Travelling in southern Italy with pre diabetes.

[Claudia 1961]

I would love any advice or support on how to manage in southern Italy. The food relatives eat is high carb . I wonder if I can get low carb bread down there. The one I eat in Australia has 3 g carbohydrates for two slices. I have been avoiding pasta, potatoes, chickpeas , pizza , rice on my 30g carbohydrates regime. I don’t want to feel exhausted etc . I would love to have days off but I don’t want to come back with problems. This is an 8 week stay. If you have been there what food did you mainly eat?

 

[catinahat]

If you are staying in hotels or eating in restaurants a lot I can see its going to be difficult. Self catering will be less of a challenge, there will be lots of fresh vegetables, fish, meat and cheese. I doubt you will find any bread as low carb yours, Italian bread is delicious, you might need to revise your 30g carb limit

 

[Claudia 1961]

I am just looking at what I can say yes to, how to negotiate eating in Italian homes without being seen as a slim person with eating problems ‘in her head’.

 

[Claudia 1961]

If you are staying in hotels or eating in restaurants a lot I can see its going to be difficult. Self catering will be less of a challenge, there will be lots of fresh vegetables, fish, meat and cheese. I doubt you will find any bread as low carb yours, Italian bread is delicious, you might need to revise your 30g carb limit

I will concentrate on eating enough of the meats and cheeses etc to make them think I am a good eater. It’s going to be hard when they serve me a bowl of pasta or hand me a chunk of delicious home made bread.

 

[bulkbiker]

I will concentrate on eating enough of the meats and cheeses etc to make them think I am a good eater. It’s going to be hard when they serve me a bowl of pasta or hand me a chunk of delicious home made bread.

Gluten intolerance as a reason not to eat?
"I'm not able to eat that due to a medical problem?"

 

[Claudia 1961]

Gluten intolerance as a reason not to eat?
"I'm not able to eat that due to a medical problem?"

But it won’t end there…chickpeas , beans … also rice has no gluten so they would say here have some dish with pulses and rice and potatoes. But thanks for trying to think of an easy fix!
My Italian relative told me the other day that I’d better accustom myself to eating carbs again otherwise when I eat them in Italy I will feel sick! The other think she said is that it is rude to refuse what someone has cooked and fundamentally I agree unfortunately. But what can I say, if I eat this I will need to go lie down and have a nap? And I’d rather not?

 

[EllieM]

But what can I say, if I eat this I will need to go lie down and have a nap? And I’d rather not?

Wondering if it's socially acceptable just to say you have a medical intolerance to carbs? If you eat too many you have to lie down and have a nap? Lots of people have food intolerances...

 

[Claudia 1961]

Wondering if it's socially acceptable just to say you have a medical intolerance to carbs? If you eat too many you have to lie down and have a nap? Lots of people have food intolerances...

Yes, I will say that. Unfortunately people like my sister in law do not understand what a carbohydrates rich food is. “Have a banana then ? Does that have carbohydrates? “
I will just say I can eat meat fish chicken nuts dairy green vegetables tomatoes eggs prosciutto. And then say that food isn’t one I can eat . Sigh : the problem guest

 

[MrsA2]

Mitigation...
Increase exercise (do lots of walking sightseeing, squats in your room)
Increase fasting ("I'm watching my waistline"), skip meals. The Italian ladies I work with rarely breakfast or lunch)
Minimise portions, a mouthful or 2 to taste and show willing, then stop (if necessary to stop eating more, fill yourself before hand, nuts, olives,
Discreetly top up wine with water, white is less noticeable than red for this)

You could always resort to showing them your meter spiking, sometimes works!

 

[Claudia 1961]

Mitigation...
Increase exercise (do lots of walking sightseeing, squats in your room)
Increase fasting ("I'm watching my waistline"), skip meals. The Italian ladies I work with rarely breakfast or lunch)
Minimise portions, a mouthful or 2 to taste and show willing, then stop (if necessary to stop eating more, fill yourself before hand, nuts, olives,
Discreetly top up wine with water, white is less noticeable than red for this)

You could always resort to showing them your meter spiking, sometimes works!

This is really good advice. The fasting bit is harder,cannot. But yes all of this, thanks !

 

[catinahat]

Possibly your best course of action would be to just explain your intolerance to carbs and do your best to limit the damage.
In whatever we face there are only ever three real choices, avoid it, change it or accept it.
Looks like you may just have to resign yourself to an eight week carb holiday, the food will be wonderful, you can repair the damage when you return.
It's strange that if you told you family that you no longer ate meat for morale or religious reasons.
They would have no trouble accepting it and would probably make every effort to ensure you got the diet you required.
Why people have trouble understanding a carb restricted diet for health reasons, is quite baffling.
However you decide to handle it, I'm sure you will have a wonderful time with your family.

 

[Lobsang Tsultim]

My tactic is to avoid the fruit, bread, pasta and rice (and of course all the delicious sweets and baked confectionery) completely and limit other carb-rich foods like pulses and root vegetables as I can. To explain I just say, “I’m diabetic, eating …… makes me ill.”

 

[Claudia 1961]

Yes if I say I am diabetic surely a lot of people will respect that. At least for obvious things like biscuits. I can pull out some nuts so they can see I have food in that coffee plus biscuit situation. I could also have a biscuit snapped in half or a whole one if I am super hungry.
Mainly meals are a problem. I have my ( first) consultation with an endocrinologist this month . She can advise.
I don’t mind her saying ‘have a holiday’ .
But my fasting blood sugars have dropped gradually to around the 6 mark. So I think that my improvement has been slow but good. That’s on 3 metformin.
If I am at a deficit and physically active all day I tend to skip some metformins. But I am at a low weight so if I lost a kilo I am officially underweight.

 

[MrsA2]

I forgot to say another 'manners' hack is to fill your plate with a lot salad and vegs. Only take very small portions of carby items. That way you seem grateful and participative and appreciative while staying healthy.

 

[Claudia 1961]

Yes I do this . Just am afraid of all carb dishes and a communal salad bowl where my share should be polite.

 

[lovinglife]

My go to when all else fails “thank you very much and it looks lovely but I just don’t like it, I’ll have some more of that delicious “insert suitable food here” though it’s amazing. Or if they don’t get the message after that “thanks but no I don’t like it”

I find at gatherings of family & friends they are all too interested in chatting and having fun and enjoying themselves and their food to notice what I’m doing

 

[catinahat]

I find at gatherings of family & friends they are all too interested in chatting and having fun and enjoying themselves and their food to notice what I’m doing

This is so true, I have given up alcohol in the last few months, I don't particularly want to share my reasons.
When someone asks why I'm not drinking, I give a short answer like, I'm just taking a break, then ask them about their life, kids, family, job, that sort of thing.
People are much more interested in their own lives, than what I've got in my glass.

 

[KennyA]

From recent experience in the Veneto and Umbria it's clear that osteria people are a lot more in the know about carbs than they were five years ago. I'm not sure how this translates to staying with a family. My main go to is not so different to what I'd have at home - meat, eggs, dairy, cheese of whatever kind, backed up with green veg. I usually take the opportunity to eat offal and game that isn't so easy to find in the UK anymore.

I do miss the bread and pasta, and I usually allow myself a bit more leniency than I would otherwise, but not so much that I would risk having my symptoms back.