Type 2 On the road diet for a trucker with type 2 diabetes

Cold meats, cheese, pork scratchings.. bacon and eggs in cafes, coffee with cream.
Anything with flour (bread cakes etc..) anything starchy like chips or crisps and anything with sugar should be ditched.
Depends what he likes but carbohydrate is causing his problems so it should be avoided at all costs as much as humanly possible.

Anuwin said:

Hello, I'm new to the forums. My name is Kim and I am posting on behalf of my dad who is 59 years old and has Type 2 Diabetes. *waves* My dad can't work technology and has a very old phone! I'm writing for some advice on how to help him handle his diet whilst he spends most of his time on the road.

My dad has been driving trucks for years and has been managing his diabetes, but has recently been told that he may have to start insulin which will affect his job. They've given him 6 months to improve his diet. He has been losing weight, but is very stubborn about his diet and needs meals and snacks which are filling, and can be cooked via a microwave as that is all he has access to.

Are there other truckers that can give some advice or ideas of the meals they eat throughout the week? He goes away on a Sunday evening and doesn't come back until the Friday. He's not a berries and yoghurt guy, although he has been told that he will need to make changes.

Thanks,
Kim

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I'd agree fully with @bulkbiker

As for microwaves.

I know I USED to use mine for microwave meals etc, but most are very carby. And no good for me now.

I'd suggest cooking meals at home and reheating on road.
Omlettes spring to mind.
A little side salad..jobs a good un.


However I have found the sistema steamer dish works great for veggie in the microwave

Which MIGHT be a decent addition to any dish dad cooks up in truck.

I'd say throw it all in cool bag if he hasn't got a fridge in the cab, and it should be enough for a day or so away

I hear where dad's coming from, but needs must, and if I'm honest, the change apart from the main bread / potatoes etc
Hasn't really been that hard.

I just use a lot more veg then before, I did have to learn to cook a bit more..which I've quite enjoyed

While some go more carnivore,
I found that for me
With the loss of potatoes/pasta/rice, most meals need something to provide that bulk and alternative taste / texture to the meat.

Meat & two veg.
Old school, but very workable.

NB wasn't a yoghurt guy either
But Greek yoghurt, real blueberries, or berries of choice...yum.

And power packed.
Surprised myself a few times, with what seems like just a light snack, just how well it puts me off being hungry until much later then I'd expect

Same as a small handful of nuts. Surprisingly filling.

Well done you for reaching out on his behalf.
He's a lucky dad

I keep cans of tuna and sardines on hand for when I'm on the go. Spam is also a surprisingly decent option. Spam, black coffee and Monster Ultra does me for all-nighters. I think it would be suitable for 'on the road' too.

@searley might be able to help with this

One of the problems I see in feeding Dad is that he leaves on a Sunday and comes back on Friday so any cook/freeze or cook/fridge suggestions have to keep that in mind.

For cook/freeze, ommlettes, chicken, low carb sausages, cooked sliced meats (these don't need freezing when in a sealed packet with a long sell by date) and fresh vegetables for as long as they last. Can he re-stock en route?

Cook/fridge probably won't last a week so provision should be made for that. Tinned meats can be very low carb. Corned beef, ham and fish and any vegetables that will last. Packages of mixed veg could be tried to see how they do.

Sadly the tinned drinks and juices might not help the diabetes so you might have to be inventive there. Professor Lustig says, "Don't drink the soda".

Good luck.

Hi there @Anuwin , what does your dad eat on his travels now? The issue is that although I can fully understand his concerns about not going on insulin, it sounds as if he is going to HAVE to make these changes or insulin might be the least of his problems. At 59 (same age as me!!!) he is at an age when all sorts of health conditions can arise independent of his glucose levels so to combat that takes a lot of effort with diet, exercise (if desired), not smoking, not drinking (too much) and on and on. Do you know what his hb1ac was at all and what is his general health like? 6 months is a good time to improve matters and of course, the thought of it affecting his job is a good incentive. IF he does go onto insulin it's a pain in the butt for driving purposes and licences (is he an HGV driver??), so get him to check the rules. x

Unfortunately the food choices that are available on the road are not great. I am a type 1 diabetic so insulin controlled, so when I am out on a long journey avoiding carbohydrates is a must as these push my glucose levels through the roof, as mentioned above anything with flour, potatoes, rice, sugar is a no no, I tend to stick to packets of cold meat, eggs, pork scratchings, or if there is a cooked breakfast with bacon. sausage, egg, mushrooms then that's perfect, very filling and has minimal impact on my glucose levels.

Avoiding insulin at all costs in this situation would be my preferred plan so making adjustments to diet is a much easier way to keep on trucking.

I live in the south and there are lots of BP filling stations with a Simply M&S shop where you can buy packets of cooked chicken thighs, legs, a variety of deli items eg rollitos (ham & cheese roll ups), single serve packets of cooked meat and fish, all 3 items for £7. We are big fans. Just add in ready prepped salad, tub coleslaw, tub egg mayo and meals for a couple of days achieved especially in summer months. Assuming oc he can keep stuff cool.

