Dining Out With Diabetes
These days, in Canada, more than 800,000 seniors have Type 2 diabetes and this number will increase each year. For this people the diagnose will come with a restriction of what they can and can’t eat and they will need to plan a diabetic menu for their meals. Diabetic menu planning at home isn’t that difficult, but what if you love to go out for dinner?
For a lot of people eating out is one of life’s pleasures and it doesn’t have to stop because you are diagnosed with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association has made a list of guidelines you can use so you can still enjoy a nice restaurant meal and still keep a good eye on your diabetes. It all comes down to making the right choices. Ask what you need to know and balance your restaurant meals out with healthy meals at home. Remember, diabetes is a condition that you can keep under control, you just have to put your mind to it.
Because not everyone with diabetes has the same nutritional goals you should seek help with a registered dietician or diabetic educator. They can help you sort out what to do when dining out. The first choice that can help you is picking a restaurant that offers a great variety of choices. The more you can choose from, the more chance you have in finding appropriate foods. You can always phone ahead and ask what is on the menu. You should make a reservation as this will avoid waiting and ensure that you can eat on time. If you use insulin, this is very important. When you make your reservation, you could also mention that it is important to be able to eat on time, because of your insulin. Most restaurants will make a note of this next to your reservation, so your table should be ready on time.
How to order:
- Ask what is in a dish if you don’t know for sure, they will give you the information you need.
- Check if the food has been prepared with liquid oil rat her than solid fats.
- Choose a meal that is prepared with a minimal amount of salt, no extra sauce or butter.
- Don’t choose a fried meal, rather pick a broiled, grilled or steamed one.
- Don’t overeat, try to eat the same portion as you would at home. If it’s a large serving take the extra food home.
- Ask if your sauce, gravy or salad dressing could be brought “on the side”.
- Order the baked potato, you can top it with a teaspoon of low-calorie yoghurt or sour cream and vegetables from the salad bar.
- Limit the intake of sugar, caffeine, alcohol and soft drinks.
And remember, enjoy the time you spend in the restaurant. It’s not because you have diabetes, you can’t enjoy life’s little pleasures. Having to live on a diabetic menu doesn’t mean you can’t life you live to the fullest.
Leslie Bogaerts
http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/dining-out-with-diabetes-673535.html
admin on May 2nd 2010 in Diabetes and Food Choices
Aly G responded on 02 May 2010 at 12:34 am #
do i have diabetes?
so, i feel like i’m diabetic.
the reason i say this is because
1) i’m slightly overweight. (BMI is way too high 5’4", 174lb)
2) my uncle has diabetes (the kind diagnosed when you’re older)
3) i’ve had two yeast infections in the past month
4) i’m ridiculously slow healer. (i got cut with a pocket knife about 5 weeks ago, and granted it was a fairly deep cut, im still not healed.) (another example, i had a blister on the top of my foot from june to july, not as deep, and it still took a long time to heal. and even though it was like one layer of skin, it scarred)
5) i feel very slow. like, if i havent eaten, i feel dumb. haha like i take a long time to answer a simple question. and its been pointed out to me.
6) i never really feel hungry, just like i could drink an ocean. i will literally sit in the dining hall and just drink while all my friends are pigging out. it makes me feel anorexic, but im just so thirsty.
i dunno, maybe i’m just overreacting
but should i be concerned?
also, i dont know if this is related,
but i have two strange lumps on my head.
theyve been there for quite some time..
well, one has. the other is new.
they;re not like moles or anything..
they dont hurt either.
it’s just weird.
p.s. im 18 :]
mlgable responded on 02 May 2010 at 5:36 am #
You are overreacting but to be on the safe side call your doc and ask to be tested for diabetes.
References :
jmminnc responded on 02 May 2010 at 5:38 am #
Ok so start working out and eating less.
That is what the doc going to tell you.
References :
InuYasha responded on 02 May 2010 at 5:40 am #
you seems to be describing many symptoms of diabetes which includes polydypsia or excessive thirst, being prone to infection especially fungal, and slow healing wound. plus you have a family history of DM..i do suggest you consult a specialist just to be on the safe side.
