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How to pig out at Christmas

K

KittyKatty

Well-Known Member
Messages
79
Location
Down South
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Like many people, I like to have a bit of a pig out at Christmas. Now I fear those days are over. It's my first Xmas as an official diabetic. :(

However, I have an acquaintance who has had Type 2 for a number of years. Yet she allows herself fish and chips and other takeaways a couple of times a month, I've seen her eating cakes and chocolate and shock horror bread rolls. She isn't on medication. She has lost nearly 5 stone in the past 4 years so she's clearly doing something right. Do any of you think occasional blow outs are acceptable or is it just irresponsible to your body? Clearly I wouldn't think it's safe to jump off a cliff if my friend did it but she has been rather an inspiration to me in her attitude towards diabetes i.e she's made me realise that the condition isn't the end of the world and I should stop worrying but not lose sight of watching what I eat.
 
@KittyKatty,
The only true answer is "What does the meter say?
If you can hold an acceptable HbA1c AND the OCCASIONAL treats do not spike you TOO HARD then the occasional treat is acceptable! having said that, for the last 3 Christmases I have had a real "pig out" lunch and evening meal and never had a +1 hr BG above 7 or a +2 hr above 6.5, largely by keeping my carby foods small and substituting low carb ingredients.(doesn't do any harm that dogs don't take Christmas off:))
 
It's also about quality of life. I am convinced that junk foods and the type of foods that many of us eat at Christmas aren't good for anyone. However, one has to think about the long term with diabetes. (as long as one doesn't send ones glucose sky high)
The first Christmas after my diagnosis (t1 at a very elderly age ie early 50s) I refused to go back to the UK to spend time with my children and grandchildren because I didn't know how I could cope with 'traditional' Christmas fare.
I was depressed and regret it ,
 
Hi @KittyKatty This is my take on Christmas. Last year I suspected I had D the week before Christmas. I didn't want to say anything to my family and put a downer on Christmas so just ate what we had already planned. As a result, I felt like **** all day...clammy, tired, bg in double figures, too blurry eyed to read the Trivial Pursuit questions :(

I am more concerned about the short term consequences of pigging out rather than the long term. This year I plan on eating food that will not make me feel ill on the day. There are so many fantastic things to eat. Not forgetting the traditional Christmas fayre of nut and booze which doesn't trouble my bg :hungry: Happy Christmas x
 
KittyKatty said:
Like many people, I like to have a bit of a pig out at Christmas. Now I fear those days are over. It's my first Xmas as an official diabetic. :(

However, I have an acquaintance who has had Type 2 for a number of years. Yet she allows herself fish and chips and other takeaways a couple of times a month, I've seen her eating cakes and chocolate and shock horror bread rolls. She isn't on medication. She has lost nearly 5 stone in the past 4 years so she's clearly doing something right. Do any of you think occasional blow outs are acceptable or is it just irresponsible to your body? Clearly I wouldn't think it's safe to jump off a cliff if my friend did it but she has been rather an inspiration to me in her attitude towards diabetes i.e she's made me realise that the condition isn't the end of the world and I should stop worrying but not lose sight of watching what I eat.
Click to expand...

I decided to go the same path as your friend. Diabetes is not going to ruin my life, either by the disease, or by ruining my quality of life by worrying about it.

I have a HBA1C of 5.3 consistently, my GP prescribed a meter and strips, generally I’m over 5 and under 7, which is where I like to be.

But I don’t stress over what I eat.

I eat fish and chips, occasionally, tonight it was a BBQ, and, yes, the sausage I ate was on a white finger roll, the burger was on a bun. Peaked at 7.8. So a bit high, but life is about more than a number to me. (If you test 'normal' people, you'd be surprised where they are, and that's my benchmark)

I’ve lost 4 stone from my 16 in the past year, but by portion control. I’ve cut my meds, I’ve become much more active, so, I’m with your friend here.
 
I bolus for what ever I eat, so if its something that I'm able to have and I won't to have it I have it - might have to watch the calories so I don't do the weight gain thing but thats about the only issue. I cook the family meal for christmas/yule and have for the past 10 years and I can't say that I've ever over indulged in anything, never seen the need to and never had the wish to do so. Though I do miss the traditional mincemeat pies, still haven't figured out a good gluten free replacement that tastes right (i'll figure it out eventually, just takes time).
 
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