Diabetes and Beaches & Cream

[jayandstacey]

OK, so Beaches & Cream was already our favorite place to eat. The burgers and fries rock, and the ice cream is second to none.

Turns out the manager has Type 1, and a few of the employees have direct experience with diabetes. The food is already right there, so this was kind of easy, but when we asked for carb info, we were shown the bag of bread and whatever else we needed.

All places are generally accomodating, but the Beaches and Cream Team stand alone! :cheer2: :thumbsup2

[tinkerbell_29]

Thanks for the info. For as long as we have been going to WDW and dealing with Typ.1 we had avoided Beaches and Cream. It's great to know they can provide carb info. Will have to check it out in December.

Lissa

[wdhinn89]

where is Beaches and Cream?:confused3

[SueM in MN]

where is Beaches and Cream?:confused3
it's by Beach and Yacht Club. Here's a link to the information page about it. (http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=9)

[wdhinn89]

it's by Beach and Yacht Club. Here's a link to the information page about it. (http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=9)

THANKS:thumbsup2

[madaboutMickey]

Does Beaches and Cream have sugar free or no sugar added ice cream?

[jayandstacey]

Does Beaches and Cream have sugar free or no sugar added ice cream?
Not to my knowledge.

I suppose for type 2 diabetics, an ice cream place like Beaches and Cream really doesn't do much good. Our DD6 is type 1, where the real issue isn't avoiding carbs and sugar, rather just getting accurate info about those things so we can compensate for them with insulin.

Disney is notorious for (inexplicably) not providing nutritional information about the food it serves, even when it does so in massive quantities (like chicken strips). And while every place has been kind and sympathetic, B&C was the first place we felt like the people really understood what we needed and actually pulled out the packaging to show us the data they had.

Of course, this would help type 2 as well - so please don't start taking shots about the difference between 1 and 2!

I just still can't believe Disney doesn't provide nutritional information. They have greatly improved the menus to be healthy and tasty - nutritional information would be a good promotional tie-in to that effort. It just makes no sense.

In another post, I described how my daughter fell by the side of the Dolphin pool on a mid-vacation day of rest and ended up in the hospital. Maybe a lawsuit at Disney, as our daughter's bloodsugars were all over the map in the parks, would convince them that providing nutritional information might just be worth it. (the grounds would be that their lack of information contributed to her wild numbers, which causes her to lose her balance.)

I dunno. That's such an effort. But GEEEZZZ - why can't they give us INFO THEY ALREADY HAVE?

[Disney Von Drake]

I just still can't believe Disney doesn't provide nutritional information. They have greatly improved the menus to be healthy and tasty - nutritional information would be a good promotional tie-in to that effort. It just makes no sense.As a long time T1 diabetic I have never found it necessary or particularly useful for restaurants to provide nutritional information.

[Bsbllmom]

I just take my Calorie King book with me and try to figure out the carbs from the serving sizes in the book. I usually split my son's food with him and we haven't had any problems keeping him in check. Maybe once in a while when I let him have an extra churro or pretzel he might be a little higher. But for the most part with the walking and counting carbs we do ok. HTH

[tinkerbell_29]

We have been writing Disney since the early 80's about nutirtionally info and for more S.F. products. They have gotten some what better but now with more diabetics counting carbs we need that info. I've become pretty good at figuring it out but hey if McDonald's can give me the info why not mickey?

Lissa

[jayandstacey]

As a long time T1 diabetic I have never found it necessary or particularly useful for restaurants to provide nutritional information.
yeah, I'm dealing with a 6 year old who's growing rapidly - which means lots more fluctuations and little "bio feedback" where she can sense a high or low coming before it gets bad. So little insulin fluctuations, like a slight miss in a carb count guess, can cause us to see 500s or 30s in short order. Her small size also means that the dosages are very small - measured in 1/10 units and never much more than 3 units - and so errors are also compounded at that point.

