Yet another hospital food horror story

[lucylocket61]

I don't think it will be long before the NHS is so cash strapped that patients won't be given food and it will have to be brought in by others, like in other countries.

 

[Honeyend]

Well I was in for 5 weeks the first time, apart from the food being poor quality, everything is reheated, and I was told it cost 80p a day to feed a patient, which explained the poor quality.
I lived mainly on cereal and yoghurt, I had to eat something. Every was over sweetened, cooked fruit and crumble, fryed potatoes,frozen veg and I wasn't the only one who was disgusted with the food there was a lot of toast eaten.
I was on a 1500 cals/carb feed overnight which by the morning my BS was up to 14mmol, thats on 40units Insultard, the only reason I knew about carbs was I have been on here for about three years. There was no mention of the amount what I should and shouldn't eat and even now after seeing two diabetic specialist nurses I have had no education. The dietician said I could eat anything I liked.
I understand why they want people to eat calories, they think calories mean they will not lose weight in hospital, and bread and cereal is cheap. I think the diet sheet is confusing, if you are telling someone they shouldn't eat sugar, then everything comes with added sugar why shouldn't they eat sugar at home, that s not even counting the carbs? Its hard enough to explain to families and patients the reason why mums BS is sky high, because of the beans, potatoe, and fruit crumble she had just eaten.
So I am home, still not 100% but at least in control of my own food intake. I lost my appetite for food as I didn't eat properly for over three months, so I do eat a contolled amount of carbs. Now the feed has stopped I am not on any insulin.

 

[Norfolkmell]

Hopefully I will never have to stay in hospital again but if so my beloved would have to bring food in as I'm highly allergic to all forms of pepper so eating out can be tricky tends to be local places that know I'm allergic and are good enough to either keep pepper out of everything that day or cook mine separately. Highly recommend the Theatre Royal restaurant in Norwich. They even made my tartare sauce from scratch so that it was pepper free. My allergy was discovered as a child when in for having tonsils out back in the dark ages and I was given oxtail soup, no choice in those days and apparently I stopped breathing. Nowadays they give you crisps apparently.

 

[JohnEGreen]

Good God I just realised I am the op for this thread I had totally forgotten that.

 

[TriciaWs]

I realise that many T1s usually have some carbs at each meal, but more people are T2 and low carb has been accepted by the NHS as a way to control T2 blood sugar.
Unfortunately I think all English hospitals outsourced their catering so it will be a huge issue to provide for even though a holistic view would realise that providing protein and green veg is cheaper that a large T2 drugs bill.

They used to feed my T2 mother cakes and biscuits at lunch and dinner, as well as toast & jam or cereals when she was in hospital, and ask if she wanted sugar in her tea. From everything I heard from a T2 in hospital this month, nothing has changed except that breakfast in many hospitals is now only carbs (cereal or toast) to cut the private catering costs.

 

[Saber]

To start with, I have to say I do not eat low carb and do not believe there is such a think as a "diabetic diet" or even catering for "diabetic patients". There is such a thing as low carb diet but this is not specific to people with diabetes or something everyone with diabetes eats.

Given there is a choice, I do not think this is too bad.
You don't have to tick potatoes, sandwiches, bread rolls, ...
You can have steak and kidney pie and leave the pastry
You can have cheese and biscuits and leave the biscuits
You can have omelette or vegetarian sausages or salad
You can have mixed vegetables and pick out the lower carb ones

Just like when eating at home or eating out, when you eat a specific diet (low carb, vegetarian, gluten free, ...) you have to be a bit more creative.

Whilst I do not limit my diet, there is one thing missing from this menu which I would like to see - the carb count for the dishes.
For those eating low carb it will assist with decisions and those of us taking insulin will help with our doses.
I do not expect to see it in restaurants as it would add too much overhead and inflexibility. However, in a hospital, I believe this is something they should be aware of.

