Diabetic friendly vs unfriendly
Hi everyone, I've been a type 1 diabetic for the past ~27 years and particularly within the past 15 or so years, have never seen a food or meal that I'd refuse based solely on having diabetes. One exception might be soda, which I prefer diet over regular due to drinking a whole lot of it each day and not wanting to inject each and every time I have a glass, but if regular soda was my only option and I was thirsty, I wouldn't see it as impossible.
For meals and snacks, I typically have to take an injection no matter what, so if I have to take 2-4 units for, say, a sugar free brownie, I can't think of any reason not to just take a few extra units and have the real thing. Similarly for meals, if I have a piece of plain chicken and a plain baked potato, I'm taking an injection just as if I were having a piece of say, chicken parm and a twice-baked potato, the only difference being a few extra units, and in my opinion, a lot more taste.
I know some diabetics prefer low-carb diets or vegetarian diets or whatever else, but the same could be said of the general population, so I wouldn't cite this as being specific to diabetics. My past few A1c's have ranged from 6.3-6.7, which I admit isn't perfect, but I wouldn't say is bad either. Following a diet more strictly likely would help, but I'd want to argue that more rigorous monitoring and insulin dosing could have a similar result.
So my question for everyone is what exactly do you consider diabetic friendly and unfriendly? And are there foods which you consider yourself truly unable to eat solely because of diabetes? I really look forward to and appreciate your responses!
For meals and snacks, I typically have to take an injection no matter what, so if I have to take 2-4 units for, say, a sugar free brownie, I can't think of any reason not to just take a few extra units and have the real thing. Similarly for meals, if I have a piece of plain chicken and a plain baked potato, I'm taking an injection just as if I were having a piece of say, chicken parm and a twice-baked potato, the only difference being a few extra units, and in my opinion, a lot more taste.
I know some diabetics prefer low-carb diets or vegetarian diets or whatever else, but the same could be said of the general population, so I wouldn't cite this as being specific to diabetics. My past few A1c's have ranged from 6.3-6.7, which I admit isn't perfect, but I wouldn't say is bad either. Following a diet more strictly likely would help, but I'd want to argue that more rigorous monitoring and insulin dosing could have a similar result.
So my question for everyone is what exactly do you consider diabetic friendly and unfriendly? And are there foods which you consider yourself truly unable to eat solely because of diabetes? I really look forward to and appreciate your responses!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bron on -
As another pump wearer, I treat this pretty much as you do - my only concern about injecting more insulin is the effect on my weight. I would love to lose 10 lbs, but at 59 it's a struggle. That said, the only thing I'll definitely refuse is full sugar soda. To me, it's "medicine" to be used for a low. I prefer diet these days, or iced tea. I also tend to think in terms of "saving" my insulin for something I really want. Why have fries or a potato when it's a bite or two of cheesecake for dessert that really appeals? As long as I'm eating healthy and staying away from fast food and potato chips I pretty much eat what I want.
P.S. I don't really consider pizza "diabetic friendly". I'll eat it, but it requires a lot of checking and usually, a midnight correction when the fat-delayed portion kicks in. It's a special treat since it's so tricky for me.
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Permalink Reply by Sarah on -
I don't do low carb either, or look at things as being "off limits" - certain things which would traditionally be considered "bad" foods are actually some of the easiest to manage since for me the high fat content usually delays or eliminates a huge spike (like ice cream, cake), but that logic doesn't always carry over to other things - pizza, chinese food, and mexican food (unless homemade) are always tricky - I am convinced there is a fair amount of extra sugar added to all three of those at restaurants (mostly hidden in sauces), because when I make them at home (from scratch) I don't have to bolus for nearly the amount of carbs even with similar portion sizes.
That said, I do watch what I eat and try to make wise food choices, but it's not usually for reasons that resemble "oh I'm diabetic, I can't have that" - really the impact on my waistline is more significant than D.. but it is partially because D makes it harder to lose extra weight once it's been gained.
And I agree with others - eating well is really more about portion control than off-limit foods.
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Permalink Reply by Capin101 on
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I agree with the regular soda, super sweet tea, etc. That stuff is medicinal for hypos and that is my only use for it. I would also never let anyone tell me that I can or cannot eat a food. That is simply not their choice to make.
I will (of course) splurge and try or eat things out of my norm to experiment and live a little.
I have noticed a change in my diet since I started wearing a CGM about 6 months ago. There is a group of foods that seem to fall into a no (diabetic) mans land and are difficult for me to handle. These foods have a higher glycemic index, but are not high enough to treat hypos. Foods like bananas, instant oatmeal, milk. The CGM has shown me that they are too slow to treat my hypos and too fast (into my bloodstream) for my humalog to keep up with. They spike my CGM at 30 to 45 minutes after ingestion just cause me all types of problems attaining the type of control I am after.