Like McDonalds - if a person doesn't need the info, it would be easy to never know it was there - but if the info would help, it would be nice to have it. Of course we can't demand it, Disney is a private company. It is just that so many others HAVE decided this is a good thing for their patrons - why does Disney hold out?

[Disney Von Drake]

IMO, diabetics need to learn to function in the real world without special food or nutritional information supplied by the restaurant. A diabetic can eat the same foods as anyone else, they just have to learn how with experience. The learning curve is steeper for some diabetics.

Food intake is only one part of the puzzle and it’s not always predictable. Every diabetic should learn how an apple, a Big Mac and every other food they ingest may change their blood sugar. It’s up to the diabetic, not the restaurant to cipher the information.

Frankly, I don't think most food nutritional information is very accurate.

[gardendame]

IMO, diabetics need to learn to function in the real world without special food or nutritional information supplied by the restaurant. A diabetic can eat the same foods as anyone else, they just have to learn how with experience. The learning curve is steeper for some diabetics.

This information is misleading and quite inaccurate. Although you are entitled to your "opinion", your opinion is not medically sound and is quite dangerous.:sad2:

[Selket]

IMO, diabetics need to learn to function in the real world without special food or nutritional information supplied by the restaurant. A diabetic can eat the same foods as anyone else, they just have to learn how with experience.

Food intake is only one part of the puzzle and it’s not always predictable. Every diabetic should learn how an apple, a Big Mac and every other food they ingest may change their blood sugar.

Frankly, I don't think most food nutritional information is very accurate.

I think to some extent this is true for us. It is good to learn how to go to restaurants, friend's houses, potlucks, etc. and be able to bolus for a meal based on your own knowledge of carb counts and experience. I agree diabetics can eat the same foods (for most part for us) as everyone else. I also agree that food intake is only one of the things affecting blood sugar and isn't always predictable..or perhaps the body isn't always predictable in how it handles it. I also question whether the nutritional info we're given for some things is accurate. Often times the serving size (or gram weight, etc) is different and if you don't or can't weigh it then you could be off by many carbs. (An example comes to mind of a whole wheat bun I was using for William's sandwich - a certain gram weight was X carbs - I finally realized that the buns were almost always 25% bigger than what the package said one bun should be.).

That being said....I think having the nutritional information is extremely helpful as a jumping off point if it can be made available.:thumbsup2

[Disney Von Drake]

This information is misleading and quite inaccurate. Although you are entitled to your "opinion", your opinion is not medically sound and is quite dangerous.:sad2:You are also entitled to your opinion, even if it is wrong.

[Bsbllmom]

You are also entitled to your opinion, even if it is wrong.

Out of curiosity how much experience do you have with any type of diabetes?

[jayandstacey]

IMO, diabetics need to learn to function in the real world without special food or nutritional information supplied by the restaurant. A diabetic can eat the same foods as anyone else, they just have to learn how with experience. The learning curve is steeper for some diabetics.

Food intake is only one part of the puzzle and it’s not always predictable. Every diabetic should learn how an apple, a Big Mac and every other food they ingest may change their blood sugar. It’s up to the diabetic, not the restaurant to cipher the information.

Frankly, I don't think most food nutritional information is very accurate.
By that logic, diabetics should also allow themselves to lose their eyesight and have their feet amputated as that may be the "real world" and they better learn to function in it. Do you have to learn from those experiences before you ask for resources on how to avoid them?

The reality is that doesn't happen. Diabetes is all about knowledge - and knowledge = health. You are gaining the knowledge by trial and error, and that is your right. We are doing the same, and I'm going to arm myself with as much knowledge as I can to allow more trial and less error.

I hand you a "widget" for lunch. You're going to eat it and have the choice of viewing my nutritional information or not. Wouldn't you take it? At least the first time? Even if the info is wrong - it is better than taking a guess, even an educated guess, and being wrong. You would look at the info, eat the widget, give insulin and monitor the reaction. If the info was wrong, you'll note that. But more than likely, the info helped and you were better off with it.

