Today was one of those days...

[mytype1.life]

One of my least favourite days at work... "Bring and Share" so I did my bit and brought in a pasta bake and Rice Krispie cakes then tried to find a corner to eat my perfectly carb counted salad whilst I was subject to "Aren't you going to have some cake?" "It's delicious" "Ohh you can have a day off" - for those that know me well they don't question but everyone else...

Obviously I don't want to announce my diagnosis in front of everyone so I tend to use the "I'm being good" line to which I often hear that everyone deserves a treat etc etc. Inside I am screaming "I wish I wasn't, I wish I didn't have to plan and calculate every day".

Last week I cleared up the training room whilst every ate pizza!!!
Just wondering how everyone else tackles this? It took some serious willpower but today the only treat I had was one tiny chocolate when appropriate (heading low anyway) and I managed to stay in range all day.

 

[dbr10]

One of my least favourite days at work... "Bring and Share" so I did my bit and brought in a pasta bake and Rice Krispie cakes then tried to find a corner to eat my perfectly carb counted salad whilst I was subject to "Aren't you going to have some cake?" "It's delicious" "Ohh you can have a day off" - for those that know me well they don't question but everyone else...

Obviously I don't want to announce my diagnosis in front of everyone so I tend to use the "I'm being good" line to which I often hear that everyone deserves a treat etc etc. Inside I am screaming "I wish I wasn't, I wish I didn't have to plan and calculate every day".

Last week I cleared up the training room whilst every ate pizza!!!
Just wondering how everyone else tackles this? It took some serious willpower but today the only treat I had was one tiny chocolate when appropriate (heading low anyway) and I managed to stay in range all day.

Oh dear. Must have been very frustrating when people don't have a clue.

 

[DaftThoughts]

I think a good way to tackle this is to say "No thanks" (no "I'm good" or "Not in the mood" - just a firm "No thanks", otherwise people more easily perceive it as an opening to persuade you) and anytime someone tries to push you, calmly remind them that they're being rude for being pushy. Nothing more or less. You don't need to justify your choice, you just need to reinforce that the choice is yours and not theirs. If that upsets them, tough on them, you're entitled to setting your boundaries!

It's worked wonders for me, people don't realize they're being rude when they try to overrule someone's decision until it's pointed out to them.

You can't do much about sharing a space with people who are eating foods that are off limits to you, other than removing yourself from that space if you can't cope. You could, perhaps, encourage to have days where there's no junk food present, just healthy food? That depends on your work environment, but it'd definitely be okay to remind everyone that there are people with food issues and that they deserve a day where they can eat with others without feeling left out too. There's nothing unreasonable about that.

 

[steveis36]

Ummm
I dont know you but you cannot live life like this.
I try to comprimise if i eat a ton of carbs i go for a bike ride or i starv my self for about 16hours (most of that your asleep)
For me also i LLOOVE THE CAKE and i have it but not as much and i now my sugars will spike but u gotta live.
I have been buying diabetic choc bars from holland and barrett and they are lovely (they have also got buy 1 get 1 half price)
And also how dose it make u feel once youve eaten some cake?
I worry more about my weight than my sugar spike lol haha


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[Juicyj]

@tiredoftrying2017 Sorry to hear that, it's pretty hard to act 'normal' around others, sometimes I just bite the bullet, count the carbs and join in for a small portion, it's easier than trying to resist, as long as you get the calculation right it shouldn't be a problem and it's nice to join in too

 

[Juicyj]

Hey @steveis36 The OP is type 1 so can take insulin to cover the carbs eaten, however the issue is making sure the insulin dose matches the carbs eaten

 

[steveis36]

Hey @steveis36 The OP is type 1 so can take insulin to cover the carbs eaten, however the issue is making sure the insulin dose matches the carbs eaten

Sorry
Im still learning lol

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Diabetes.co.uk Forum mobile app

 

[danthediabeticman]

