Help me process this. I’ve been a type two non-insulin independent diabetic for 20 years. Six or eight dear friends, we’ve hung out with for 30 years. They know. In all that time at every gathering, everyone has bent over backwards for vegan girl who is now gluten-free for whatever reason pretty sur
The problem with diabetes as compared to veganism is that the food choices are less clear, it’s hard for “the general public” to follow. Some diabetics eat carbs, and just treat with insulin, and no one would ever know. Others don’t. Others sometimes and not other times. People don’t automatically know what you, specifically as an individual, require.
Which means it’s on you to assert your own needs. Things like “hey would you mind if we eat at this other restaurant instead? It’s easier for me to find stuff I can eat there.” I’ve found my friends are usually really flexible, as long as I am specific about what I ask for (like I take it on myself to name a viable alternative, rather than simply saying “no” to their suggestion. I offer something they can say “yes” to, because it’s hard for
Very helpfuul, thanks
I think the diabetic diet is a pretty individual thing though and people may not know if person A eats moderate carb and person B eats very low carb how to accommodate that. Or maybe the diabetic person doesn’t want to draw attention to their eating and have people policing them forever.
When I go to a Chinese restaurant I do fine getting something like beef and broccoli or chicken and lots of vegetables. I skip the rice, noodles, egg rolls. I don’t require anyone to accommodate me usually beyond knowing where we are going or what is being served so I can make a plan.
I am recently diagnosed (type 2) and the only person in my immediate family with the condition. There are couple of allergies floating around already, and we have frequent celebrations where we eat a homemade dinner as a family and there is always dessert.
When I eat with my family I usually eat something before hand, while I am there I select the things that I can eat, and I bring my own dessert.
When I got out to eat I'll suggest Brazilian BBQ, Hot Pot, Korean BBQ, steakhouse, all-you-can-eat sushi (and order sashimi), or a diner.
If I am ordering food that comes with a carb-heavy side I will just as them to hold it, swap it with a salad, or give the side to someone else who could eat it.
My CGM is usually visible and when someone questions my food choices I just point to it and tel
CGMs make a HUGE difference in SO many ways. Wish my insurance would give me a script but I have to hit 51 twice to show them I am at risk of immediate death to get one.
Really its because people dont understand the mechanisms of diabetes.
Vegan and gluten free used to be "uhh so you can eat fish right? And is there gluten in fruit?" But now more and more people are aware. Despite more diabetes tech and drugs I still think the average nondiabetic doesn't know.
Plus violations are firmer. This has animal products. This has wheat/flour. Unless you push that youre eating keto or no carbs people are gonna likely lean towards carb heavy standard stuff cause its not like you can't eat it, right? Right? /s Of course you can but its inconvenient just an inconvenience the people around you dont feel.
I think you can wield the torch for you and your new friend. Pushing low carb options cause its easier to sell when 2 people have buy in.
For chinese food t
Stick to a white sauce like chicken with vegetables or chicken with broccoli. Pretty much everything else is off limits.. You can get away with egg fu yung. Just don’t use the gravy or use a limited amount.
I think you need to talk to your friends and remind them that it’s not so easy navigating food with places they choose.
Tell them you are carb intolerant
Yep, a food allergy means more to most people that telling them you are diabetic.
Most people have only a vague sense of how many carbs are in foods, and almost certainly don't know about glycemic index. White rice is, at least for me, a food that will definitely raise my bg a lot. Some good choices include ma po tofu, lettuce wraps, soup, and my favorite, moo shu without the pancakes--it's still delicious that way.
now I need mushu
Update: had time to look at the menu and I’ll be having the “lightly battered” crispy pork and Szechuan green beans. Pretty sure i like both of those. I’ll check back later. Also, just learned that there is a third, grand daughter, person who is pre-diabetic and remotely in this circle.
Chicken or beef with broccoli?
There was a place I used to go that had twice cooked pork on a bed of greens. It was so good. I'd get a little bump off the sauce, but that was pretty safe.
Maybe they think nothing’s wrong because you keep eating it in silence. Start ordering everything with rice on the side.
I dunno in my experience this hasn't been a problem I've always just spoken up about it. Like if there is a plan to hang out and we're talking restaurants I'll see if we can all go somewhere where I have more options, I don't expect others to remember my medical issues and as others have pointed out diabetes is a bit more murky than a vegan. More often than not I just bring my own food, its easier for everyone else and I know its food I can and want to eat.
