Calling All Diabetics

[BearcatsFan]

I am a Type II who did WDW last year for the first time with it. Even though I thought I was eating well (ie: half bun or no bun on burgers, lots of salads, etc.), a lot of the time my sugars were high 2 hours post meal ... even with all the walking!

I have tried repeatedly contacting Disney regarding nutritional information, and all I get is the standard answer, "We cannot provide information for every food item in our parks - it would be impossible. It is up to you to work with the individual restaurant to meet your nutritional needs. We're sorry about the inconvenience, blah, blah, blah." Okay, I get where they're coming from, but this still leaves me baffled on what I'm eating and how many carbs I'm actually consuming.

My question is ... how do you as a diabetic handle eating while in the 'World? We will be on the QS plan again this time, and the QS choices are kind of limited - I don't want to get stuck eating bunless or semi-bunless burgers and chicken Caesar salads again this time.

Any advice, helps, information, tips would be greatly appreciated! TIA

 

[minniesfriend]

Try using an app like Calorie King or Fitness pal.com. Calorie King also has a small book we used to carry around. Since you're doing QS, find the fast food restaurant that food similar to what you're eating, and use that count.

We do have to balance out carbs. If a salad is available, they may eat that so they can have something higher in carbs later. French fries will really run DS up so we try to limit those.

Because of the excitement at WDW, DS has a tendency to run high anyway. That may be part of your problem, too. DH, who is a type 2, finds that if he eats carbs (specifically late) in the evening, his BG will be higher over target the next morning.

Hope this helps.

 

[Talking Hands]

Frequently I will share a meal with my husband. I will not eat the hamburger buns as they are full of carbs. I watch my portions and will be specific about portion size of carb foods. I do not eat special diabetic desserts as they frequently have more carbs than a small portion of a regular dessert. Also at CS I will get a kids meal instead of an adult meal. I test regularly and adjust my insulin dosage as needed. Also I tend to not eat foods that have sauces as they hide carbs and go with the plain meats and veggies at buffets. Only take small portion of an item and then go back for more if I want it.

 

[Bete]

consider upgrading to the regular DP; so, you can have at least one TS restaurant with better choices for food per day.

If you insist on the QS for both meals then go with better places for QS. You should look at menus of the restaurants for quick service and go to better places. I think Sunshine Seasons in The Land at Epcot would be a good choice for eating. I would try Cosmic Rays in MK. Tangerine Cafe in Morrocco in Epcot is another good choice. Also get a veggie burger instead of a regular one. Many QS places have that option. There's veggie chili, too as a snack item. A few places offer soup as a snack item. There's a vegetable Subosaurus in AK at Restaurantosaurus. Yak and Yeti's might be ok, too in AK. I think Hollywood Studios will be the hardest one; there you may have to opt for salads. Perhaps on some ocassions eat back at the resort. I feel there are better choices there for QS.

Also, think about sharing with another person where they take your bad stuff and you take their good stuff if anyone is agreeable.

I would use a cinnamon supplement. Do some snacks that are healthy and spread the time so you will be eating more through the day.

Finally, I know I should not say this but I have to say on vacation we tend to let the strict regime go some and hopefully we make up for it before or after the trip.

 

[clanmcculloch]

Were you eating desserts (even sugar free ones)? Were you eating the standard sides with the burgers? Were you loading up at the toppings bars and if yes, with what? What kinds of snacks were you eating? What were you drinking?

I'm just guessing but I really doubt that bun was your only source of carbs per meal. Fries are high in carbs. Sugar free desserts are high in carbs (I know you'd think that they would be but they really are and the artificial sweeteners can play havoc with your blood sugar, at least for some people). Drinks with artificial sweeteners are horrible for you and again, for some people they can play havoc with your blood sugar (really it's the 2hr numbers that get messed up but not the immediate). Condiments contain carbs as well and if you're loading up on those then you could be adding unknown carbs (mushrooms are non-existant carbs but I bet that cheese sauce has sugar added plus any kind of sauce will be mostly sugar). Many of the snacks around are also high in carbs. Portion sizes are also HUGE.

I don't think my DH eats a single burger while we're at WDW and he's a T2 diabetic. There is so much more variety than that around the parks. Look over the menus.

FYI: We've discovered that for ice cream, Tofutti soy ice cream is lower in carbs than the sugar free ice cream and it doesn't contain any artificial sweeteners.

 

[Sadie22]

On my last trip, the only one since my diagnosis, my DH and I shared most table service meals. We had plenty despite his being a big eater. It was July and I wanted to eat in air conditioning so I didn't do a lot of counter service even when he was with me. I did wear a pedometer. The first day I logged about 16,000 steps but the rest of the time only about 12,000 a day. Maybe you didn't get as much extra exercise as you thought.

When I was diagnosed I went through training with a certified diabetes educator and a nutritionist, and I have continued to study healthy eating as I have tested the effects of different food combinations on my blood glucose. If you have not had this yet, it may be covered by health insurance.

