Diabetic cooking on a narrowboat!

[jelunga]

Hmmm. I suspect that hating veg is more of a problem than not being vegetarian!

 

BTW, I am as disinclined to say 'a vegetarian' as to call someone 'a diabetic'. It seems wrong to define someone by what is only one aspect of them.

Ah but the term Vegetarian describes their dietary habits as I wound ve described as a carnivour. Nothing to do with the total person, just what they eat. Like Beer drinker or wine drinker etc.

[Leni]

the problem is HOW - how to change the habits of a lifetime that have got someone into that state in the first place. That is the difficult part, especially as so much of the sort of food that is unhealthy is also what is most comforting and gives the quickest satisfaction.

 

That's the problem in a nutshell! And you can magnify it 1,000 times for a ADHD / Dyslexic person!

 

I have one son who is has been vegetarian for many years and he and his wife recently changed to a vegan diet! However, I'm afraid the diabetic son is like Jelunga - more of a lion than a rabbit!

 

Thanks again to everyone for the useful info and for sharing your experiences and insights.

[BlueStringPudding]

I thing Blue String Pudding is very tasty!

 

But to be serious, I have type II diabetes, coupled with high chloresterol, and gout.

Plus I live on our boat. I can not find any diet that is "good" for all 3 conditions, especially since I am not vegetarian.

So moderation in all things seems to help.

 

 

Is blue string pudding permissible in a diabetic-friendly diet? It looks quite high fibre, but on the other hand, it does look rather highly processed. Can you get brown string pudding?

 

All natural ingredients in this blue string pudding, Cherts! Not too sweet, rarely sour, occasionally bitter. Mostly stodgy.

[Sue Morgan]

Anyway, many thanks again for the advice. It's good to know there are people out there on the cut who are living with and managing their diabetes. Thank you all

Just wondered if any one can give me some advice regarding keeping up with diabetic medication whilst on the boat ? My husband has been recently diagnosed with diabetes but we are intended to go off cruising, continuously for two to three years, but we are not sure how we will be able to continue getting his tablets when we will be moving on all the time making it impossible to regularly visit our Doctors surgery to pick up repeat prescriptions.

 

We did ask the doctor what we can do about this and he really wasn't very helpful and didn't seem to have a clue what we could do !

 

Any advice would be welcome

[sueb]

We got hubby's heart prescriptions by post. We sent stamped addressed envelope to surgery and they would send on. We are members of wrg so that made forwarding addresses easier. We also got several months prescription at a time.

There is a blog of Nb epiphany (spelling?) you can visit any dr as a visitor.

[BlueStringPudding]

 

I don't mind being referred to as diabetic (adjective) but I do object to being called "a diabetic" in the manner of most press reports.

I agree, that sounds isolating and pigeon holing. I don't like it.

 

Ask many disabled people whether they're happy with the collective noun "the disabled" and they usually don't like it either. Labels!

[Grace and Favour]

Just wondered if any one can give me some advice regarding keeping up with diabetic medication whilst on the boat ? My husband has been recently diagnosed with diabetes but we are intended to go off cruising, continuously for two to three years, but we are not sure how we will be able to continue getting his tablets when we will be moving on all the time making it impossible to regularly visit our Doctors surgery to pick up repeat prescriptions.

 

We did ask the doctor what we can do about this and he really wasn't very helpful and didn't seem to have a clue what we could do !

 

Any advice would be welcome

I am on permanent medications too, and I make an annual 'pilgrimage' to see my GP, (have a check-up, bloods etc) and ask for a six month prescription. Then halfway through the year I'll visit a GP on our travels, explain we're 'in transit', and get a 'see me through' prescription, OR, ring my GP- have him write a prescription, and have a friend collect it and send it to me.

 

It's always worked so far

[W+T]

I have had diabetes for 19 years now and i am 39, i got it really bad at first, i lost weight from 13 stone rugby player to just under 9 stone in a matter on months, since then though i am fine and fit, so to speak. in all them years i just ate what i always did before i got diabetes, but i was always very active and on the go and grafted all the time which i think i was lucky to keep it in control that way, well not exactly keeping in control but my levels were good. Oh yes i have Type 1 and on 5 injections a day, one morning and night slow release and 3 before main meals. i got into a habit of eating the same meals everyday at the same time, with snacks inbetween, i can say my sugars have been high and low at times but i know when they are getting out of line. my body tells me when its not right somehow,

Well, after 18 years i had my first serious Hypo and was well gone and fitting on the couch in the con`y one morning, all i can put that down to is that i injected the wrong insulin, the fast instead of the slow release, i wont be doing that again i can tell you, well the paramedics came as it was lucky my wife was home as it was a weekend, i was off work with eye surgery just been done a few days ago.

After that i was sent to the local diabetes clinic for a more close check up, now they was suprised by me as i have not been to one for a good number of years, but always been to the doctors for the nurse to check me over. the clinic was also suprised to see that i have never heard of the DAFNE course, and when they told me about it i was suprised and gutted i didnt go sooner as the DAFNE and carb counting means you can eat what you want when you want, in a way,

For me as being Type 1, not sure on Type 2 but i guess its the same if on tablets etc, for every meal i have i count the carbs and every 100 say carbs i have 1 unit of fast insulin, so on sundays we have a full dinner with a pudding for afters so then i inject 6 units, where as normally with say a dinner of jacket spuds and tuna i would have 3 units.

