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'You don't need to eat, we had a big breakfast'

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
Amberzak

Amberzak

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Need to rant.

I've had this all holiday. My stepdad seems to think that if we eat a big breakfast, I won't need to eat all day. We had this in a theme park. And today it was going back on the plane. So we have an English breakfast at half past ten. And then I had a packet of crisps at the airport at about one. It's now 8.20pm (actually 9.20 when to take into account the time difference) and he stops at a supermarket to get some milk and moans at me when I say I really really really need food. I've been saying I need something all day (got no money left from holiday and he said he'd buy me food but it's always excuses. Too expensive at airport and on plane, can't stop on the Motorway).

He just keeps going on that I had a big breakfast. And that he hasn't eaten and he's fine. We had the same argument at the theme park. Had breakfast before we went in, then he got all stroppy because come 3pm I'm saying I need to buy something to eat. He moans at me saying I'm wasting money (you can't bring outside food into the park).

I of course have hypo treatment on me, but it would be nice to be able to eat before I get into a hypo without him moaning and going all stroppy.
 
He needs educating. Will he read about it if you provide him with the relevant information? Could he come to the nurse/doctor who would be able to explain to him. If he is a pig headed selfish know it all, then this looks like being a problem for you until you are able to get things for yourself. How about your mother, can she help here or is she not on the scene? If it is very bad you might be able to ask the social services to come and explain to him it could be termed as abuse / neglect and extremely dangerous.
 
Tough situation, Amberzak. Hope you've had some food by now and not had to eat hypo treatment. I've not been in a theme park since childhood, before getting diabetes as an adult, but I think I'd have a muesli bar or two about my person, to be eaten in secret if needed.
 
Hi Amberzak it sounds really frustrating for you if you can't eat when you're hungry. However I am concerned that you feel that you need to eat to prevent a hypo when you are on a pump (or MDI?). The theory being that you don't need to eat to feed the insulin. I love that with the pump/MDIDUE that if I only want to eat once a day that is fine. Maybe it's because I grew up on an insulin regime where I had to feed the insulin.
 
Must be very frustrating if you want to eat :( Looking on the Brightside you don't have to eat whilst on a pump it does sound as if your pump needs adjusting if you feel you must eat to stave off a hypo.
Hope you enjoyed your holiday though.
 
Yes Amanda, it is true that it isn't essential to eat - but I'd struggle going from 10.30 to 8.30 - 10 hours, without having more than a bag of crisps - my BG would be all over the place for about 36 hours. However, I most certainly wouldn't go hypo even if I ate nothing for 24 hours. eg whilst preparing for a colonoscopy.

I really really am (my BG is) far more stable if I eat every 5 to 6 hours. Occasionally 8 hours and it's not like we need a 3 course meal - half a packet (ie one round of bread) of sandwiches would do it.

So anyway - why didn't your mum box his ears?
 
Well I'm not diabetic and I couldn't last from 10.30am to 8.30pm on just breakfast without feeling faint!

And...my son is on a pump, but normal daily basals aren't going to work for something like a theme park with lots of walking around, queuing and adrenalin rushes, and besides, there's actually pleasure to be had from eating 🙂.

Next time you go away somewhere with your stepdad, take enough cash of your own so you're not beholden to his daft ideas about meals. And also, places that usually don't allow you to take in food will make an exception if you have a medical need. We always take food and drink with us (in case of needing to eat something and the cafe queues being long).
 
Must be very fustrating. Im lucky with my OH, he can quite easily go all day until dinner time without eating, but he understands that I have to eat at regular times, so when we are on holiday or just going out for a day he'll make sure that we have meals at regular times and is happy to eat anywhere that I suggest.
 
How frustrating for you! Maybe ask another family member to have a word?
 
This is nothing to do with diabetes, I think most people would have difficulty going that long without anything to eat! And as to you "wasting money" at the theme park, well you could argue that theme parks are a waste of money full stop, they certainly aren't essential and they aren't cheap, so if he's that bothered about the money why go there at all!

Next time could you not sneak some sandwiches into your bag or something? Or refuse to do what he wants until you've had some food? If he can last all day on one meal that's great for him but he's in the minority there. If I've had a full English fry up in the morning I probably won't need lunch, but I'll be getting hungry again by late afternoon. And I'm not diabetic.