As an adult you are able to closely monitor reactions, remember the foods you've eaten, keep a steady body condition (health, weight, etc) and return to many of the same foods while managing all the other variables like stress, exercise, insulin types, etc. With children and new diabetics, there are even more variables and there's no reason not to use nutritional information to help maintain an even keel in the face of the other factors.

Yes, we try to learn from each meal. But some are taken at school, some are snuck into the trashcan, some were last eaten when she was 35 lbs, now she's twice that, etc. So while the information on a Big Mac might be wrong, I do know it is always the same - which gives me a better baseline from which to learn.

***

I fully understand that Disney doesn't owe us this information. My appeal to Disney would not be for medical reasons, as yes, we can do (less well) without. The appeal is a marketing one - many other major franchises offer this information without major cost or image downside - why can't Disney? We've been to Disney parks 17 days in the last year and ate every breakfast outside the parks - simply because without the information, there's too much risk of losing control and I'd rather not start off the day like that. We pretty much have to take the risk later in the day, and we've had to leave once or twice because of it.

We stayed in Disney hotels all 17 days and still didn't eat at those either - we bought groceries - cereal, muffins - that had nutritional information.

Doesn't Disney want my breakfast dollar? Their vendors have the nutritional info - so both the info and my money is there for the taking...

[Bsbllmom]

By that logic, diabetics should also allow themselves to lose their eyesight and have their feet amputated as that may be the "real world" and they better learn to function in it. Do you have to learn from those experiences before you ask for resources on how to avoid them?

The reality is that doesn't happen. Diabetes is all about knowledge - and knowledge = health. You are gaining the knowledge by trial and error, and that is your right. We are doing the same, and I'm going to arm myself with as much knowledge as I can to allow more trial and less error.

I hand you a "widget" for lunch. You're going to eat it and have the choice of viewing my nutritional information or not. Wouldn't you take it? At least the first time? Even if the info is wrong - it is better than taking a guess, even an educated guess, and being wrong. You would look at the info, eat the widget, give insulin and monitor the reaction. If the info was wrong, you'll note that. But more than likely, the info helped and you were better off with it.

As an adult you are able to closely monitor reactions, remember the foods you've eaten, keep a steady body condition (health, weight, etc) and return to many of the same foods while managing all the other variables like stress, exercise, insulin types, etc. With children and new diabetics, there are even more variables and there's no reason not to use nutritional information to help maintain an even keel in the face of the other factors.

Yes, we try to learn from each meal. But some are taken at school, some are snuck into the trashcan, some were last eaten when she was 35 lbs, now she's twice that, etc. So while the information on a Big Mac might be wrong, I do know it is always the same - which gives me a better baseline from which to learn.

***

I fully understand that Disney doesn't owe us this information. My appeal to Disney would not be for medical reasons, as yes, we can do (less well) without. The appeal is a marketing one - many other major franchises offer this information without major cost or image downside - why can't Disney? We've been to Disney parks 17 days in the last year and ate every breakfast outside the parks - simply because without the information, there's too much risk of losing control and I'd rather not start off the day like that. We pretty much have to take the risk later in the day, and we've had to leave once or twice because of it.

We stayed in Disney hotels all 17 days and still didn't eat at those either - we bought groceries - cereal, muffins - that had nutritional information.

Doesn't Disney want my breakfast dollar? Their vendors have the nutritional info - so both the info and my money is there for the taking...

Very well put. I, for the life of me, couldn't even respond to that statement without getting upset. Thanks for taking the time and explaining it. I find that since my son's dx that is all I do. We shouldn't have to explain when asking for information.

[tinkerbell_29]

I've been a brittle diabetic for almost 21 years. I have to have the carb info to keep my BG level. I go very quickly for 20 to 400 if the info is wrong. I don't think anbody is demanding anything of Disney just asking. And yes I have become very good at knowing the carbs in certain foods but some are just impossible. Everybodies diabetes is different and everybody needs different things to stay healthy. I don't feel that asking for nutritionaly info is not living in the real world.

