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Hospital food concern.

CarbsRok said:
I'm going into hospital week Monday and have a stash sorted out to put in my bag. Pre op nurse cheerfully told me she had referred me to the dietician due to my diabetes and coeliac condition. I said oh dear I wish you hadn't. Nurses reply was funny you should say that I get the same response from everyone else as well. She has to refer but said do as everyone else does take a supply of snacks with you. Speaks volumes doesn't it?
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All the best for your hospital stay. Hope everything's ok.
 
don't get me started on hospital food.. haha. I have other dietary requirements and do you think the hospital knows how to help me? I've had a few "please take that away" requests. There was one time when the hospital served me a plain chicken breast with brussel sprouts. I asked the nurse who on earth is the cook. I started to eat the chicken and almost choked. I can't eat any meat unless it is tender. This chicken was so dry and not suitable for me to eat with my oesophageal and throat problems. I don't eat foods that are known to produce high gas either simply because I already have a major problem with trapped air and chronic burping. So I asked where is my carb as well. The nurse apologised when she saw the meal and said that it was not appropriate for me. But this just happens most times I'm in hospital... they try and serve me things I can't eat. So now I just ask look do they know how to cook eggs and toast... just give me that as at least I can eat that and tolerate it. Also they say I'm diabetic and so they give me all this artificially sweetened stuff which I can't eat because I can't have artificial sweetener for my bladder condition. It doesn't matter how many times I explain.. they don't get it. Even recently in ER they brought some orange juice and a tomato sandwich to me and told me I had to eat to prove I'd stopped my vomiting before they'd discharge me. I looked at both of them and said I'm sorry I can't have either of the things you are giving to me. So off they went and all they could find was a vegemite sandwich for me and gave me a cup of water.
 
I feel sorry for diabetics with Alzheimer's they may have had good control when well but if they have to go in a home or hospital the NHS dietitians will make there last days agony, this must be happening now to some poor souls.this is my nightmare
 
June_C said:
All the best for your hospital stay. Hope everything's ok.
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Thanks for the good wishes, my op was about 3 weeks ago.
Food wise I didn't need to worry, meal Sunday evening before op Monday morning next food (gluten free bread roll) was Monday evening then a meal when I got home Tuesday lunchtime. :mad:
 
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My mum was taken into hospital. I am diabetic type 2 diet controlled. It was 7.30am when mum was taken ill before I had a chance to have breakfast. So off we went to A&E and we waited for treatment. Mum was well out of it so hungry was well down the list. Myself on the other hand started to feel lightheaded due to sugar levels. After about 4 hours a person came round with sandwiches either egg mayonnaise or cheese and pickle. They asked if mum wanted a sandwich (she was unconscious with oxygen assisted breathing!). I asked if I could have a sandwich as I was a diabetic and just needed something. which I was told no they are for patients only. Must admit I was a bit sharp and told the person I would be a patient soon if I don't get something! I didn't want to go to a food machine as the condition of my mum could change rapidly. I got the sandwich.

My mum has Alzheimers and is used to two large calorific meals a day which didn't coincide with hospital timetables plus she will only eat with my help as we have that ingrained trust. All I can say to the forum community is obtain a POWER of ATTORNEY for HEALTH. Your family/friend can then demand the food you can eat. If you are have an accident or have a mental condition love ones can speak for you. You do have to be old any age can get one. I took mum's breakfast in, I kept her routines as normal as possible. I chose her food for an evening meal. I fed her and was extremely hands on so she wasn't scare and there was no arguments about it. I was able to be there with my mum when I wanted to be there which was from 11am until 8pm everyday for 12 days. I did take my own food as even for visitors hospital do not seem to cater for diabetes.
 
Southbeds said:
I feel sorry for diabetics with Alzheimer's they may have had good control when well but if they have to go in a home or hospital the NHS dietitians will make there last days agony, this must be happening now to some poor souls.this is my nightmare
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I am type 1 with good control and this is my fear. Both my mum and grandmother had dementia.
 