I rarely eat deserts or treats of that nature. I dont have a sweet tooth and it was drilled into my head in the 80s and early 90s that they were a no-no (so personal choice). I also have been eating more low glycemic index foods since I got my CGM like barley and green leafy veggies.
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Permalink Reply by rubidoux on -
I have a similar view. I don't think any food should be considered off limits. There may be some foods that, if eaten daily, would make it hard to have great control. But I think almost anything can be fine in moderation.
Like you, though, I haven't drunk soda in years, or juice for that matter, because it's just not worth it. And I generally don't love super sweet foods either. I love chocolate cake, but I don't like the frosting. I don't like pure sugar things like cotton candy, hard candies, jello, jelly beans, etc. And I have a feeling those can be pretty rough on the b/s. But if I loved them and wanted to have them, I'd fit them in somewhere.
Now, as far as what I choose to eat -- none of it! lol I eat between 0 and 2.5 grams of carb a day, normally. Yesterday I cheated and had some baby greens (just a few bites) and 3 slices of cuke. But generally I come in under 2.5 g a day. So, as you can imagine, that makes a lot of foods off limits to me. But that's just my wacky choice and I find it easiest. I would be PO'd if someone else was telling me there was something I couldn't eat because I was diabetic.
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Permalink Reply by Anthony Holko on -
I had a plate of french frys yesterday. It needed 30 units of insulin to keep the BG close to earth. Not sure if that much insulin is good for you.
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Permalink Reply by Lila on -
I agree that 30 units is a lot. But you could have just eaten half the plate. Or a quarter.
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Permalink Reply by Nell on -
I don't do low carb but wish I could do the moderate that some have mentioned. I drank Diet Coke for 40 years and then it started tasting flat to me. Not sure if that was age changing my taste buds (ditto on other previous favorites) or what. at the same time, I bought a PUR water pitcher for the fridge and that water tastes so good that I have been drinking the filtered water and skim milk and unsweetened ice tea for the past 1.5 years. I occasionally try a Diet Coke or diet sierra mist but I have no inclination to return to it. You just need an icy cold diet coke with pizza though!
I admire those who can follow what I call a strict diet - 100 carbs a day?!! or 30-40 per meal is not happening with me. Maybe when I get dex this summer it will get me moving....or maybe not....
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Permalink Reply by lala_wolf on -
i read in a book that sometimes sugar free foods are worse and sometimes bad for you compared to the real thing. if there is only a few carb differences i eat the real thing.
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Permalink Reply by Jeska on -
I've seen sugar free foods that were higher carb than their full flavor counterparts. No thanks lol
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Permalink Reply by Zoe on -
I do have certain foods that I never or at least very rarely eat. But I prefer not to think of them as "forbidden". To me, that is a way of setting yourself up for cravings and for "being bad". I choose not to eat certain foods because they are too unreliable for me to dose for, I like the "law of small numbers" (less carbs = less insulin = less chance for error). I rarely eat pasta (which, as a vegetarian used to be a staple of my diet) for these reasons, and because the amount I could successfully eat is too small to bother. I eat pasta if I am going out with people and am at a restaurant where that is the only vegetarian option. I never eat rice, brown or white. I no longer eat any cereal at all, after trying every brand in the store and spiking on them all. I haven't eaten any sugar for 16 years due to an eating disorder, so that one's easy for me. I don't use sugar substitutes and really don't care for recipes that are based on substitutions of any kind. (Either the low carb or the vegetarian variety).
I keep my carbs to under 100. I'm a Type 1 with no insulin resistance to speak of and I want to keep it that way. I'm at an age where I can gain weight easily and have a lot of trouble losing, so I choose to prevent that from happening. I eat a large variety of foods, cook and enjoy different ethnic foods and food and cooking is a big pleasure in life to me. I am lucky enough to live walking distance to an amazing store where I can get ingredients from around the world and love new recipes. I had to make certain changes before I could do that as a diabetic, but I have the time and consider it a challenge to my foodie soul. I never feel deprived.
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Permalink Reply by Jeska on
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Nothing is forbidden, however, there are some things I just don't bother with because trying to dose for them is hell. Pizza, regular soda or juice (have to OD & wait to go low & then I don't get to enjoy it, so what's the point?), pasta, bananas, and pears. I do, however, treat myself to Cadbury Creme Eggs and Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies...I trial & errored the crap out of those so I could continue to have them. The other things just weren't yummy enough to go thru all that...easier to just not eat them. =]
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Permalink Reply by kphil06 on -
haha I did the same thing with cadbury creme eggs as I got my pump right before easter... 25g of carbs never tasted so good
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