Lissa

[Talking Hands]

Not only do I need to count carbs but must know the type of sugar substitute used due to extreme sensitivity to some of them. Unfortunately some of the chefs are clueless like the one at Garden Grill who offered me a Rice Crispie Treat for dessert since the brownie had sugar alcohol as the sweetener. Yuck. I didn't eat dessert that time as I knew what would happen if I did.

[SueM in MN]

There is some very good information on this thread.

I want to add a caution that just because someone doesn't agree with your opinion doesn't necessarily mean their opinion is wrong or is not based on facts.
So, No FIGHTING.
It's fine to not agree.
It's not fine to attack other people who don't agree with you.
I think we can agree that the information about carb counts is more important to some people than to others.
As a nurse who worked in Public Health with people out in the 'real world", not in a hospital setting, some had a much easier time controlling their diabetes than others.
Did that mean the ones that had good control were trying harder?
Not usually.

There are so many variables that can't be controlled, not matter how much knowledge/experience the person has with diabetes. For some people, the individual variables don't make as much difference in their control. Carb counting may not make that much difference to them (and some of them might not understand why other people think carb counts are that important).

For some people, each little thing makes a big difference and knowing the carb counts of the foods they eat at least adds another thing they can try to control. Even if the count is not exactly correct as written, (as someone wrote), at least it is a starting point.

[jayandstacey]

IMO, diabetics need to learn to function in the real world without special food or nutritional information supplied by the restaurant.
A diabetic can eat the same foods as anyone else, they just have to learn how with experience.
The learning curve is steeper for some diabetics.
Food intake is only one part of the puzzle and it’s not always predictable.
Every diabetic should learn how an apple, a Big Mac and every other food they ingest may change their blood sugar.
It’s up to the diabetic, not the restaurant to cipher the information.
Frankly, I don't think most food nutritional information is very accurate.


Agreed, no fighting, just a lively debate. And I think I see the issue here.

Taken individually, each of these statements is true - I suspect with no debate. ("but what about the last one" you ask - hold on, we're getting there.)

The issue lies in the implication of them taken together. If you look at the last point, that the info isn't very accurate, then we assume the OP doesn't use such information - even on the first try of some food. Further, we assume that the OP is applying these opinions to ALL diabetics per the first line, satrting with "IMO."

It would be like me saying:
- IMO, all people should learn how to defend against an attacking dog.
- I think most dogs are capable of attack.

Individually, these are true statements, as they are my opinions. It is true that I think these things, even if my underlying facts are contrary to the common belief (as in the last statement). What is key is that I may or may not think that therefore people should stop owning dogs - or that their dogs will attack them.

Regardless, if someone is a dog lover, they will take my statements as somewhat inflamatory as they will disagree with my premises. And that dog lover is bound to make generalizations and apply them to their own situation, as is human nature.

So, Disney Von Drake, you are right in all your statements.

If by your statements I can infer that therefore you never seek nutritional information, that is your right, and in fact may be the best strategy for you. If from this I think you are saying others should do the same as you - I will disagree with that inference for the reasons I give above. That seems to be what everyone has done.

But I will also defend the fact that you never said that - and apologize for assuming that you did.

[Lou-Ann]

For everyones info I an happy to say that Beaches and Cream has always had sugar free ice cream, in fact, one time when I was at the clam bake I Yacht Club or Beach Club I did not go up to the dessert table and my server asked me why. When I answered that I was a diabetic he promptly sent a bag carrier to Beaches and Cream , He came back with a huge platter for me of appropriate ice cream and fruit. He said I had paid for dessert with my meal and this was Disney after all. I sat and cried like a baby. he got a very big tip. :goodvibes . he then said that the next time we were coming to call the chef and he would make me diabetic brownies (which he did). You just have to let them know at Disney and most will go out of their way to make you happy. Had a similar thing at crystal palace. They left to go get me sugar free ice cream.....:love:

Good luck.......:)

[Disney Von Drake]

I apologize for not responding sooner. I have been on a trip during the last two days and I recently returned.


