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Type 1 Ready Meals

Simon Ban

Active Member
Messages
28
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I was a chronic alcoholic up until age 44. I'd been diagnosed with pancreatitis earlier & cirrhosis at 44. It was then I was dianosed with type 1 & became dual insulin dependent (basal & fast). I stopped drinking & am now in AA. aged 58. Unfortunately I didn't change my diet, which was mostly junk food. I couldn't see how to eat successfully in a work environment where there was no cafeteria so I ate mainly sandwiches. Then again at bedtime. for years. I've been made redundant & am currently unemployed. Read a lot about Diabetic Retinopathy & other horrors. What I wish to know is there a company that sells diabetic ready meals . I am also not driving on doctors advice due to hypo's and blurred vision. I live on my own. Sadly I cannot cook very well either.
 
I'm not aware there is a company that sells such a product, but nearly all ready-meals will have the nutritional information on the packaging so that you can work out the carb content.

Welcome to the forum btw.
 
I'm not aware there is a company that sells such a product, but nearly all ready-meals will have the nutritional information on the packaging so that you can work out the carb content.

Welcome to the forum btw.
But the problem with ordinary ready meals is how much basal & how much fast acting insulin to use
 
But the problem with ordinary ready meals is how much basal & how much fast acting insulin to use

It's your fast-acting insulin you use for meals, your basal is your background insulin, more info in the following:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/basal-bolus.html

If possible ask to enroll on a carb counting course such as DAFNE, the course teaches you to match your insulin to the food you eat as well as other aspects of type 1 management, the following is an on-line version of the course:

https://www.bertieonline.org.uk/

Best wishes.
 
I was a chronic alcoholic up until age 44. I'd been diagnosed with pancreatitis earlier & cirrhosis at 44. It was then I was dianosed with type 1 & became dual insulin dependent (basal & fast). I stopped drinking & am now in AA. aged 58. Unfortunately I didn't change my diet, which was mostly junk food. I couldn't see how to eat successfully in a work environment where there was no cafeteria so I ate mainly sandwiches. Then again at bedtime. for years. I've been made redundant & am currently unemployed. Read a lot about Diabetic Retinopathy & other horrors. What I wish to know is there a company that sells diabetic ready meals . I am also not driving on doctors advice due to hypo's and blurred vision. I live on my own. Sadly I cannot cook very well either.

Hi and welcome, that could be a new project, learn how to cook basic meals, it will give you the incentive to try new things, learn new skills and your achievement would be reward it's self. Good luck and I hope your future will be a brighter and a healthier one.
http://nourish.cooksmarts.com/updates/

https://skintdad.co.uk/budget-recipes-easy-meals/
 
I never really understand people who say they can't cook. Obviously fancy stuff takes skill and talent but for ordinary meals just follow a simple cookbook, and there are probably YouTube videos for the most basic things. Apart from the nutritional benefits making your own food can be much cheaper than ready meals. As an example, a chicken costing about £4 will make several meals for one person. Stick it in the oven, take it out after 1.5 hrs or whatever - done!
 
But the problem with ordinary ready meals is how much basal & how much fast acting insulin to use

Do you know your insulin to carbs ratio? If not, perhaps a call to,your DSN will give you an idea?

If you don't know your ratio, then you'll have the same problem whether you cook your own meals or buy ready meals.

Noblehead has given excellent advice above regarding carb counting. It's crucial to good control and also means you can be more flexible with what you eat.

I eat ready meals sometimes and there are some good quality ones. You can also buy ones that you cook but where everything is in the foil tray ready for you to cook as per instructions. Add some fresh veg and it's not too bad an option.
 
It's odd, but I have lost a heck of a lot of weight since being unemployed. Had some decent meals with vegetables, but mainly still sandwiches. My insulin/carb ratio seems very erratic atm. It has changed significantly in the last 6 months, the recent hot weather doesn't help either as I'm not sure whether the sun shone on the pens first thing in the morning & it overheated (above 30°C) Am testing frequently & getting anything from 1.9 to over 20. Not good
 
@Simon Ban If you suspect your pen might have got too hot, change to a new one. It's not worth the risk.

If your blood sugar is erratic and you're finding it hard to pin down your ratios, eating the same meal a few days in a row can help - that is, exactly the same, with the carbs weighed. You can then see if your meal time insulin covers those carbs.
 
@Simon Ban If you suspect your pen might have got too hot, change to a new one. It's not worth the risk.

If your blood sugar is erratic and you're finding it hard to pin down your ratios, eating the same meal a few days in a row can help - that is, exactly the same, with the carbs weighed. You can then see if your meal time insulin covers those carbs.
 
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