When travelling I make up eggy muffins - basically a quiche filling of eggs, a little cream, black pepper, grated cheese, adding ham or broccoli etc. cooked in the oven in bun tins. Great for day 1 but if he has access to a microwave he can cook eggs with some tinned meat in as long as he breaks them and beats the eggs a little.
I also buy M&S tinned chicken meals (in sauce or curry) if I have access to heat them as they are all fairly low carb, adding a single serving pack of green beans or broccoli.
Then on to tins of tuna, ham, etc.
If it's not too hot or if I'm taking a ice pack I have single pack servings of cheese.
As I have a sweet tooth I also make up nut butter balls, using any unsweetened nut butter thickened with coconut flour and flavoured with a little cocoa or vanilla plus a bit of stevia sweetener. I store them in a small jar and they keep a few days. Or sugar free jelly with raspberries stirred in.
A good protein based breakfast helps a lot.

I’m not a trucker but a driving instructor and so while I get home at night I’m out and about all day so similar.
It’s difficult and there is no hiding that but your dad has to decide whether he wants to go the insulin route (which will have consequences for his job potentially) or change the diet and try to avoid insulin.

i tend to go for things that are pre wrapped as emergency things. I have a cool bag in the car and I believe you can get longer lasting ones.(I’m sure someone has told me about this)

i eat egg and bacon for breakfast so carb free

lunch I have carbs one tortilla with boiled egg, salad and cheese and Mayo, that’s about 4g of carbs but gives me a little something to push through afternoon.

i then have dinner when I get home which is super low carb.

I’m struggling at the mo due to my 2nd covid jab so I’m needing more food. I’ve bought chicken thighs so I can cook them and take to eat. Be careful if shop ready packed food. I didn’t realise but those handy packets of ready cooked chicken have carbs in them. Looking at the ingredients I found potato starch and sugar etc but it depends how low carb he needs to go.

I have bought the peperami chicken bites, about 4g a bag and there are peperami bars which are about the same. Again I use these for emergencies.
To be honest, current situation aside the lower carb I go the less I need to eat.

if he uses microwave just batch cook low carb meals and then freeze them. They can potentially defrost while he is out for the weekend in a cool bag and may last a bit longer. That way he decides what goes in the meals and what he eats. So ready meals but home made.

it is a horrible decision and it’s not easy, I still have the odd hissy fit when I’m sick and tired of eating what I eat. A blip then reminds me how rotten I feel if I cheat so I’m back on it.

for me the threat of eventually ending up on insulin is enough to keep me mostly on the straight and narrow. Like your dad as a driving instructor I don’t want the added hassle and palava of insulin and the dvla. The jobs are hard enough as they are without an added extra. If it has to be it had to be but for me if it can be avoided that’s what I’ll work to.

i hope you find a workable solution. There will be mistakes and bad tempers etc but it is worth it. But he has to decide that.
And he is extremely lucky to have someone like you to help

Hello to the group,
I’m a trucker aged 54 and just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes three weeks ago.

Had a rough time changing lifestyle and getting on with metformin but settling down now.

Took a week off as absolutely knackered and have been working myself to the ground without realising my health was going downhill as well.
I was a big beer drinker and casual beer drinking became the norm when off work, plus going through the pandemic didn’t help with excessive drinking, so that’s all given up now along with sugar for good.

My struggle like so many on here which I’ve enjoyed reading your posts and find good to express our thoughts, is what is best for a healthy lunch when on the road?

The toilet situation is appalling as a trucker and I’m fortunate I get gone every day but do cover a lot of miles.

I’ve tried homemade soup in a flask, cold salad in the pouring rain in a lay-by with a curtain sider rattling around for 45 minutes.

My taste buds are up the wall right now but I’m counting every carb as my daily limit is 120-140, plus o need to lose weight so if I choose not to eat when out which ain’t good, because then my metabolism is in store mode and not burn mode, whilst blood sugars everywhere?

Any advice appreciated?

Kind regards

John

Johnnyboy68 said:

Hello to the group,
I’m a trucker aged 54 and just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes three weeks ago.

Had a rough time changing lifestyle and getting on with metformin but settling down now.

Took a week off as absolutely knackered and have been working myself to the ground without realising my health was going downhill as well.
I was a big beer drinker and casual beer drinking became the norm when off work, plus going through the pandemic didn’t help with excessive drinking, so that’s all given up now along with sugar for good.

My struggle like so many on here which I’ve enjoyed reading your posts and find good to express our thoughts, is what is best for a healthy lunch when on the road?

The toilet situation is appalling as a trucker and I’m fortunate I get gone every day but do cover a lot of miles.

I’ve tried homemade soup in a flask, cold salad in the pouring rain in a lay-by with a curtain sider rattling around for 45 minutes.

My taste buds are up the wall right now but I’m counting every carb as my daily limit is 120-140, plus o need to lose weight so if I choose not to eat when out which ain’t good, because then my metabolism is in store mode and not burn mode, whilst blood sugars everywhere?

Any advice appreciated?

Kind regards

John

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Hi @Johnnyboy68 , welcome to the forum.

You've responded to a rather old thread so your post may not get noticed by many.
If I wereyou, I'd start a new thread with your questions.

@Johnnyboy68 Hello and welcome.
Just stopping the beer should make a considerable difference as it will free up your liver from having to deal with that and it can turn its attention to the glucose and the well being of your metabolism.
I go off in my VW camper van and have a cool box and a couple of gas burners, so I can fry up bacon, eggs, sausages, mushrooms tomatoes and am OK for a couple of days with that.
You might find that the metformin is not your friend if toilets are few and far between. My reaction was pretty extreme I believe, but many find it troublesome. Luckily I found that I never needed the tablets and diet was control enough.