You need to explain to him that it's nothing to do with the D, you're just quite simply HUNGRY if you don't get a meal every few hours, like most other people. And if that doesn't work you'll just have to try and make your own emergency preparations next time :(
 
Thank god that holiday is over.

I love my mum, but my step dad can be maddening sometimes. He's really understanding about some things but not others.

Don't worry. I don't think I'll be going on holiday with them again any time soon.
 
For a bit of entertainment we used to try to embarrass our mum when went supermarket shopping. In loud voices we would complain that we were starving. Then, when she put something in the trolley we'd ask in our best innocent voices "What does that taste like mum?", "Will we ever be allowed to try some?" or "Why are the cakes/chocolate/biscuits only for you and dad?". Fortunately, she just laughed it off.

Now I'm not suggesting that you 'make a show' of your step dad. I know that wouldn't be helpful. However, if you put your mind to it I'm sure you can be more persuasive if a similar situation occurs again. 😉

Sometimes a bit of a moan helps...so at least you've got things off your chest in a safe place. I hope that on the whole you had a good holiday. 🙂
 
Someone upstream suggested you make sure you have a little cash stashed away just in case and that was the most useful idea of all. If you ever go anywhere with them again, make sure you keep enough cash to feed yourself should the need arise. Some people may indeed be able to go all day on one meal, but most of us need to stoke up at regular intervals to maintain energy levels and avoid hypos and highs.
 
I would always carry substantial snacks with me if going out for the day. If anyone tries to tell me I can't, I explain that it is part of my medical treatment.
I find that if I have a large breakfast that consists mainly of carbs, then I get hungry but if I stock up on protein and fat, I don't normally want to eat again for a good few hours but we're not talking late evening here! Please try and take the time to explain things to your stepdad at a suitable moment. If he is paying for all the food then suggesting you stock up on suitable snacks outside the theme park might mollify him.
I remember finding nothing whatsoever that I wanted to eat when we went to Orlando so if I went again I would definitely want to take my own.
 
Amberzak said:
Need to rant.

I've had this all holiday. My stepdad seems to think that if we eat a big breakfast, I won't need to eat all day. We had this in a theme park. And today it was going back on the plane. So we have an English breakfast at half past ten. And then I had a packet of crisps at the airport at about one. It's now 8.20pm (actually 9.20 when to take into account the time difference) and he stops at a supermarket to get some milk and moans at me when I say I really really really need food. I've been saying I need something all day (got no money left from holiday and he said he'd buy me food but it's always excuses. Too expensive at airport and on plane, can't stop on the Motorway).

He just keeps going on that I had a big breakfast. And that he hasn't eaten and he's fine. We had the same argument at the theme park. Had breakfast before we went in, then he got all stroppy because come 3pm I'm saying I need to buy something to eat. He moans at me saying I'm wasting money (you can't bring outside food into the park).

I of course have hypo treatment on me, but it would be nice to be able to eat before I get into a hypo without him moaning and going all stroppy.
Click to expand...

He really does need educating, such a shame that anyone can be so arrogant and stupid. I'm not sure of the best advise, reasoning seems to be out of the question. It's very sad that it might take a medical emergency and I'm not recommending that in any way, form or manner. Perhaps your GP or DN can advise.
 
Indeed. I'll be doing that next time, keeping some money aside. They search your bags for food st the theme park.

I'm so glad the holiday is over. I really wish my husband had come on holiday.

He doesn't get any of my issues to be honest so I don't know why I'm surprised. He cross contaminates my gluten free while cooking (I'm coeliac), he moans when I need a break from walking and moaned at my mum for hiring me a mobility scooter to get around the park (doctors think I have ms but not formally diagnosed yet). I even heard him saying to my mum once that I'm a hypercondriac. Just because I have lots wrong with me.
 
Amberzak said:
Indeed. I'll be doing that next time, keeping some money aside. They search your bags for food st the theme park.

I'm so glad the holiday is over. I really wish my husband had come on holiday.

He doesn't get any of my issues to be honest so I don't know why I'm surprised. He cross contaminates my gluten free while cooking (I'm coeliac), he moans when I need a break from walking and moaned at my mum for hiring me a mobility scooter to get around the park (doctors think I have ms but not formally diagnosed yet). I even heard him saying to my mum once that I'm a hypercondriac. Just because I have lots wrong with me.
Click to expand...
Rip of Britain highlighted places here also not allowing you to take food in and searching bags, and food being expensive!
 
Status
This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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