Hey, i dont know your situation but if its embarrasment then you have no reason to be, i was diagnosed with t1 when i was 12 and weighed about 12stone (i was a porky kid) . me getting diabeties increased my confadence and i was so surprised at how supportive everyone was, plus you will be surprised how many people are likely to know someone who is diabetic. Once you tell people you can get your life back to how it use to be.

sorry for any/all spelling mistakes

 

[therower]

Hi @tiredoftrying2017 . I dislike Tuesdays immensely. It's not relevant though.
Diabetes likes to influence us, it thrives on disrupting our lives physically and emotionally, keeping it secret from people gives it strength, it wants to put us in dark corners away from the light, it thrives in the dark places within us.
Only my suggestion but tell everyone that you're a T1 diabetic and a brief oversight of what that means to you diet wise.
Tell them how much these days stress you out but it's only the food aspect, as a get together it's great to have fun and a chat.
You may find some people will actually ask you to bring in some of " your "food. A guy I work with actually has snacks for work that he's witnessed me eating.
You may also find people will put some effort in to bringing something in more apt for you.
It is awkward being in these situations but don't let the diabetes ruin it for you.

 

[Deleted Account]

Obviously I don't want to announce my diagnosis in front of everyone

Have you told anyone?
Not only could that help the embarrassment at "Bring and Share" days as people start to learn, it is also helpful to have someone you trust and have explained hypos in case you are feeling a bit wobbly - they could help you with your hypo snack.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

I did my bit and brought in a pasta bake and Rice Krispie cakes

Just a thought, what if you were to take something that was totally carb free, do you think anyone would notice.

Obviously I don't want to announce my diagnosis in front of everyone

Being diabetic is nothing to be ashamed of but on the other hand it is up to you and not what I think, I respect that.

Having read DaftThoughts message, I thought she made a lot of sense. People can be very strange in their efforts to encourage you to do something you don't want to. Many years ago in my youth (trust me, it was many years ago) it was just the same with having another pint down the pub, thankfully it became less popular the more people ended up with drink driving offenses, thankfully no crashes among the people I knew although there must have been some.

You're doing the right thing and not giving in, you will be better off for it.

All the best.

 

[Fleegle]

One of my least favourite days at work... "Bring and Share" so I did my bit and brought in a pasta bake and Rice Krispie cakes then tried to find a corner to eat my perfectly carb counted salad whilst I was subject to "Aren't you going to have some cake?" "It's delicious" "Ohh you can have a day off" - for those that know me well they don't question but everyone else...

Obviously I don't want to announce my diagnosis in front of everyone so I tend to use the "I'm being good" line to which I often hear that everyone deserves a treat etc etc. Inside I am screaming "I wish I wasn't, I wish I didn't have to plan and calculate every day".

Last week I cleared up the training room whilst every ate pizza!!!
Just wondering how everyone else tackles this? It took some serious willpower but today the only treat I had was one tiny chocolate when appropriate (heading low anyway) and I managed to stay in range all day.

I am not a T1 but a T2 - I decided to tell people. Work is complex. I am currently on a business trip and it has been much easier going with people who know and ask me whether this place or that would be ok to eat.

We also have a team day once a month where one person brings in snacks. At the last one the guy bought in cheese and nuts (as well as treats for others) as he knew my situation. The cheese was extremely popular full stop in fact.

As others have said, you have to decide what to do - but I think you are adding pressure on by not telling people and as a T1 would it not be helpful for people to know just in case you go to low? These things are tricky.

 

[mytype1.life]

Thanks everyone I know I sound like a drama queen and a few months ago I wouldn't have been bothered I've just been trying so hard recently and am very tired from all the thinking/analysing and yo-yo-ing so today just added to that (despite being T1 for 23 years!!)

@DaftThoughts, I like your approach. Will it give it a go Today was a bake off plus a savoury bring and share so not too much opportunity for healthier stuff but I may suggest it for the next event.