Out of curiosity how much experience do you have with any type of diabetes?
Fifty years with my own T1. I have provided counseling to diabetics with poor control during the last 20 years. I deal a lot with undoing the harm caused by overprotective parents. They mean well but all the horror stories about blindness and amputation often cause them to make the treatment worse than the disease.

I fully understand that Disney doesn't owe us this information. My appeal to Disney would not be for medical reasons, as yes, we can do (less well) without. The appeal is a marketing one - many other major franchises offer this information without major cost or image downside - why can't Disney? We've been to Disney parks 17 days in the last year and ate every breakfast outside the parks - simply because without the information, there's too much risk of losing control and I'd rather not start off the day like that. We pretty much have to take the risk later in the day, and we've had to leave once or twice because of it.

We stayed in Disney hotels all 17 days and still didn't eat at those either - we bought groceries - cereal, muffins - that had nutritional information.

Doesn't Disney want my breakfast dollar? Their vendors have the nutritional info - so both the info and my money is there for the taking...

If you learn the approximate amounts of carbs, fat and protein in common foods based upon visual estimates of sizes, weights and volumes of portions you can accurately extrapolate that information for your dietary needs. As I mentioned, there is a learning curve but most people can master the technique with a little practice.

Diabetes should not interfere with the quality of life.

Diabetics should learn to be flexible in the management of their disease for the express purpose of gaining tighter control.

[wdhinn89]

I apologize for not responding sooner. I have been on a trip during the last two days and I recently returned.



Fifty years with my own T1. I have provided counseling to diabetics with poor control during the last 20 years. I deal a lot with undoing the harm caused by overprotective parents. They mean well but all the horror stories about blindness and amputation often cause them to make the treatment worse than the disease.



If you learn the approximate amounts of carbs, fat and protein in common foods based upon visual estimates of sizes, weights and volumes of portions you can accurately extrapolate that information for your dietary needs. As I mentioned, there is a learning curve but most people can master the technique with a little practice.

Diabetes should not interfere with the quality of life.

Diabetics should learn to be flexible in the management of their disease for the express purpose of gaining tighter control.

I do totally agree with everything you have said but wisdom comes with expereince.

In the beginning, when your child is first diagnosed everything is very over whelming. My son was only on two shots a day and when you couldn't measure and your carb count was off his numbers went really high which we can all agree is not good. Now after a few years and my son being on the pump we don't get as crazy. We take our Calorie King book and try our best. Corrections are easier to do without giving more shots.

I have always felt that letting my son live a normal life was very important. I let him eat what ever he wants and used to eat. Test often to watch his BG and be very involved in sports. I believe it helps him not be an angry person. I feel he takes his cues from my husband and I and we can do anything. Diabetes will not hold us back.

P.S.- his a1c's are always in the low to mid 7's, which my doctors think is great for a growing teenager with hormones going crazy.

P.S.S.- Telling people they "are wrong" is out of line. If you don't have something positive to say, don't say (or write) anything

[jayandstacey]

I apologize for not responding sooner. I have been on a trip during the last two days and I recently returned.

Fifty years with my own T1. I have provided counseling to diabetics with poor control during the last 20 years. I deal a lot with undoing the harm caused by overprotective parents. They mean well but all the horror stories about blindness and amputation often cause them to make the treatment worse than the disease.

As before, my first reaction is concern...as I don't see how an overprotective parent can cause harm. But then I look at the general focus of your comments and realize that your primary advocacy is toward a normal life, not a restricted life. So I get where you are coming from.