People can't walk all over you without your cooperation.
Have you talked to them about your dietary needs? Diabetics eat a pretty wide spectrum of diets. Many of us don’t eat low carb. I wouldn’t expect people to know what sort of “diabetic diet” I might be following, and I would actively discourage people from providing me with sugar free versions of regular foods.
You need to speak up if you want people to know what your needs are.
Steamed veggies
Yep. Work throws a celebration, makes vegan and gluten free options. But low carb, I’ve only seen it when we had a keto person who made it as part of their identity.
My crew manager walks around with Halloween treats and puts it infront of my face “uh… I’m diabetic..” “oh right sorry!”
Work offers doughnuts and cake for birthdays and it’s like, “hey go get some, you’re missing out” and it’s like…. Yeah I know…
People don’t understand diabetes. Even people that care about you. My ex tried. There would be times when I was low, and he’d think I needed an insulin shot. It’s very personal and I don’t think it’s fully possible to understand diabetes unless you have it. You might need to explain your needs in simple terms, they might not even know your needs fully.
What pill makes it all right in five hours?
Same Diabetic diagnosis but way less years. If the restaurant is a banger Chinese restaurant, they better have some amazing green beans. Thats my go to. Also beef and broccoli rarely misses.
OP, many of the Chinese restaurants I goto on a regular basis, have a custom grill, where you pick the things you want cooked from a raw bar. That is meats, veggies, noodles if you want them, fried rice if you want it. And most important sauces without corn starch in them.
It's up to you to make substations in a dish by asking or suggesting a different restaurant. . You don't have to sit and stuff your face and suffer.
But remember, your diabetes dietary limitaions are not the same as 1000 other diabetics. We're all different in our carb tolerances, due to the meds we use, exercise we get, and yes the amount of carbs we eat in one sitting.
I notice people don’t understand what a carb even is, I can tell them I can’t eat carbs and they will say ok and then be extremely shocked to hear brown rice is still a carb or an apple is still a carb
Recently I’ve become more vocal about being a diabetic and adamant that I don’t eat carby foods. I bring a side dish of something I know I will enjoy to all functions in case there isn’t anything for me. At Christmas I made low carb desserts. It’s up to us to educate
Managing your disease is not their responsibility, and maybe you are not as vocal as the vegan person.
You can choose not to go there, you can also get Chinese food that is low in carbs like whatever steamed fish they have, egg fu young, silver/paper wrapped chicken, char shu,
Yes, this is what I keep telling myself. Diabetes is my own demon to slay and nobody else's. This is why I have told very few people that I have it (diagnosed in 2019). I hate having people play food police. I try to draw as little attention to my diabetes as possible.
I remember my first keto dinner with friends. I quietly skipped rice and fried foods, choosing veggies and grilled meat. Later, they noticed and asked questions. Sharing my story showed them it is possible to enjoy meals without carbs, and now I try to bring simple options that everyone can try.
Eat all the Chinese food besides rice, noodles and breaded meat. Get the 75% of the joy with a little sacrifice
Ugh. I feel you! My friends and family are well aware that I had a kidney transplant and have been immunosuppressed for the last 24 years. They still somehow show up to events with colds or other illnesses and take offense when I put a mask on. My brother and SIL caught COVID 3 frigging times (!!) and still think I'm overreacting.
I was diagnosed T2D last April. Nothing low carb/low sugar at Christmas dinner. I ate a lot of turkey and what minimal veg showed up....
It sounds like you just need to educate them! If they are willing and able to make special dishes for one friend, they will be willing to for you as well. They just don’t know what that looks like ¯_(ツ)_/¯ Its so annoying sometimes that we have to constantly educate people around us, but the people close to us are the only ones who really matter in that regard. And I would bet money they are receptive to learning. They just don’t know what they don’t know!
Grasping a diabetic diet is a lot more complicated than a vegan diet. I would just speak up for myself and not expect others too. most people don't know how many carbs you can have or differences between the types of carbs. Alot of people just think diabetics can't have sweets.
People are ignorant when it comes to diabetes and being immunocompromised. I got a kidney transplant a little over a year ago, and three months later I became T2 insulin dependent. My transplant team tells me it happens to some people due to the immunosuppressant meds. Recently I had someone say, “I thought you would be over that by now.”