I'm in hospital at present, not diabetes related, but it's clear to all I'm T1. I don't follow LCHF, but was still shocked by the non-existence of low GI choices and constant "pushing" of sugary food. White rice is normally a no-no for me, but it seems to be served with almost everything here.

My BGs were already up/down due to illness, but even more difficult to control with the food provided. In particular, "spikes" and troughs, including my first ever night time hypos.

I was going to post something on the topic and then found this thread: looks like it's a common problem and not unique to my hospital.
 
HEG said:
My mum was taken into hospital. I am diabetic type 2 diet controlled. It was 7.30am when mum was taken ill before I had a chance to have breakfast. So off we went to A&E and we waited for treatment. Mum was well out of it so hungry was well down the list. Myself on the other hand started to feel lightheaded due to sugar levels. After about 4 hours a person came round with sandwiches either egg mayonnaise or cheese and pickle. They asked if mum wanted a sandwich (she was unconscious with oxygen assisted breathing!). I asked if I could have a sandwich as I was a diabetic and just needed something. which I was told no they are for patients only. Must admit I was a bit sharp and told the person I would be a patient soon if I don't get something! I didn't want to go to a food machine as the condition of my mum could change rapidly. I got the sandwich.

My mum has Alzheimers and is used to two large calorific meals a day which didn't coincide with hospital timetables plus she will only eat with my help as we have that ingrained trust. All I can say to the forum community is obtain a POWER of ATTORNEY for HEALTH. Your family/friend can then demand the food you can eat. If you are have an accident or have a mental condition love ones can speak for you. You do have to be old any age can get one. I took mum's breakfast in, I kept her routines as normal as possible. I chose her food for an evening meal. I fed her and was extremely hands on so she wasn't scare and there was no arguments about it. I was able to be there with my mum when I wanted to be there which was from 11am until 8pm everyday for 12 days. I did take my own food as even for visitors hospital do not seem to cater for diabetes.
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I can understand your frustration as your mother was presumably an emergency case but its never occurred to me to ask for any food when I've been a visitor, emergency or not. The staff are there to cater for the patients and I think you did the right thing in taking in your own food if you were unable to go to their café/canteen.
 
hels said:
I am type 1 with good control and this is my fear. Both my mum and grandmother had dementia.
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Amongst my many worries this one is pretty high on my list. I like you am Type 1 with good control, but I can see all our good work slipping away if we became dependant on the so called health professionals for our care :banghead:
 
esmeralda67 said:
The worst offender was rhubarb crumble and custard!
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Hummm. I wondered about that when I was in for several weeks. I decided that the jam sponge and custard was worse.

They used to come round and measure my BG. A couple of times, they took it whilst I was eating my meal! I explained that, if they didn't do it systematically, the readings would be all over the place and more or less useless.

I was told, it didn't matter as long as they had a reading.

Needless to say, hospital food for 7 weeks together with introvenous antibiotic drips 3 times per day pushed my HBA1c back into the diabetic zone.
 
HEG said:
My mum was taken into hospital. I am diabetic type 2 diet controlled. It was 7.30am when mum was taken ill before I had a chance to have breakfast. So off we went to A&E and we waited for treatment. Mum was well out of it so hungry was well down the list. Myself on the other hand started to feel lightheaded due to sugar levels. After about 4 hours a person came round with sandwiches either egg mayonnaise or cheese and pickle. They asked if mum wanted a sandwich (she was unconscious with oxygen assisted breathing!). I asked if I could have a sandwich as I was a diabetic and just needed something. which I was told no they are for patients only. Must admit I was a bit sharp and told the person I would be a patient soon if I don't get something! I didn't want to go to a food machine as the condition of my mum could change rapidly. I got the sandwich.