My stance: My own belief is that diabetic's bodies can be very different (some have complications quickly, others don't) and that diligence can improve the long-term prognosis. Having said that, I don't know what my daughter is - will she go 50 years with no complications? Or will she begin to have issues a year from now? And how much do my efforts matter? I do believe they matter, I just don't know how much. So yes, I'm proud to say I'm over-protective.

But, per the title of this thread, we go to Beaches and Cream, and no, we don't ask for sugar-free. But we do ask for carb counts.

My question for you: What is the harm of over-protective parents you speak of? I think you mean the harm of a "different" life, one that is constantly segregated and treated 'special' when it doesn't need to be. You are counseling these folks - what are you telling them?

If you learn the approximate amounts of carbs, fat and protein in common foods based upon visual estimates of sizes, weights and volumes of portions you can accurately extrapolate that information for your dietary needs. As I mentioned, there is a learning curve but most people can master the technique with a little practice.

Diabetes should not interfere with the quality of life.

Diabetics should learn to be flexible in the management of their disease for the express purpose of gaining tighter control.
That is all true, and in fact we do that every day. I can measure out a cup of fluid almost exactly by eye. I know how many carbs are in a french fry, chicken nugget, cup of milk, etc, etc, etc.

Yet at every chance, I will seek nutritional information to confirm that THIS place is serving food that matches my mental standard. If I don't find the information, I will ask for it. If they don't have it, then we move on, almost always successfully.

I don't see that exercise as reducing our quality of life or of creating a special situation.

Honestly, I see diabetes a little like wearing glasses:
- it is there everyday
- there are tools to correct for it, including nutritional information
- yet you should have strategies in case you don't have those tools, like a plan of what to do if you lose your glasses
- and glasses don't ever need to be a hinderance, but that doesn't mean you leave them on as you dive into a pool.

Again, I sense you are advocating a mental state that says "don't worry so much, rather, spend your energy on developing your ability to survive without such information." And again, I agree with this. I also am pleased when a place like Beaches and Cream knows and is willing to supply information, and am willing to take the time to share that with others.

In an effort to lead a normal life, we took our kids to Marrakesh where they had cous-cous. We like this stuff but rarely eat it - yes, we can estimate as if it were rice, and maybe use the calorie king book. But you know, them supplying the info would have been just a whole lot easier and more likely to be accurate. What if cous-cous and rice are completely different carb-wise? What if I don't have my calorie king book? In fact, in an effort to lead a normal life and NOT be overprotective, I just don't know cous-cous and didn't care to memorize that one. And I didn't get upset. We guessed and moved on. My preference would have been not to guess AND not to have done 'prep work' research before going to a new dining experience. If the place would supply nutritional information, I could have that kind of flexibility.

My goal? That maybe more diabetics take their "normal life" dollars to B&C, where the staff cares more than the Disney front office. And that maybe Disney gets the message.

Diabetics would have the ultimate in flexibility if only nutritional information was available everwhere food was served to the public.

[tinkerbell_29]

I'm pretty good at figuring out the carbs in most common foods but if they prepare it in a different way than I do at home the carb count is going to be different. I've made it as far as I have without complications because of so called over protective parents. If it weren't for them I would have never learned to manage my diabetes or be able to be on my own. So for the parents out there keep doing what your doing even if others think you are being overprotective. I also never eat the sugar free ice cream. The regular has about the same amount of carbs and taste a whole lot better. Kepp asking for carb counts and stay healthy!

Lissa

[Disney Von Drake]

My question for you: What is the harm of over-protective parents you speak of? I think you mean the harm of a "different" life, one that is constantly segregated and treated 'special' when it doesn't need to be. You are counseling these folks - what are you telling them?
I deal primarily with juvenile diabetics (age 6 to early 20’s) that have been hospitalized for preventable diabetes related complications. These are not newly diagnosed cases but rather people that have dealt with the disease for a year or more.

Both metabolic (low or high blood sugar and keto) and infectious complications such as foot ulcers, fungal skin, bone and urinary tract infections are common. These are the types of problems that a properly controlled diabetic should be able to prevent or manage without an urgent care admission. These problems are indicative of improper diabetic care.