 

[slikwipman]

This from the BBC, so it must be true. LOL

An estimated three million people in the UK have tried the controversial Atkins Diet, suggests a poll.
However, the poll, conducted on behalf of ITV, found that 7% of men and 10% of women had given it a try.

Not sure what constitutes mainstream but the number of people who have tried just Atkins is pretty significant. These figures don't even count just plain old low carb. Obviously that number aren't continuously on Atkins but I think the numbers suggest that low carb is no more unusual than vegan.

Research by comparethemarket.com uncovered how many people living in the UK identify as vegan, finding that the number has jumped dramatically since 2016. Data circulated two years ago which said that 542,000 people aged 15 and over – just over one percent of the population – identified as vegan. The information also showed that 1.14 million people in Britain were vegetarian.

However, the most recent data now states that an impressive 7% of the UK’s population is now vegan, suggesting a 700% increase in the past two years alone. Further, 14% of Britain’s population – more than seven million people – are now vegetarian.

Looks like vegan and vegetarian are more mainstream now than they were two years ago.

you're easily impressed

 

[Wilber123]

Not only is the person T2 but has been diagnosed with cancer of the Kidney and high blood sugars have been interfering with planned ops.

When staff was asked do they not cater for diabetic patients the answer was no yet they cater for vegan diets and vegetarian and those with gluten intolerance.

Insane.

 

[Wilber123]

This from the BBC, so it must be true. LOL

An estimated three million people in the UK have tried the controversial Atkins Diet, suggests a poll.
However, the poll, conducted on behalf of ITV, found that 7% of men and 10% of women had given it a try.

Not sure what constitutes mainstream but the number of people who have tried just Atkins is pretty significant. These figures don't even count just plain old low carb. Obviously that number aren't continuously on Atkins but I think the numbers suggest that low carb is no more unusual than vegan.

Research by comparethemarket.com uncovered how many people living in the UK identify as vegan, finding that the number has jumped dramatically since 2016. Data circulated two years ago which said that 542,000 people aged 15 and over – just over one percent of the population – identified as vegan. The information also showed that 1.14 million people in Britain were vegetarian.

However, the most recent data now states that an impressive 7% of the UK’s population is now vegan, suggesting a 700% increase in the past two years alone. Further, 14% of Britain’s population – more than seven million people – are now vegetarian.

Looks like vegan and vegetarian are more mainstream now than they were two years ago.

 

[purplesally]

View attachment 29827 This is what was on offer to a T2 diabetic, when my daughter and her partner visited a friend on Saturday.

Sorry but I would have killed for a choice like this, I had to wait til friends family came in just to have something other than sloppy pasta or microwaved grey meat, our only choice was meat or meatfree

 

[JohnEGreen]

Sorry but I would have killed for a choice like this, I had to wait til friends family came in just to have something other than sloppy pasta or microwaved grey meat, our only choice was meat or meatfree

Yes and you as a T1 would have been able to cope with it quite well and nothing wrong with that, but the person in question was a T2 who could not.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

Officially carb intolerance isn't a thing.

Except for where it results in severe gastrointestinal problems.

 

[KK123]

Good God I just realised I am the op for this thread I had totally forgotten that.

Ha ha, as long as you weren't about to argue with yourself! x

 

[KK123]

Yes and you as a T1 would have been able to cope with it quite well and nothing wrong with that, but the person in question was a T2 who could not.

Not necessarily John, I don't think any of the food comes with a reliable carb count so a type 1 is guessing as much as the next person. Along with not knowing exactly when you're going to get your grub, what the portion size will be, what's in it and so on. I think being in hospital with any kind of dietary restriction is hard for us all. x

 

[JohnEGreen]

Yes to be honest that had not occurred to me if you are carb counting you need to have the information required and guessing can be dangerous..

 

[slikwipman]

On the day was discharged I was made to eat a meal and inject, I was given mushroom soup, battered fish with mash and roast spuds and green beans followed with apple sponge and custard, all of which was edible and some bits enjoyable. Being sat next to a Diabetic healthcare professional while carb counting such a meal was an eye opener for myself