@steveis36, I'm just working on reducing my spikes to reduce my HbA1c so I didn't want to risk it... carb overload doesn't make me feel good anyway as much as I know how good all the treats would taste!

@therower you are right, @helensaramay the colleagues I sit by/friends all know as I talk about Diabetes and diet quite a lot but in a big office there's always someone I don't know as well questioning or politely encouraging!

@DavidGrahamJones I may try that next time. I'm the same with drinking actually. If I'm really focused I decline a drink and get the usual - don't be boring etc. but once I get explain people understand.

 

[smw99]

I still find it hard to tell people I am type 2 diabetic and that I just don't eat carbs because I don't need them. Many people know diabetics who do eat cake, carbs etc so can't understand why I don't. If I have to explain then I say I have no desire to take drugs and no desire to damage my sight, my kidneys and my circulation. That is my choice and nothing to do with anyone else. Can you imagine someone trying to force a glass of gin down your throat or a lit cigarette into your mouth and yet they are convinced we all need cake.

 

[ickihun]

Even if we werent diabetic. You have a right to choose without 20questions. Some people can be very rude!

One ex-work collegue was trying to convince my mum a tea totaller to have some pimms at one of our company bbqs. She hadnt met my mum before. My mum ended up being very blunt after ignoring my mum's polite decline. Ouch! lol

 

[Guzzler]

Eating is a funny one. It is one of the social aspects of our lives and for some people, to decline food is like saying 'I don't want to socialise with you'. The only way that I can think of to avoid eating unsuitable food is to be polite but firm and stick to your guns. Whether you want to tell people of your T1 or not it's not really any of their business so it iscompletely your choice.
Being a bit gobby, my choice of reply to that person (we all know them) who tries to force me to eat something that I was avoiding would be 'That stuff'll kill you!' Whether they they think I'm being a bit barmy or just plain arsy is up to them, let them get on with it. But then, that's just me. If people are rude enough to try to tell an adult, or to 'give them permission' to have just a bit then that gives me the right to seem unsociable with my reply. Again, that's just me.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

don't be boring etc. but once I get explain people understand.

Going against what other people want me to do may have affected my personality because I take great pleasure in disobeying normal conventions, just for the sake of it. I hate being told what to do, my wife says it's because I'm a stroppy (nationality removed, so as not to offend) git, I think it goes a lot deeper. LOL

 

[tim2000s]

@tiredoftrying2017 - I think you should take in stuff to any work or event like this that you know the carb count, etc. Then you can participate and eat your own items, knowing full well the nutrient details. I'd encourage you to put a little card with your offering detailing the nutrition breakdown too. For all you know there are others that are concerned about what they eat as well and they would love to see this kind of thing, but aren't willing to speak up.

It's only a small change, but it would allow you to participate and might make others feel more comfortable too!

 

[mytype1.life]

Thanks all.

@Contralto I've used the low carb diet before but it frustrates me a little once I've said it because I'd love it if that was the only reason I wasn't eating the luxurious food around me Replies tend to be a roll of the eyes and "You don't need to be on a diet" "I'm on weight watchers/slimming world but you can still have a one off treat"

And today the leftovers are still surrounding me... chocolate and biscuits everywhere! I've just had my berries and yoghurt it's going to be a long day

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the socialising side of things and I know I can still get involved but it's just an internal test of willpower which gets harder to manage when questioned.

 

[mariavontrapp]

I sometimes go to bring-and-shares where the tables are laden with carbs. Since I've been low-carbing I have noticed how bland and colourless this food is. Everything is brown! Now that I know the damage that this type of food can do I find that I am rather disgusted when I see piles of it, although I keep my thoughts to myself.
So no problem resisting the food now!
I still sometimes bake cakes when they are requested for events or fund-raisers, but a part of me feels guilty for perpetuating this trend in baked goods, especially when children are involved.
As others have said, why not bring along some low carb foods to share. Avoid those who try to persuade you to eat cake - they are just trying to justify their own choices. Stick with the people who are interested in healthy eating instead.