After other possible causations have been ruled out, I receive a physician referral to try and figure out what went wrong and provide counseling to improve diabetic control. It is not an easy task.

Increasingly I have found a problem with poor self management by some diabetics. They are often well educated about how to care for their disease but they have very little practical experience of actually controlling the disease without the aid of their parents.

Some of these kids have never been away from home. They’ve never attended a diabetic camp. I’m speaking about children in junior and senior high school and college age. I’ve counseled kids that have never given themselves an insulin injection or attached an infusion set.

I’ve spoken with kids (and adults) who have never used a lancet device to prick their finger. Mom or Dad always took care of that task.

Another problem I’ve seen has to do with equipment costs and lack of insurance coverage. When young adults leave the nest and their parent’s health insurance no longer provides benefits, some diabetics tend to scrimp on the supplies they need to save money. They try to learn to get by with fewer glucose tests or less insulin. They switch from a pump to injections. They end up with less control.

Bottom line is that it’s good for parents to be supportive of their diabetic children but the children should be able to self manage the disease without any help or intervention from the parents.


Honestly, I see diabetes a little like wearing glasses:
- it is there everyday
- there are tools to correct for it, including nutritional information
- yet you should have strategies in case you don't have those tools, like a plan of what to do if you lose your glasses
- and glasses don't ever need to be a hinderance, but that doesn't mean you leave them on as you dive into a pool.I like that analogy! Very good.

[Selket]

Some of these kids have never been away from home. They’ve never attended a diabetic camp. I’m speaking about children in junior and senior high school and college age. I’ve counseled kids that have never given themselves an insulin injection or attached an infusion set. I’ve spoken with kids (and adults) who have never used a lancet device to prick their finger. Mom or Dad always took care of that task.


Holy cow! My son is still 5 yrs old so not self-caring yet (still learning) but I can't imagine that parents would let their kids get that old and they can't self-care for most things. It sounds like these aren't newly dx'd kids either I'm guessing. I've never met a parent who did that much care for an older kid.

It is one thing to send the kid off to college and he hasn't quite mastered the technique of not washing his whites with his colors but if he can't take care of his type 1 diabetes then that is an emergency.:sad2:

I guess my personal opinion on carb counts and knowing them is that I don't want let my lack of knowledge stand in my way (or William's way). I've met some parents who won't give their kids anything that they don't know the carb count on or they won't give their kids much choice or let them eat bananas cause they have "too many carbs" or etc. etc. I think that would be very limiting for the kid (and eventually a source of rebellion). I think especially when you have a child dx'd at a very young age (like infant to 3 yrs old) when they are just learning to develop a taste for foods it is especially challenging.

It is an interesting perspective. I always enjoy hearing from people who have type 1. I think just because we are all part of the type 1 community (whether having type 1 or raising a type 1 child(ren)) we definitely don't always have to agree to learn something from each other.

[jayandstacey]

OK, it all makes sense now.

My wife is a High School teacher and has taught in challenged, low income, etc types of schools. This "non-chalant" treatment of diabetes fits what she sees with parents in other situations.

Here, we DisBoard members have a few things in common:
- Access to the internet
- Time to spend here
- An inclination toward Disney, which is a thing that really only serves the higher income level families.

In our world here, there are really two types - protective and over-protective diabetes people. We haven't addressed the ones that don't really do enough for themselves or their kids.

Parents and kids from different backgrounds may not have the money, the information resources or the time to address diabetes the way we do. Maybe they aren't good with math and can't afford a pump - then carb counts may only make matters worse. Maybe their fear (from a lack of support) doesn't allow them to let their kids learn management techniques. And maybe they simply don't know the "right way" - and thankfully people like Disney Von Drake exist to give them strategies to help them survive better.

Oh, and by the way, Beaches and Cream is still a diabetes-friendly place ;)