Hospital stay

[Sparkz]

How do you manage your diet when in hospital? I will need surgery in a few months time, I am following a low carb diet, only thing that keeps my BS levels down, as well as Insulin of course!

Looking at my local hospital diet sheets and on past experience I am going to struggle, especially at breakfast time, choices are usually orange juice, porridge and cereals, bread with jam and a banana(that is usually under ripe!), other meals are heavy on the sandwiches, especially at tea time and only small portions of proteins and veg

 

[Fenn]

Hi, oh dear, I was recently an inmate in the Royal Brompton Chelsea and Epsom hospitals, there was no low carb option, if they are takin control of your insulin you need to talk to them, they made a huge fuss weeks before asking how I managed my insulin, then put me on 2 units hourly rapid acting, it made no sense and no one listened because the “experts” were in charge, after spending my time in hospital in the high 20,s then being concerned how I was high, they finally gave up and let me do it myself. Try to insist you do it yourself.

Best of luck

 

[Fenn]

Found my rants thread in case you want to read

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/th...abolical-insulin-control.181131/#post-2391120

they are very happy to feed you apple pie and custard, the low carb option was a sandwich, almost zero veg, maybe your hospital will be better. Oh and breakfast was toast, croissant or cereal, this is bringing it all back, still angry as you may be able to tell

 

[ajbod]

Just spent 4 days in Worcester Royal hospital, Fem-Pop arterial by-pass.
I had 3 meals in the whole time i was there, egg salad, 1 hard boiled egg with
thick chunks of lettuce and cucumber with a tomato, which i hate and cannot eat.
Corned beef salad 3 slices of corned beef thanks to a nurse that actually knew what keto was, she added 8 sachets of mayo,with above additions, and an omelette.
I was asked what i wanted for tea having had normal food at lunch time, had to
educate them that an omelette is perfect keto food.

 

[HurricaneHippo]

Wow surprised by this. Can’t believe hospitals wouldn’t cater for diabetics, that’s terrible

 

[bulkbiker]

Wow surprised by this. Can’t believe hospitals wouldn’t cater for diabetics, that’s terrible

They do but are obliged to follow the govt mandated diet guide that is "Eatwell" which is of course only advised for "healthy people" who aren't that often in hospital.. crazy eh?

 

[HurricaneHippo]

They do but are obliged to follow the govt mandated diet guide that is "Eatwell" which is of course only advised for "healthy people" who aren't that often in hospital.. crazy eh?

Agree, absolutely nuts

 

[Fenn]

Agree, absolutely nuts

Nuts would be an improvement

 

[MrsA2]

1. Take some supplies with you. Nuts and olives and pork scratchings and Cheesies don't need refrigeration
2 get friends and relatives to bring food in
3 get food delivered
4 use the opportunity for planned fasts

Terrible isn't it!

 

[KK123]

1. Take some supplies with you. Nuts and olives and pork scratchings and Cheesies don't need refrigeration
2 get friends and relatives to bring food in
3 get food delivered
4 use the opportunity for planned fasts

Terrible isn't it!

I do agree but it all depends what you are in there for. As a diabetic especially on insulin (in addition to whatever else ails you), they watch you like a hawk. If you don't eat (intentional fasting or not), it goes down on your record as if you have an eating disorder or some sort of psychological issue. I know that the record in and of itself may not matter to a person but it could affect any pending operation (whether they will even go ahead with it or not) and any after care in the same fashion. Incidentally when I was first diagnosed and in hospital whilst they monitored me for DKA, they put me on a drip that was automatically givng a unit of insulin an hour. The nurse checked my glucose levels and went into a panic (dropped to the 2s), she force fed me toast, up they shot into the teens, the drip insulin continued, checked again, down into the 2s...more toast...and on it went all night! Accompanied by 'You're causing us a few problems love' as if somehow it was my fault.

 

[Lamont D]

I was in hospital over Easter due to a pain in my right side above the hip.
I had nothing to eat in case of surgery, and when I got the ok to eat, there was absolutely nothing that I could eat. In the end, a nurse got a takeaway salad.
Delivered of course. I got my family to bring some food for me, for the rest of my stay.

Of course I have had previous, after my first eOGTT, they offered me nothing but carbs or dairy, I have lactose intolerance, this was because I had a hypo.
After refusing, I had no other choice after my second or third hypo, a couple of biscuits and a cuppa.
After my fasting test in hospital (4 days) my endocrinologist allowed me to stop fasting. I was offered cereal or toast or dairy products. (lactose intolerant) the sister who had looked after me, didn't have a clue on why I went hypo, and this was on the diabetic ward. There was creamed mash with boiled veg and a thin piece of meat for lunch. Which along with the pudding of cake and custard or a fruit yoghurt.
So I decided to pop along to the staff cafeteria and get bacon, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms. One of the best meals I have ever had.

