnt to curb my desire for certain meals such as huge plates of pasta ( go for a smaller helping with plenty of veg/ salads etc)
I go overboard on foods that don't contain large carbs and then if I'm not careful suffer the delayed effects of huge amounts of peanuts/ cheese etc as the square wave bolus and myself have a bit of a rocky relationship
Seriously I think most people are unbelieveably ignorant about nutrition and what consitutes a healthy diet and this is probably why obesity rates are soaring.
But it must be hard for a young kid not being able to eat with complete abandon on special occasions

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I guess for me it depends which week you ask me - and how well behaved my BGs have been recently.

If BGs are misbehaving all over the place (eg when basals needs tweaking or some other undefinable thing has moved the goalposts) I can get a feeling of resentment towards food building up. And yes I do have times when I just wish I could eat what I fancy, without giving it a second thought. But then I have to realise how lucky I am to be Type 1 in an age where I can eat pretty much anything with just a little bit of effort. I think I would find it much harder being T2 on D&E. We T1s have it relatively easy food-wise IMO.

I still *love* food, it is one of my main pleasures in life (that and eating it in good company). Over my 20 year D career I've learned to make compromises and to hold back here and there, but if I want something I will have it. If I yearn for something I'll go for it - it's surprising (and I think Northerner has mentioned this in the past too) how much your tastes change. Sometimes I fancy something entirely 'diabetically unfriendly', get a whiff of regret and decide to go for it. Then find that it wasn't all that nice at all. So next time that's what I remember rather than still holding on to the dream memory.

So I think all of us know where Alex is coming from - but with the skills you have learned together I reckon he has a fun-filled foodie future as exciting and varied as anyone else.

 

[Robster65]

Hi Bev

Just to dive in briefly, I agree with pretty much all the sentiments. I think there's a tendency to see food as both enjoyable and necessary evil.

If all's in target and it's something you can predict (and you're hungry) it's fantastic. If high, it's part of the cause and you resent it. If low, it's medicinal and serves a function but not much else.

So probably we're a bit screwed up about it and, as has been said, it varies from day to day and hour to hour.

There's also the old value for carbs argument. ie. this food is really nice but is high in carbs vs. this one that's not quite as nice but is low in carbs.

For me, sweets are a careful balance between how well they'll treat a hypo (in absence of coke, etc), how nice they are and how much can I eat without having to inject, run or feel guilty.

I think you'll have to accept a certain amount of skewed thinking about food but he can still it as much as anyone else. 🙂

Rob