DAFNE is a 5 day course the clinics want you to do, i havnt yet but i have got all the info on it from when i last went, they give you, well they did me a file of all the foods you would have and it has the carb units in it for you to use, there is even a phone App you can get, you just put in what your meal contains and it give you the carbs back.

 

Leni, if your son is worried about anything tell him its not a big worry, i know of some folk that get that worried they make it worse as stress can be a bad thing for us `diabetics` best thing he can do is to keep on track with his blood checks, atleast 4 times a day, i use the new meter which i find is excellent as it keeps records, gives averages and you can download to your PC etc

http://www.bayerdiabetes.co.uk/sections/products-for-my-diabetes/meters/bayer-contour-next-link-meter/contour-next-link-overview

 

they are free from the clinics if you ask.

 

all best to you and your son Leni, hope he keeps well.

 

Wolly

[carlt]

Just wondered if any one can give me some advice regarding keeping up with diabetic medication whilst on the boat ? My husband has been recently diagnosed with diabetes but we are intended to go off cruising, continuously for two to three years,

 

Any advice would be welcome

Join the Association of Continuous Cruisers who can advise you on that sort of thing.

 

 

Oh and by the way....

• New Member
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• 3 posts

• Gender:Female
• Location:Hayes
• Boat Name: Que Sera Sera

 

Found it!! Where's my prize?

I am on permanent medications too, and I make an annual 'pilgrimage' to see my GP,

This very much depends on your GP though.

 

Mine chucked my whole family off his list when we were on a long term mooring simply because my postal address was outside the catchment area even though our actual location was inside it.

[Bobbybass]

Thanks to everyone for the useful info. We've found the diabetes UK website very useful and have ordered the cookbook, and also 'Diabetes for Dummies'. (Not that he's a dummy, but he's found the '... for dummies' books readable in the past.

He's Type 2 diabetes - he's mid-thirties, so it's early to develop it, but he's very overweight. The doctor even offered him bariatric surgery! I don't think he wants to go down that route, but this is definitely not going to be easy! Don't know yet if he's going to be on medication or if they are going to attempt to control it with diet, but the 'life management' issues are going to be the most difficult thing for him.

 

Anyway, many thanks again for the advice. It's good to know there are people out there on the cut who are living with and managing their diabetes. Thank you all

 

In my 'blog'..I undertook the Newcastle diet...with amazing results.

 

It is NOT a 'diet-diet'..it is replicating bariatric surgery..without the surgery.

DO NOT think..."Aha..yet another diet"....!!

 

I am now classed..non-diabetic...and no meds any more...

 

It is dangerous...as rather than a diet..it is really controlled starvation.

 

My doctor acknowledged that it does work..but NOT BEFORE I undertook it...as it has to be medically tested for years. I had to buy my own meal replacement drinks..NOT Slimfast..or even the normal hospital meal replacements..as they have bulking in them. The drinks cost about £350.

 

I can now eat the occasional whole bar of fruit and nut...and choccy cake..with no ill effects..but it varies from person to person.

 

It IS dangerous....so I cannot recommend it..only state my own circumstances..

It is also hard..very hard...and you have to complete it 100% as if you 'stray' even for a day..its sets you right back.

 

Worked for me..not just the diabetes..but my whole metabolism..

 

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diet/newcastle-study-600-calorie-diet.html

Edited April 7, 2014 by Bobbybass

[elizabethjones181975]

Hi, there are lot of considerations that one can keep in mind especially related to low carbohydrate cooking which is essential for diabetes. I found a lot of interesting stuff related to this topic at www.diabeticbuddy.com

Edited May 20, 2015 by elizabethjones181975

[Guest]

Speak to the Diabetes Specialist nurse, there is at least one attached to every Diabetes Unit in hospital, he/she should be able o help and also put you in touch with a dietician,again there s usually one attached to the Unit. They will have lots of practical help for him.

As has already been said a normal healthy diet is what is recommended for people with diabetes ( the term diabetic is frowned upon these days) the importance is to eat regularly to avoid problems associated with timing of insulin doses. I have presumed that as you mentioned "son" that he has Type1diabetes and needs insulin. If he has Type 2 diabetes the emphasis will be to maintain a suitable weight, if he s overweight he will be encouraged to loses some as that can improve his insulin resistance and an even mean his blood sugars return to normal.

 

Alyson

All of that ^^^

I was diagnosed as type 2 in early January, and by a regime of weight loss and exercise am now in the normal range again. I highly recommend swimming if possible, or water aerobics might help.

Loads of cooking advice on the net for diabetics, and several good Kindle books available.

Briefly I have removed most sugar from my diet, reduced carbs to a sensible level, plenty of veg and portions of fresh fruit, but as already suggested, not too much fruit. Right type of fat is important too.