 

[HurricaneHippo]

I do agree but it all depends what you are in there for. As a diabetic especially on insulin (in addition to whatever else ails you), they watch you like a hawk. If you don't eat (intentional fasting or not), it goes down on your record as if you have an eating disorder or some sort of psychological issue. I know that the record in and of itself may not matter to a person but it could affect any pending operation (whether they will even go ahead with it or not) and any after care in the same fashion. Incidentally when I was first diagnosed and in hospital whilst they monitored me for DKA, they put me on a drip that was automatically givng a unit of insulin an hour. The nurse checked my glucose levels and went into a panic (dropped to the 2s), she force fed me toast, up they shot into the teens, the drip insulin continued, checked again, down into the 2s...more toast...and on it went all night! Accompanied by 'You're causing us a few problems love' as if somehow it was my fault.

Oh my goodness, that’s terrible. I can’t understand why they would do this. They’re medics, they’ll surely know how insulin, food, sugars etc etc work!!

 

[MrsA2]

I do agree but it all depends what you are in there for. As a diabetic especially on insulin (in addition to whatever else ails you), they watch you like a hawk. If you don't eat (intentional fasting or not), it goes down on your record as if you have an eating disorder or some sort of psychological issue. I know that the record in and of itself may not matter to a person but it could affect any pending operation (whether they will even go ahead with it or not) and any after care in the same fashion. Incidentally when I was first diagnosed and in hospital whilst they monitored me for DKA, they put me on a drip that was automatically givng a unit of insulin an hour. The nurse checked my glucose levels and went into a panic (dropped to the 2s), she force fed me toast, up they shot into the teens, the drip insulin continued, checked again, down into the 2s...more toast...and on it went all night! Accompanied by 'You're causing us a few problems love' as if somehow it was my fault.

Sorry, yes I was talking as a T2, apologies to all T1s and other insulin users

 

[lucylocket61]

I do agree but it all depends what you are in there for. As a diabetic especially on insulin (in addition to whatever else ails you), they watch you like a hawk. If you don't eat (intentional fasting or not), it goes down on your record as if you have an eating disorder or some sort of psychological issue. I know that the record in and of itself may not matter to a person but it could affect any pending operation (whether they will even go ahead with it or not) and any after care in the same fashion. Incidentally when I was first diagnosed and in hospital whilst they monitored me for DKA, they put me on a drip that was automatically givng a unit of insulin an hour. The nurse checked my glucose levels and went into a panic (dropped to the 2s), she force fed me toast, up they shot into the teens, the drip insulin continued, checked again, down into the 2s...more toast...and on it went all night! Accompanied by 'You're causing us a few problems love' as if somehow it was my fault.

The op is a type 2 diabetic not on insulin so comments are tailored to their situation.

 

[Fenn]

I am following a low carb diet, only thing that keeps my BS levels down, as well as Insulin of course!

I thought this meant was on insulin sorry for rambling on OP

 

[Lakeslover]

How about taking some keto bars, or low carb granola for breakfast? I would definitely take some packets of nuts and pork scratchings, some of the small tubs of ready to eat tuna, take your own low carb bread at least you can make a tuna sandwich.

 

[ert]

I do agree but it all depends what you are in there for. As a diabetic especially on insulin (in addition to whatever else ails you), they watch you like a hawk. If you don't eat (intentional fasting or not), it goes down on your record as if you have an eating disorder or some sort of psychological issue. I know that the record in and of itself may not matter to a person but it could affect any pending operation (whether they will even go ahead with it or not) and any after care in the same fashion. Incidentally when I was first diagnosed and in hospital whilst they monitored me for DKA, they put me on a drip that was automatically givng a unit of insulin an hour. The nurse checked my glucose levels and went into a panic (dropped to the 2s), she force fed me toast, up they shot into the teens, the drip insulin continued, checked again, down into the 2s...more toast...and on it went all night! Accompanied by 'You're causing us a few problems love' as if somehow it was my fault.

Unbelievable ignorance on their part. What a traumatic experience.

 

[Riva_Roxaban]

I was in hospital for close on six weeks last year, although they knew I was T2 I told them I would mix and match food from the regular menu instead of the diabetic menu choices.

Managed to get a meal from them most days that was reasonably low carb. The salads they offered at lunchtime were ok, evening meals were not bad. Breakfasts were terrible for choices, mostly went without and just had coffee, till my partner bought something in to eat after giving her a phone call.

My partner kept me going with various food she bought in.

Here's a typical day meals at the base hospital here in Bundaberg.

Breakfast: **** on a shingle, this was not a very good start to the day.

Lunch: Corned beef and salad.

Dinner: Some sort of a frittata and salad.

 

[KK123]

Sorry, yes I was talking as a T2, apologies to all T1s and other insulin users

Hi MrsA2, no apologies are needed at all. I realised you were referring to type 2s (ie, the poster), I just poked my nose in to add another level of issues in hospital and added some extra for those on insulin.

 

[KK123]

I thought this meant was on insulin sorry for rambling on OP

Me too! x