Need some help making sure one of our isn’t over-taxed.
Sorry, newly diagnosed diabetic and I want to be sure I support her appropriately and still have fun
I don’t have many suggestions, but if the person in your party has dietary restrictions as a result of the condition, I would recommend telling the waitstaff of the dietary restrictions and asking to speak to the chef before ordering at WDW TS restaurants. I have found the chefs to be very accommodating to dietary restrictions in my family.
Thank you
I haven’t done this before but I’ve read a lot on forums like this one that you can send a msg before the trip to the restaurants you’ll be going to informing them of your dietary needs. Check the official WDW site for details.
Is this person a type 1 or type 2 diabetic?
So, we need some more particulars to give you better answers. Is this a child or an adult? Insulin-dependent? And, as @BoilerMomPharmD, asked, Type I or Type 2?
Female adult. Doesn’t want to start insulin until after the trip. Not sure if she will have a glucose monitor ( the kind you stick on your arm and check with your phone). Need some ideas about adding in extra breaks for hydration or food or rest
Type 2
Okay, that helps. Exercise (I.e., walking) will help keep her bg lower, but that doesn’t mean she should sugar herself up. What happens when a type 2 diabetic eats lots of carbs is that the bg will spike and then drop. This can be dangerous if it drops low enough. If she doesn’t have a CGM on, she should be checking her bg regularly, especially if she’s eating a lot more sugar than normal or walking a lot more than normal. Drinking water throughout the day is a must.
If she starts becoming confused or shaky, just ask her if she’s tested her bg. If she’s low, she needs to bring it back up. She should already know what to do, but you might want to research about what to do when she gets low. I carry around peppermint puffs with me. If I get down below my low threshold, I will eat three of them and then check my bg again in 15 minutes.
Just remember that she’s on vacation and she probably doesn’t want to necessarily be on the perfect diet. It’s hard to adjust. She doesn’t want to be lectured about what she’s eating. You can get away with a lot when you’re walking 15,000+ steps a day. Just be supportive of her, and watch for the lows. You may ask her what support she’d like for you to give, like reminding her to check her bg.
As for breaks, her body will tell her when she needs to rest. In general, the walking is good for her.
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Thank you so much. We’ve been planning this trip for a year for her milestone birthday and I want it to be magical
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Oh, I’m sure it will be! When I went this past Christmas, I decided to splurge more than normal since it was a vacation. I didn’t go hog wild, but I did have dessert at least once a day, and had an alcoholic drink with my lunches and dinners. Alcohol doesn’t spike my bg as much as, say, dessert does. I did fine, and I spiked and came down more than I would like, but the walking helped with keeping it more or less under control.
As a newly diagnosed T2D (six months) myself, I just want to add that, despite all your efforts, this trip may be very depressing for your friend. Maybe not, but…be prepared for that, just in case.
Two months after my diagnosis, I took my Hoodlums and my mom to an Orlando theme park. There were restaurants everywhere and snacks everywhere and alcohol everywhere, and I could not have any of it.
My diet consisted of meal after meal of hamburger patty, with cheese, on a plate. The plate was empty and depressing. My family had slushees, and popcorn, and ice cream, and pasta, and bagels, and…it was what I wanted them to do, but it killed me a little every time I had to say “do you have any celery sticks?” If I’m honest, it still kills me. But I do what I must to be there for the Hoods!
So hooray to all the research, and preparation, for your friend’s physical needs. But don’t be offended if she becomes despondent around the F&W kiosks (for example), or when the bread is brought to the table. And if you see a family of Mickey bars, dodge her into the nearest shop, STAT!
Much love to your birthday celebrant, and have a fantastic (as much as you can) trip!
{{{hugs}}} sorry it’s so hard on you. It does take getting used to. I’m, frankly, not fond of most sweet stuff and I love meat, cheese, and all kinds of things like that. It makes eating keto friendly so much easier. My downfall is frozen custard, ice cream, and dole whips. At home I just make whipped cream with no sweetener.
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My first post here…
My wife and I have been doing a keto diet since last January and it’s been very sucessful (down over 50 lbs for her and 40 for me). Keto can be beneficial for some diabetics so it’s worth checking it out.
We stuck to our keto diet our whole trip last January/February. We liked Peco Bill’s at MK and Coral Reef at Epcot but apparently a lot of table service restaurants are able to modify dishes to suit. This year we want to try the Cobb Salad at Hollywood Brown Derby at HS.
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I am diabetic (type 2) and when I was newly diagnosed a few years ago. I went through a series of emotions. I was afraid to eat anything, I was angry and embarrass. I know you are concerned for her health but please do not ask her if she should be eating this or that. Adjusting to this disease is hard, she may not be ready to have a chef come to table and discuss her dietary restrictions. My suggestions would be to pick QS or TS with a variety of foods. Try to limit the carbs by splitting meals. Protein is great to keep the blood sugar stable. All the walking will help with her blood sugar but be sure she stays hydrated. The heat and humidity gets to me so I brought a cool towel and got out of the sun when possible. Since I been diagnosed I get motion sickness I found taking a non drowsy Dramamine with breakfast really helped with the rides. She is lucky to have such a supported and loving friend, so if she wants a Dole whip get a small with 2 spoons that’s what I did with my daughter satisfied my craving without raising my blood sugar by to much. I hope that helps and I hope that your friend will adjust quickly to her new way of eating.
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She “doesn’t want to start insulin”? Hmmmm - what does her MD say about that?
I going to give you a quick answer. Walk and limit your carbs. I and my have been going to WDW once or twice a year and I love to eat. I am type 2 diabetic. At first you don’t think there is anything to eat you will enjoy but that is straight bull. I love meats and seafoods of all types as well a vegetables. I have come to the conclusion that I am no longer on a diabetic diet, I am on a life style change and that’s what it’s got to be. Insolin is expensive and unnecessary if you just watch your carb intake. Metformin will do nicely and it’s cheap. Yes, I have had to give up breads, pasta, desserts, candy, milk for the most part, and I watch the labels for carbs. You can and will do it and after a while you will know what you can eat. How much is NOT a factor here. You probably heard of the Atkins plan, Keto plan, South Beach Plan. Notice I didn’t say diet! For you it is your life and you can eat like a pig in WDW and your Bg will be just fine. Take your meds and walk. Talk to Mickey a lot, just keep active. Hope this helps. BTW you will lose weight the natural way, Eat protein and Veggees .
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What time of year are you going? I’m just thinking that if it’s hot out that might be harder than if it’s a nice temp.
Not sure what her MD would say about that. But maybe she is not sure how her body will react and wants to start her insulin after her trip when she is in own environment. It sounds like they have been planning this trip for a long time and she wants it to be magical for her and her friend. Its really not our place to judge how she wants to handle her disease. I just know that it was very difficult and scary for me in the beginning, so I was basing my suggestions on that.
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