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Benefits or allowances?

greener

greener

Well-Known Member
Messages
275
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
hello
I was diagnosed with diabetes, am I entitled to any benefits?
is there any allowance for the so expensive diabetic food?
thanks!
 
As far as I know, the answers to your questions are "no" and "no", but I would query your remark, "the so expensive diabetic food". To start with, you should totally avoid any special "diabetic" food. These are a con and contain all sorts of nasties. Secondly, when you have given up snacks, treats, sweeties and packaged junk, you should have more money left for proper, nutritious food. There is lots of information on this site and elsewhere about good, healthy meals, which will keep your blood sugar levels down.
Sally
 
You don't have to buy anything from LC stores. There are loads of recipes throughout the forum and plenty of tasty meals that you can create without any added expense.
 
First off.. If you are on medication you must get a medical exemption certificate in your hand (so to speak) before vlaiming free prescriptions. Keep your receipts otherwise and claim the money back after you have applied and got the 5 year card.

You do not need expensive diabetic foods... You will be amazed how much money you can actually save by eating "proper" food....
Diabetes is not classed as warranting "benefits". As much as it is classified as needing discriminatory help it is not deemed as an illness that will debilitate you enough to need to claim benefits.

Diabetes is huge in our population and the governmnets would truly be broke if they had to pay for benefits for everyone as well as giving us free health care.

Diabetes alone is not a reason for life long benefit.
 
I've been diagnosed 6 months LADA, only been on insulin a couple of weeks but have never bought 'diabetic' food (thanks to the guys on this forum!!) And my food bill has gone down!!!! Took a few weeks to get myself organised but its well worth the effort! :) Sue xxx
 
I cannot understand how your food bills went down at all

I replaced bread, pasta, rice, potatoes (how much do these cost? pennies per kg!)
with meat, salmon, deli, cheese (these cost more than £5 per kg!)

I don't understand how you managed to cut the bills

plus, I live alone and in a room, I dont have kitchen appliances and my own utensils to cook like you (eg. I dont have bread maker)
 
greener said:
I cannot understand how your food bills went down at all

I replaced bread, pasta, rice, potatoes (how much do these cost? pennies per kg!)
with meat, salmon, deli, cheese (these cost more than £5 per kg!)

I don't understand how you managed to cut the bills

plus, I live alone and in a room, I dont have kitchen appliances and my own utensils to cook like you (eg. I dont have bread maker)
Click to expand...

If you don't have your own cooking equipment how do/did you manage to prepare and cook your potatoes, etc? You must have something! Microwaves or slow cookers work well - and you certainly don't need non essentials like a bread maker at all.

Most healthy, diabetic friendly food is reasonably priced - you don't have to opt for the expensive stuff, but you also need to consider which is more important - your food bill or your health. But I can't imagine you're going to buy and eat a kilo of meat or fish all at once so I think you need to take a little more practical approach to actual costs. There are plenty of bargains around, and basic in season vegetables are pretty cheap. Just keep well away for the most part from diabetic or low carb specific packaged stuff.

Robbity

PS Your profile says you're pre-diabetic, so if this is still the case you'd most likely be classed as "a normal but probably at risk from diabetes person" even if any benefits etc were available to us.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
greener said:
I cannot understand how your food bills went down at all

I replaced bread, pasta, rice, potatoes (how much do these cost? pennies per kg!)
with meat, salmon, deli, cheese (these cost more than £5 per kg!)

I don't understand how you managed to cut the bills

plus, I live alone and in a room, I dont have kitchen appliances and my own utensils to cook like you (eg. I dont have bread maker)
Click to expand...

I certainly don't buy Salmon or 'deli' food, and dont own such luxuries as a bread maker!! And for the record it may not be in one room but I also live alone! I buy fresh veg and fruit from the local market/supermarket, buying what's in season. I make casseroles, stews, salads, roasts, curries, Dahl's etc etc. Most of my food can be eaten over two days fresh or if you have access to a freezer you can get containers from the pound shop (and pots and cooking implements) and portion them up. Even if you live in one room, you must have access to some kind of cooking equipment?? Sue x
 
mrspuddleduck said:
I certainly don't buy Salmon or 'deli' food, and dont own such luxuries as a bread maker!! And for the record it may not be in one room but I also live alone! I buy fresh veg and fruit from the local market/supermarket, buying what's in season. I make casseroles, stews, salads, roasts, curries, Dahl's etc etc. Most of my food can be eaten over two days fresh or if you have access to a freezer you can get containers from the pound shop (and pots and cooking implements) and portion them up. Even if you live in one room, you must have access to some kind of cooking equipment?? Sue x
Click to expand...

I cannot eat veggies all day! I need protein!
I have microwave, but not my own caressole (I mean the dish, not the food) etc
I need stuff ready to eat, because I work two jobs and leave in the morning and return at 22:00 including weekends
 
@greener You need protein, you have a microwave, you have limited time:
Try eggs. I believe you can scramble eggs in a microwave, though I have not tried it myself. Grate some cheese (or buy ready grated) over the scrambled egg for extra flavour.
Try tinned sardines. These are cheap and nutritious and are "instant" food. Eat with a handful of cherry tomatoes or sticks of celery.
Start thinking what you can do, not what you can't. There is a whole world of new food out there.
Sally
 
Go to the butchers/market/supermarket and buy the cheaper cuts of meat. Chicken, liver, offcuts are all relatively cheap. Go to the pound shop and buy some microwave cooking dishes. Best idea get on the internet (you obviously can afford that) and google 'microwave recipes' or 'cooking in a bedsit'. Without being judgemental, its beginning to sound like you don't want to try and look after yourself...... BTW so what do you eat all day if you are out working two jobs??? Sue x
 
Invest in a slow cooker for your main meals. They can be prepared in advance and will be cooked and ready to eat when you get home.
 
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