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Hospital food for diabetics.

R

Rosie9876

Well-Known Member
Messages
246
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
This was supposed to be a short stay in hospital following surgery - one of several - so I didn't bring much to supplement their menu. Apart from the fact that it tastes worse than it looks on the menu, all the options are carb heavy, apart from the salads, which are very basic. And there are complications, so a prolonged stay.

I get it that this is a menu on a shoestring, but I would like to put forward positive suggestions on how they could include low carb options. Any ideas?

I have additional constraints, like no spinach, kidney stones issue, low salt, etc, also no factory farmed meat, so makes it awkward.

Thanks for suggestions.
 

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I had this problem when in hospital last year - the catering man asked for input, I inputted, he became resentful at my observations that the catering was sympatico with all sorts of dietary intolerances but not diabetes - I was very tactful, but he was very stroppy, said lots of diabetics ate the food, and I explained that they were taking medication, so different rules applied. Got round the problem with my dear husband bringing in salads and Greek yoghurt every day, and the regular catering staff were fine with that. I found the nurses had no education in diabetes and I was told I could have "a couple of slices of toast" and "some biscuits" and roundly criticised for eating cottage cheese straight from the tub. Considering diabetes is so common, especially in older people, it's a diagrace that it isn't part of nurse training.
 
I have a plan that if I'm ever admitted to hospital I will be supplied with salamis and cheese and chicken, and will avoid the carbs served. Carbs are cheap and the official dietary advice in the UK still says that almost all energy should be derived from carb, so hospitals have to stick to that.

The real issue is that "fat bad, carbs good" has been so ingrained that many people simply don't understand anything else.
 
Thanks, I did bring in some food, but anticipated a 2 night stay. But I had a silent heart attack on recovery, all indications from stress under anaesthetics, not a clot. But this is a little specialist hospital with no cardiology, so I am being monitored while they decide whether to transfer me to another hospital, and find a bed. I feel fine btw.

I agree it's because carbs are cheap. But Chinese style tofu, sautéed with onions, cabbage and carrot with a sprinkle of seeds would be cheap, for example. Although perhaps a bit alternative to the British palate.

Also, the menu is set plates. If only we could combine items.
 
KennyA said:
I have a plan that if I'm ever admitted to hospital I will be supplied with salamis and cheese and chicken, and will avoid the carbs served. Carbs are cheap and the official dietary advice in the UK still says that almost all energy should be derived from carb, so hospitals have to stick to that.

The real issue is that "fat bad, carbs good" has been so ingrained that many people simply don't understand anything else.
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Little individual packets of Cheddar are a godsend. I also brought a tin of sardines. But I've been caught out by a prolonged stay.

Not only is "carbs good" a problem, but the nurses seem to think a fasting BS of 4.5 is a hypo. On a previous stay, one poor nurse told me I was going to die if I didn't drink a glass of orange juice quickly.
 
I like those salami and cheese rollitos that most supermarkets seem to do these days. Of course it all depends on you being able to get the food in as you're admitted, and having someone to resupply.

The health service seems to be obsessed with hypo-avoidance. I'm not for a moment suggesting that hypos are a good thing and shouldn't be avoided, but they do seem to over-compensate and go too far the other way.
 
Rosie9876 said:
I get it that this is a menu on a shoestring, but I would like to put forward positive suggestions on how they could include low carb options. Any ideas?
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Ask if there could be an option for scrambled egg? Or simple protein rich foods like fish, cheese, etc. Though unlikely any of the catering team have access to facilities to make even the simplest meal, as most of the meals are packaged , convenience food brought in ready made and only need to be reheated.

Provide info from low carb sites such as dietdoctor, and DCUK Low Carb Program, Freshwell app, etc., to the hospital PALS team.

Involve organisations such as https://phcuk.org/ who have a better chance of being heard than a lone individual.
 
Thank you for the suggestions. You are right. The meals are prepackaged. Breakfast is cereal or toast and jam. There is omelette on the menu, but it's not like anything I've ever tasted, and not in a good way. Ditto fish. Your idea of involving organisations is great. Trying to talk about low carb sites just seems to annoy them, like Scientologists preaching to me would. Maybe it's a lack in my approach.
 
Rosie9876 said:
Thank you for the suggestions. You are right. The meals are prepackaged. Breakfast is cereal or toast and jam. There is omelette on the menu, but it's not like anything I've ever tasted, and not in a good way. Ditto fish. Your idea of involving organisations is great. Trying to talk about low carb sites just seems to annoy them, like Scientologists preaching to me would. Maybe it's a lack in my approach.
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I doubt it would be a one person job to get through to people who have the power to make change. An ominous task, especially if you are ill. Hence my suggestion to contact those groups who have opportunity and resources ,to apply pressure and influence . There is also the media, but I generally wouldn’t recommend as the often have an agenda and want to find stories to fit that, rather than the other way round.
 
I’ve had a few hospital stay over the last few years. I had the luxury of a willing husband to bring in snacks to supplement the bits of the menu I could eat. I lived on plain omelettes, boring but kept my blood sugars where I wanted them. But agreed a low carb option should be made available.
 
With Mrs L having a few stays lately, and my own experience through stays over time, I have had nightmares explaining my dietary requirements. I have often ordered in.
The biggest OMG moment was discovering in the restaurant and cafes, shops etc. Hospital policy is not to use fresh eggs. I just couldn't believe it!
And asking if you want toast, cereals or fresh orange juice for breakfast? Eh?
 
ElenaP said:
Same at my local hospital. The 'scrambled eggs' on menu are probably made with some form of powder. It is totally tasteless.
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The reason often given is that using powdered egg is to prevent salmonella. No mention that it is cheaper.
 
Outlier said:
If you are mobile - I'm not- the hospital cafes often do a decent fry-up breakfast
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Thanks, Outlier. I am mobile, but not allowed to leave the ward for downstairs unless accompanied. I've asked for permission, in case the café has hummus with crudités, which it sometimes has. As to a fry-up, it's a tiny café so I doubt it. In any case, I had a post op silent heart attack, which is why I'm stuck here. They don't know if a clot caused it, but if it did, I will have to rethink my diet, which wasn't fry-up necessarily, but low carb, so fat plus protein. Typical breakfast was spring onion, cheese and/or mushroom omelette with salad.
 
Outlier said:
I had this problem when in hospital last year - the catering man asked for input, I inputted, he became resentful at my observations that the catering was sympatico with all sorts of dietary intolerances but not diabetes - I was very tactful, but he was very stroppy, said lots of diabetics ate the food, and I explained that they were taking medication, so different rules applied. Got round the problem with my dear husband bringing in salads and Greek yoghurt every day, and the regular catering staff were fine with that. I found the nurses had no education in diabetes and I was told I could have "a couple of slices of toast" and "some biscuits" and roundly criticised for eating cottage cheese straight from the tub. Considering diabetes is so common, especially in older people, it's a diagrace that it isn't part of nurse training.
Click to expand...
I had the same experience and no one was interested. The hospitals cater for vegan and vegetarian but not diabetes because carbs are cheap, simple as! But they go into panic mode, if you have to be tested for ketones because your blood sugars spike! My hubs had to bring low carb food in and one Consultant sort of implied that he was an enabler because he dared to bring food in! I refused to eat the rubbish food the hospitals offer. I did ask the Consultant if she would eat the food, but got no reply. I wonder why!
 
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