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Diabetes and Socialising

Laconic

Well-Known Member
Messages
140
Having lowered my HB1AC considerably and got to non diabetic levels, I’m very happy but is this how it’s going to be from now on diet and lifestyle. My social life has been non existent since diagnosis
I miss a few beers on a night out followed by a takeaway after, I’m not into whisky or wine which I know are low carb... Haven’t been to a bar or club for months.
 
You've achieved one major objective (great news) and the other should remain in sight. Ways and means around it all, at least with low carb beers. Your social life shouldn't suffer my friend when it need not.

Diabetes is a trial, not a sentence ...
 

Not drank since last year and just drink diet drinks these days when I go out. Friends are amazed that I am jumping around and going nuts in the club without having a drink, try it sometime and just try and forget about the alcohol and just love and appreciate the time with friends and/or family. You’ll never be a buzzkill and it’s great to be a witness to people getting sloshed, let me tell you that.

I agree with @Mike D don’t let yourself be a martyr and suffer for your choices and keep your goal in mind.
 

100%

I'm another teetotaller and just drink sparkling water. As you say, drunk people are...erm...not very nice to be around. No need for takeaways, as I don't get hungry when I haven't eaten for three hours. Planned meals out are a different matter, but still a piece of cake. Not literally, of course.
 

Try a few nights out and see how you go. You may have to adjust what you used to drink (there are drinks other than whisky or wine of course) and if you want a takeaway afterwards, well have one. If you're worried about carbs, choose MEAT, (think chicken kebabs without the wraps or burgers without the bread etc). It may not be healthy choices as such but come on, you have to live a little. x
 
I also don’t drink - and didn’t before diagnosis so that wasn’t an issue for me - but takeaways can be made to work on a low or very low carb diet. As @KK123 says, take the meat option and discard bread, fries or sugary sauces. Some places will give you extra of the meaty bits of you’re discarding the rest. A win all round.
 

Who has a takeaway after a night out because they are 'hungry', lol.
 
Jim Lahey said:
As you say, drunk people are...erm...not very nice to be around.
Click to expand...
The OP hasn’t suggested getting drunk. Socialising isn’t quite the same.
Alcohol isn’t requisite to making people not nice to be around.
 
We are having a takeaway tonight.

I have to choose carefully, but there is usually something on the menu that both whets my appetite and fits my low carb carni criteria.

Ribs and omelettes are delicious from our local Chinese.
Some pizza places do gluten free. Yes, they are carby but I have been delighted by the long slow bg reaction. No spikey surprises there, even on the Libre.
In the past I’ve had some fab kebabs by just tipping the contents of the pita out and eating it as finger food.
Tonight will be chicken shashlik, onion bhaji and a spinach side dish. All v low carb and delicious.

I’d encourage you to experiment and see how flexible you can be.

can’t make any suggestions about booze except to say that there are spirits and mixers that have minimal (or no) carbs.
I guess that is no help if your thing is stout or sticky cocktails, but aside from those you have quite a lot of scope.
 

I am not much of a drinker, but, if you didn't drink the beer, then you probably wouldn't want a takeaway
Non drinkers can still have a great time out, especially with friends, so you would just need to tweak things a little to gradually change your mindset.
Edited
 

When diagnosed, I dealt with it a little differently. I promised my OH, I would never allow my T2 to decline a social event or interaction, so I was socialising from very early on.

Of course, in the early days I made some less good food choices, as I learned but that's life, really.

We often spend several weeks in the winter avoiding the weather, and then we rarely cook for ourselves. Right now, were 6 weeks into a trip, haven't cooked once (aside from hard boiled eggs for brekkers), so am choosing from menses every day.

Fortunately, due to language issues, man you menus illustrate, as well as describe their food, so that's can help.

I have been known to have the org glass of red, or a nightcap, but was only commenting this evening, I haven't touched a drop this trip, so far.

Why not arrange some time with friends and see how you go. Make your own choices. If you decide to have a beer (or whatever), then enjoy it.

My only concerns about your period of avoidance could increase your chances wanting more, and more, although you may have willpower or granite.

Enjoy your time out. It's important Tim spend time with friends and family. They help ground and round us.
 
Went the same route as that @Laconic ..all good until Chrimbo 2018
slightly "merry"..and not much worse for it according to my hab1c

have since spent time on holidays drinking sociably and because i wanted a drink.

i watch the meter, am sensible, but so far most have been in the sensible ranges..foods the greater evil for me.

As for takeaways, either go the meat route as described..(and @KK123 ...)
OR simply have good stuff in the fridge for when you get home.
Deli meats, olives, etc..or i've had egg n bacon late at night once or twice.

it's NOT avoiding the world, it's about limiting the damage when we do mingle with mortals..
better choices, then they could be, is the order of the day, i think

IF you want to try and see how it goes, i'd say try a Vodka and slimline/diet Indian tonic waters, BUT be careful fever tree is higher in carbs then expected.
check drink labels or on line.
and as always the meter IS your friend..

agree with @Mike D
i think it's a treatable disease, IF we choose to manage it, not a Life sentence.

Go enjoy your life.
some of those moments make it all worth living.
 
Last edited:
I drink a few low carb beers at the bowls club I am a member of with no problems, I also drink beer and single malt whisky at home.

I do not go out of my to get **** faced though...
 
I have never been anywhere, apart from coffee shops, which are determined to push carb laden cakes, and not found something I can eat. As I no longer eat rice, its an excuse to have a meaty starter. The 'Spoons', have and excellant all day breakfast, or pick and mix menu.McD's a snack a the meat,out of the wrap. I find because I am eating more meat I do not snack on nan bread.
Drinking, I supposed if you are used to drinking beer, but gin is the thing its seems even for blokes, so a posh gin and a slimline.
https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/alcohol
 
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