My mum has Alzheimers and is used to two large calorific meals a day which didn't coincide with hospital timetables plus she will only eat with my help as we have that ingrained trust. All I can say to the forum community is obtain a POWER of ATTORNEY for HEALTH. Your family/friend can then demand the food you can eat. If you are have an accident or have a mental condition love ones can speak for you. You do have to be old any age can get one. I took mum's breakfast in, I kept her routines as normal as possible. I chose her food for an evening meal. I fed her and was extremely hands on so she wasn't scare and there was no arguments about it. I was able to be there with my mum when I wanted to be there which was from 11am until 8pm everyday for 12 days. I did take my own food as even for visitors hospital do not seem to cater for diabetes.
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Whatever has happened to the NHS...I'm type 2 with insulin..I was in A & E with fractured arm and I had to ask for something to eat after being there for 6 hours..I was given a white "plastic" bread ham sandwich. My daughter bought tea for me from a machine. Finally found me a bed at 11.30 p.m. Next morning, (nothing to eat since that ham sandwich the night before) .... A young man asked what I'd like for breakfast, I'd not seen any menu, I was told I could have cereal OR toast! I asked if I could have an egg & he repeated .. Cereal OR toast.
I feel for you having to attend your Mother & yourself for 12 days, on our FREE! NHS.
 
Had my cataract done this morning, all fine and dandy but afterwards I was given a cup of coffee and digestive biscuits - said I could not possibly eat them and was told that that they give them to people with diabetes because they can eat them, told them that they are full of sugar & carbs. I went hungry.
 
I had an op for breast cancer last week and previously had heard soo many scare stories about treatment by the NHS.

So I was wary but I couldn't have been treated better from start to finish. I had the choice to go private through work but I chose not to as the time difference was only a few days...mammogram to diagnosis to operation was 5 weeks. It was a day op and I was admitted to a ward after the operation where I was told that once I had some fluids and eaten that I could go home but only if I felt I was okay to do so, there was no pressure. I was given an egg sandwich which I didn't want as hunger wasn't an issue but I was grateful for.....it may not have been my choice [bread!] but it meant I could go home and after all, the people who bring round your food are not specialised in what diabetics should and shouldn't eat, they deliver what they're given !

There's so much conflicting advice about what we diabetics should and shouldn't eat at the moment, the staff in the NHS must find it very difficult as the dietary changes are only just starting to filter through....most of us diabetics have learnt that low carb is best for us but until they realise I don't think we can blame them.
 
carol43 said:
Had my cataract done this morning, all fine and dandy but afterwards I was given a cup of coffee and digestive biscuits - said I could not possibly eat them and was told that that they give them to people with diabetes because they can eat them, told them that they are full of sugar & carbs. I went hungry.
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I was offered tea and toast slight problem I am gluten free, no worries though I was offered a biscuit instead..
The thought was there honest :)

1 digestive biscuit wouldn't have harmed you anyway.
 
CarbsRok said:
I was offered tea and toast slight problem I am gluten free, no worries though I was offered a biscuit instead..
The thought was there honest :)

1 digestive biscuit wouldn't have harmed you anyway.
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I often have one digestive or a rich tea biscuit with my late brew and it does no harm.
 
poohtiggy said:
I often have one digestive or a rich tea biscuit with my late brew and it does no harm.
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That's you, the digestive biscuit would push up my BG. It would cause me probs. I don't think it's fair to assume that because one person can eat X, everyone should be able to eat it, without problems.
 
Celeriac said:
That's you, the digestive biscuit would push up my BG. It would cause me probs. I don't think it's fair to assume that because one person can eat X, everyone should be able to eat it, without problems.
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Even if you weren't diabetic would you have accepted the biscuit or any other food?
This trend for people to lambast anyone under the sun for offering you something to eat is rather silly isn't it? I wonder what you would say if non diabetic and you were not offered anything?
I have the double whammy of being gluten free (coeliac) as well as having type 1 diabetes. When offered food I just say no thanks but thank you for the offer.
I've also been taught from a very early age to carry something with me that I can eat in times of need or want.
 
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