If you're going to a real Chinese restaurant and not an Americanized Chinese restarurant, there are plenty of dishes that are safe for diabetics. . Yes, it wil likely means you can't really share dishes among everyone but if you go to a steakhouse say, you don't share anyway.
I eat Chinese food all the time. Do I eat the rice, no. Can I find something on the menu that works, sure, no issue.
Do talk to your friends and remind them that Veganism is a choice while being diabetic isn’t, your quality and length of lifespan depends on your dietary control. Tell them they can support you by choosing restaurants with healthier food options and you will handle the rest.
Some chinese places offer roasted meats, bbq pork and the like. Order the veggie heavy dishes and order it with nobrice or a child size rice and sprinkle a spoon full or two on your food. ‘Use Rice Like a Condiment’ is one of my rules of thumb. Mind you I personally do not think full on Keto is best in the long run for diabetes, what I do believe is good is a Very Low Carb count that does not trigger ketoacidosis. How many carbs depends on one’s activity level but she aims at around 100g for a sedentary person.
Speak up and say you don't want Chinese?
The newly diagnosed diabetic on insulin will need carbs with their meal and not a keto meal anyway. They’re likely on fixed insulin doses if newly diagnosed so not having carbs would make them too low. Once they know how to adjust their mealtime insulin they can eat anything they like
I have been eating keto for 15 years and hubby is diabetic.
When we get Chinese it's chicken-on-a-stock, green beans, moo goo gai pan, and non-breaded-meat-and-broccoli, etc.
There are things that one can eat while avoiding carbs and starch.
Beef and broccoli with extra broccoli and no rice would be better than most of the other things. Is this a Chinese buffet or a place where you order your meal? A buffet has more options. Our local Chinese buffet has steamed salmon, beef of some sort, and many side veggies to choose from. Yes, I know that there are carbs in ALL of these things too because of the way they are prepared. But it's not impossible. Or, you could just tell your friends that you are going to skip this meet up and will catch up next time when you go to a place where there are more low carb options for you and your newly-diagnosed friend.
i wouldn’t take it personally. honestly diabetes is so common (1 or 2) that i truly don’t think people think twice about it when you tell them you have it. i’m a type 1 and literally have honey buns in my purse in case of a low lol. so i can understand why a situation like that would like sus to someone if the only things they knew about me was i have diabetes. given the two different types and along with hypoglycemia most people just think you either need sugar or don’t, any information past that becomes a confusing jumbled mess if you don’t understand it. talk to your friends, let them know that you are taking this disease seriously. and just tell them politely “hey guys with my diabetes i want to start being more cautious with food that is either sugary or high in carbs.”
i’m sure it
The problem with diabetic life is thag there are so many of us thriving with it thag no one thinks its as dangerous as it is. Also, they think just dont eat sugar. But they dont realize that almost everything has sugar. And they dont realize that its not just sugar that affects us. Its very hard to avoid glucose spikes. But to make a vegan item is easy. They just dont really understand diabetes. And its too much work to learn.
To my knowledge type 2 diabetics are not insulin dependent. You can force that statement and have someone agree but it’s not correct. Type1’s don’t have a working pancreas so they are legitimately insulin dependent. 80+ % of type2 folks can cure themselves; it’s just their lifestyle caused them to get it. Some are genetic but most can be kicked through a lifestyle change and lots of discipline.
Living as a diabetic is about the short term and long term choices you make. The fact that you’re butt hurt about a vegan getting special treatment isn’t very logical: vegans only eat very specific kinds of food, so 95% of the places out there won’t have what they permit themselves to eat. I’m guessing you have free will to eat vegetables at a Chinese food place as some Chinese food restaurants ha
I bring my own food, I don't ever expect anyone to cater to my weird diet, I went to a party and everything was fried. Everyone was drinking beer and eating fried stuff, I brought a can of almonds and a jar prosciutto stuffed peppers. and drank seltzer waters and like the Fresh Prince's mom said If they were laughing, you don't need 'em
'Cause they're not good friends
Type 2 doesn't need sympathy. It's literally causes by poor diet and lack of exercise. It's NOT THE SAME AS TYPE 1 AND SHOULDNT BE TREATED AS SUCH. Make the right decisions for your health and stop being a cry baby loser.