Socialising & Going Out

[Rita16]

Hello everyone. As a long-standing type 1 diabetic (50yrs +), i was wondering how those of you who have your diabetes more or less well controlled cope when you go out to pubs & coffee shops? I am fortunate to have been able to retire recently and it is vital for me to go out more & meet friends, family, etc, or just go out & enjoy having a meal by myself; but any good control of my diabetes that i may have at home goes out the window when i eat & drink out. What are other diabetics' experience?

 

[Jaylee]

Hi,

For me it depends on the type of night or even day out?
I tend to be designated driver if it’s me & my wife. Probably drink spirits or a glass on wine when we get home..
Coffee shops.
I take mine black & don’t do cake..

Whatever I do I always carry hypo treatment with me incase of a crash. Or the meal gets delayed in a busy eatery?

Have a happy retirement. No one should be held back from socialising..

 

[grantg]

usually order smaller plates or ask for half size portions (if they say no... ask for a kids menu) then ask to replace likes of chips with salad.
I've also checked with the waiter for the estimated time food would be ready then 10-15 minutes before due, check again (incase been any delay) before inject insulin. If you keep to foods that work well at home for you might be worth doing that when eating outside although i realise that for some the whole point of eating out is to try new things, perhaps add 1 newer thing at a time Share Plates can be a thing at some places where you would portion it out yourselves after being given large platters between 4-5 friends/family

ps for someone relatively new i also will carry scales if unsure of portion size and ask for an empty plate (to weigh before hand).

 

[Rita16]

usually order smaller plates or ask for half size portions (if they say no... ask for a kids menu) then ask to replace likes of chips with salad.
I've also checked with the waiter for the estimated time food would be ready then 10-15 minutes before due, check again (incase been any delay) before inject insulin. If you keep to foods that work well at home for you might be worth doing that when eating outside although i realise that for some the whole point of eating out is to try new things, perhaps add 1 newer thing at a time Share Plates can be a thing at some places where you would portion it out yourselves after being given large platters between 4-5 friends/family

ps for someone relatively new i also will carry scales if unsure of portion size and ask for an empty plate (to weigh before hand).

Indeed, the whole point of me going out, apart from to be with people, is to get away from the monotony of always eating "the diabetic way" at home. I guess i'm having a bit of diabetic burnout creeping in too. Being a spontaneous person and hating routine, a lovely creamy cappuccino in a nearby café can make my day - and send my BG spiralling, as my novorapid won't act quickly enough to deal with it. And meals pose an even greater challenge...

 

[grantg]

someone recently posted a useful insulin guide couple posts down is a link https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/th...-insulin-types-and-duration-of-effect.209315/

Maybe could change to faster acting insulin other than novarapid worth speaking to your team to see if can get alternative option.

 

[becca59]

I go out and enjoy myself. It isn’t every week so I don’t get hung up on it like I did some years ago. I look at menu’s on line before I go and make my choice. I will then have a rough idea of carbs and insulin required.
I then inject a small part of the insulin when we have given our order. Take some more when the food lands in front of me. Then make an adjustment a little later, either with a jelly baby or more insulin if needed.
I drink soda water, black coffee and never anything sweet. Just enjoy my main meal and good company. Tomorrow is another day to be stricter.

 

[jaywak]

I went out yesterday for lunch with my family, I doubled my bolus had the smallest carb meal on the menu which was still higher than what I would normally have and had a couple of pints of lager, dam I shot up to Libre reading of 20 ,doubled up bolus correction and came down a couple of hours later to 7 , trying to live a normal life can sometimes be a challenge .

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @Rita16 Do your research before you visit the premises - find out what food options they have and work this into your plan prior to visiting, it takes the stress out of decisions at the time of visiting and puts you in control of managing your t1d. Yes there is no real accuracy around counting carbs/insulin dosing as you cannot measure/weigh however err on the side of caution and any high BG can be managed after the event, it's best to just go and enjoy the company of others with as little stress as possible.

 

[Rita16]

I went out yesterday for lunch with my family, I doubled my bolus had the smallest carb meal on the menu which was still higher than what I would normally have and had a couple of pints of lager, dam I shot up to Libre reading of 20 ,doubled up bolus correction and came down a couple of hours later to 7 , trying to live a normal life can sometimes be a challenge .

That's exactly my point. When you have a routine, such as going to work 5 days a week, you can & usually do control your food & drink intake throughout the working week & perhaps just indulge a bit over the weekend. When you retire, things change. When i eat out with friends (i don't mean a formal meal invitation), i don't usually know where we'll be eating - might be a snack at a coffee shop or a meal at a pub. I did like the idea someone made of having a set amount of insulin, a best guess, & then topping it up as the meal progresses. I'll try that. However i have no answers for when i just decide to have a cappuccino on my way back from somewhere. Regardless of insulin taken when i pop into the cafe, i will spike, as the coffee will enter my bloodstream much faster than my insulin. Life to me is about having those little pleasures, esp now, & as you've said, it's quite a challenge!