Group Travel with diet controlled Type 2 Diabetes

[Diablo T2]

I'm interested if anyone has travelled with a group where the catering is done a group basis and how they handled keeping to their diet.

My own experience thus far has been with very small groups where the operator has been an individual or couple of people catering in their own premises rather than a larger travel operator. In these cases I was able to email them in advance and on both occasions this resulted in them offering to tailor my meals to accommodate my low carb requirements. It wasn't like being at home and catering for myself so it wasn't quite as low carb, and there were a couple of times when my post-prandial BG spiked quite a bit higher, but overall I found it doable. My HBA1c's did not seem to suffer at all.

I'm now considering some more active type group travel where the group would be on the move so probably dependent on local facilities whether it be buying produce for the group to cook for itself or local restaurants. If anyone has experience of something similar it would be great to hear of it.

 

[AndBreathe]

I'm interested if anyone has travelled with a group where the catering is done a group basis and how they handled keeping to their diet.

My own experience thus far has been with very small groups where the operator has been an individual or couple of people catering in their own premises rather than a larger travel operator. In these cases I was able to email them in advance and on both occasions this resulted in them offering to tailor my meals to accommodate my low carb requirements. It wasn't like being at home and catering for myself so it wasn't quite as low carb, and there were a couple of times when my post-prandial BG spiked quite a bit higher, but overall I found it doable. My HBA1c's did not seem to suffer at all.

I'm now considering some more active type group travel where the group would be on the move so probably dependent on local facilities whether it be buying produce for the group to cook for itself or local restaurants. If anyone has experience of something similar it would be great to hear of it.

How long is the trip for? Sometimes we can garner more from an experience where we choose the least worst option, but have a blast of a holiday than spending too much time worried about the small stuff.

I'm almost 10 years in (where did that go?), and manage to pick y way through most scenario these days.

 

[Deleted member 475901]

Not group travel but I did a couple of conferences last year plus two stints helping with residential youth activities where lunch and dinner were provided by the night hosts on a rota basis. The first was difficult, the second worse.
I explained to the hotels that I am a diet-controlled diabetic and disabled - letting them gently realise this was a discrimination case and so they did their best to get me suitable meals.
The residential youth event was worse, hosts took turns doing the meals and were paid for the ingredients but asked to keep costs down. Somedays there was barely anything I could safely eat as they were catering for teenagers on a budget so food tended to be rice or pasta based with everything mixed in.
I managed by taking some Purition for suppers in my room and packets of Cheesies plus small tins of tuna to supplement any protein or green veg/salad I could extract. The Cheesies are easy to pack, lightweight and very filling.

Natural Protein Powders & Meal Replacements - Fitness Food

A small meal when you don't have time to cook. Healthy protein shakes and meal replacements using only the very best clean and natural ingredients.

www.purition.co.uk

Cheesies | Crunchy Baked Cheese Snacks

Deliciously crunchy baked cheese snacks, Cheesies are high protein, have no (or low) carbs or sugar, are vegetarian and even gluten-free. It's cheese, but not as you know it. Versatile keto diet snacks, comes in 20g on the go bags or 60g resealable bags

www.cheesies.co.uk

 

[Diablo T2]

How long is the trip for? Sometimes we can garner more from an experience where we choose the least worst option, but have a blast of a holiday than spending too much time worried about the small stuff.

I'm almost 10 years in (where did that go?), and manage to pick y way through most scenario these days.

The one I am particularly considering is a three week trip with some camping and some hotel stays in cities. Three decades ago I did something similar, but do not recall any of the group having any particular dietary requirements....the one I did then was marketed as an "overland adventure".

I'm only 2 years in and still a bit nervous about undoing getting back to "normal" BG levels, but knowing that things can be maintained for a decade or more is really gives me cause for cautious optimism.

 

[niblue]

I've got a residential work conference coming up in a couple of weeks and that'll be the first since being diagnosed a month ago. I'm expecting the hotel breakfast while be fine (sausage, bacon and eggs) but not so sure about the lunch and evening meals but it's only a couple of days so I'm sure I'll manage.

I can see it being more of a challenge on a longer trip with communal catering though as I expect that will likely lean quite heavily on carb heavy options. - that's certainly been the case when I've done anything similar in the past. It might be a case of stocking up on stuff yourself to use to replace the carbs, although it'd definitely be worth asking if they're able to cater for you.

 

[HSSS]

I've got a residential work conference coming up in a couple of weeks and that'll be the first since being diagnosed a month ago. I'm expecting the hotel breakfast while be fine (sausage, bacon and eggs) but not so sure about the lunch and evening meals but it's only a couple of days so I'm sure I'll manage.

I can see it being more of a challenge on a longer trip with communal catering though as I expect that will likely lean quite heavily on carb heavy options. - that's certainly been the case when I've done anything similar in the past. It might be a case of stocking up on stuff yourself to use to replace the carbs, although it'd definitely be worth asking if they're able to cater for you.

Be careful with those breakfasts. Cheap sausage can be packed with carbs. And the egg isn’t always real egg (scrambled for example) but out of a packet. I’d ask a few questions before assuming it’s safe.

 

[niblue]

Be careful with those breakfasts. Cheap sausage can be packed with carbs. And the egg isn’t always real egg (scrambled for example) but out of a packet. I’d ask a few questions before assuming it’s safe.

Cheers. It's a decent hotel so I'm hoping it'll be ok - but I will check and I'll also see how my blood sugar reacts as I'm trialing a Libre 2 at the moment.

 

[Mrs T 123]

Not group travel but I did a couple of conferences last year plus two stints helping with residential youth activities where lunch and dinner were provided by the night hosts on a rota basis. The first was difficult, the second worse.
I explained to the hotels that I am a diet-controlled diabetic and disabled - letting them gently realise this was a discrimination case and so they did their best to get me suitable meals.
The residential youth event was worse, hosts took turns doing the meals and were paid for the ingredients but asked to keep costs down. Somedays there was barely anything I could safely eat as they were catering for teenagers on a budget so food tended to be rice or pasta based with everything mixed in.
I managed by taking some Purition for suppers in my room and packets of Cheesies plus small tins of tuna to supplement any protein or green veg/salad I could extract. The Cheesies are easy to pack, lightweight and very filling.

Natural Protein Powders & Meal Replacements - Fitness Food

A small meal when you don't have time to cook. Healthy protein shakes and meal replacements using only the very best clean and natural ingredients.

www.purition.co.uk

Cheesies | Crunchy Baked Cheese Snacks

Deliciously crunchy baked cheese snacks, Cheesies are high protein, have no (or low) carbs or sugar, are vegetarian and even gluten-free. It's cheese, but not as you know it. Versatile keto diet snacks, comes in 20g on the go bags or 60g resealable bags

www.cheesies.co.uk

I may try the protein powders - I assume they don't spike you? - I am not sure what 2g net carbs is (is that just 2 carbs per sachet)? - which ones were your favourites? they look like they could be handy - thanks for sharing