References :
Jeanne B responded on 02 May 2010 at 5:42 am #
Aly, your symptoms do seem similar to diabetes, so go get tested right away. Don’t worry -just do it. Also, don’t skip meals, that makes it worse. Eat approximately every 4 or 5 hours.
References :
**Anti-PeTA** responded on 02 May 2010 at 5:44 am #
Do You Have Diabetes?
Millions of people have diabetes mellitus, commonly called diabetes. You may be surprised to know that many of these people don’t even know they have it.
Diabetes is a serious disease and should not be ignored. If you have it, correct treatment can help you live a long and healthy life.
What Is Diabetes?
If you have diabetes, your body can’t make or use insulin. Insulin helps change sugar into energy to keep you alive.
There are different kinds of diabetes. The main ones are type 1 and type 2.
Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is mostly found in children and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin and you must inject insulin daily.
You May:
urinate often
be very thirsty
be very hungry
lose a lot of weight
be very tired
be irritable
have blurred vision
have trouble seeing.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Type 2 is usually found in people over 45, who have diabetes in their family, who are overweight, who don’t exercise, and who have cholesterol problems. It is also common in certain racial and ethnic groups (blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics) and in women who had diabetes when they were pregnant. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body cannot make enough insulin or correctly use it. Treatment is diabetes pills and sometimes insulin injections, as well as diet and exercise.
You May Have:
any of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes
a lot of infections
cuts or bruises that heal slowly
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
skin, gum, or bladder infections that keep coming back.
Controlling Diabetes
Daily monitoring and careful control of blood sugar levels are the most important steps to take for people with diabetes. If not treated, diabetes can cause:
High blood sugar (which could make you thirsty, tired, lose weight, urinate often, or give you infections that won’t go away)
Many serious health problems (which could hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart).
Warning: Low Blood Sugar
People with diabetes may develop low blood sugar because their blood has too much insulin or other blood sugar-lowering medication or from not eating enough food. It is important to follow the eating and medication schedule your doctor has prescribed to avoid low blood sugar.
Low blood sugar could make you shaky, dizzy, sweaty, hungry, have a headache, have pale skin color, have sudden mood or behavior changes, have clumsy or jerky movements, have difficulty paying attention, feel confused, or have tingling sensations around the mouth.
Taking Care of Your Diabetes
The best way to take care of your diabetes is to make sure the levels or amount of sugar in your blood are near the normal range. This will make you feel better and help you stay healthy.
Your doctor will tell you how often to check your blood sugar level. To do this, you will need to take a drop of your blood and place it on a special test strip. Then a device, called a blood glucose meter, reads the strip. This device measures the amount of sugar in your blood.
Writing down this level, along with the time and date, will help you see how well your treatment plan is working.
Remember:
A person’s blood sugar level rises after eating any meal that contains carbohydrates or protein. Table sugar (also called ?sucrose) counts as a carbohydrate. Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, aspartame (NutraSweet), and sucralose (Splenda), do not count as carbohydrates or fats. They make food taste sweet. But they do not raise blood sugar levels and have little or no calories.
What Else Can You Do?
Eat well-balanced meals. The right amount of healthy food will keep your weight under control and help manage your diabetes.
Your body needs food from the four main food groups every day:
Fruits and vegetables (oranges, apples, bananas, carrots, and spinach)
Whole grains, cereals, and bread (wheat, rice, oats, bran, and barley)
Dairy products (milk, cheese, and yogurt)
Meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dried beans, and nuts.
Remember:
Too much fat and cholesterol in your diet can be very harmful to people with diabetes. Food that is high in fat includes red meat, dairy products (whole milk, cream, cheese, and ice cream), egg yolks, butter, salad dressings, vegetable oils, and many desserts.
Can You Do Anything Else?
Exercise is important for good diabetes control. It usually lowers blood sugar and may help insulin work better. Exercise and a healthy diet can also help you take off extra pounds if you are overweight.
Warning:
Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. You may need a snack before or during the activity to avoid having low blood sugar while you exercise.
References :
http://www.fda.gov/opacom/lowlit/diabetes.html