Dehydration can be a factor, as can not enough rest.

Disney portions are large and we have to be careful not to eat the whole thing. Isn't chicken caesar salad covered in a high-fat dressing?

 

[BearcatsFan]

I am still not sure how to quote multiple posts, so I will have to answer and hope I get you all:

I do take Metformin once a day - I am not on insulin, so there is nothing for me to adjust. I also wore a pedometer during our trip - I logged 12 miles over2 days, so I thought that was a lot of walking!

As far as how I ate, I did not eat the regular sides that came with the burgers. When possible, I asked for side salads ... when not possible, I used the toppings bar and made my own. I gave my fries/chips/etc. to my non-diabetic husband. I did eat the bread at CHH on the tuna sandwich, however.

I am not a soda drinker and used my refillable mug at the resorts for water. I used the majority of my snack credits at the park on bottled water. I only ate one sugar-free dessert while we were there - the mango gelato at Cosmic Ray's - all the rest went to DH.

I wondered a lot about the Caesar dressing, but I always asked for just a little and they were always happy to comply.

The cinnamon supplement is a fantastic idea - hadn't thought of that - used to take them, but stopped when I was put on Metformin. Unfortunately, upgrading to regular DDP isn't possible - we're stretched pretty thin money-wise just to take this trip at all. I do like the idea of ordering off the child's menu, though ...

I also hadn't considered the excitement level/stress level running up my BG's. I have worked with a nutritionist/diabetes educator ... perhaps I should give her a call and feel her out for additional suggestions on how I can be better prepared this time.

Thank you for all the suggestions and thoughts - it's greatly appreciated! Diabetes has been a huge adjustment ... I'm learning, learning, learning.

 

[buffettgirl]

Everything thing that disney cooks is loaded with fat or cooked in fat, or fried in fat or dressed up in fat. LOL. Restaurant food in general just does a crazy job on BGs. Because my child is on insulin we're really careful (and skilled) about accurate carb counting but even if he has a meal with very few carbs and even if we know EXACTLY how many carbs are supposed to be in a food, we see blood sugar spikes at disney. It's the fat.

Both fat and protein will convert to glucose and will raise your blood sugar. It's just really a trial and error situation to discover how quickly and for how long.

That said, if you're seeing spikes THAT quickly after meals then it might be time to talk to your dr about adding some meal time insulin. Your pancreas can only work as well as it works. If it's not producing enough insulin then it's better to supplement than to walk around high all day (which, from all accounts, feels gross).

 

[Bete]

That said, if you're seeing spikes THAT quickly after meals then it might be time to talk to your dr about adding some meal time insulin. Your pancreas can only work as well as it works. If it's not producing enough insulin then it's better to supplement than to walk around high all day (which, from all accounts, feels gross).

Do you test (same amount of times) yourself the same way at home as Disney? How are your numbers back home?

There's a test for diabetics on insulin called an A1C which is a very acurate measurement of blood sugars. I'm not sure just being on the pill you get that A1C test with your blood work. Maybe, the doc can do the better test and give you better answers on what may be happening. Depending on your daily habits you could be in need of more medicine. It might only be a higher dosage of what you are taking now.

At Disney you do get tempted on snacks (ice cream) and high sugar drinks. It might not just be the meals.

Also, has anything changed in your life recently? Is there extra stress right now? Have you gained weight. Many things can affect your readings.

 

[Sadie22]

The Hemaglobin A1c is not a test just for diabetics on insulin. It is a a test for all diabetics which meaures glycosylated hemoglobin, or how much glucose has been sticking to the red blood cells over the last two to three months. In other words, it indicates the average blood glucose level for the past 90 days. This test is an important tool, along with home testing of blood glucose levels upon rising in the morning and before and at intervals after meals, to measure the progress of our disease and to be able to take action to avoid those foods and activities which tend to raise our blood glucose. We all want to slow the progress of and to, if at all possible, avoid any complications from the disease.

Like BearcatsFan, I am a Type 2 diabetic on Metformin. My dosage has been titrated slightly upward after the initial prescription. If my HgA1c were to increase despite my best efforts at control, my doctor most likely would add another pill to my regimen while i continue to exercise to lose weight.

The treatment for a child with Type 1 or an adult with more-advanced Type 2 would be different. We all come in different sizes and ages and have different treatment needs.

BearcatsFan, vigorous exercise can temporarily raise blood glucose levels.

 

[Bete]

The Hemaglobin A1c is not a test just for diabetics on insulin.

for diabetes. Our family and extended family on my husband's side have this condition and some do not get the A1C on a regular basis unfortunately. I think the A1C is important and you should insist on getting it all the time no matter how much medicine you are taking if you are diabetic. It seems to be the best indicator; so, why not use it. Now, you can get your own tester for A1C which we are considering.

I did not mean to imply it's only for insulin patients; I'm sorry it came across that way.

 

[buffettgirl]

Do you test (same amount of times) yourself the same way at home as Disney? How are your numbers back home?

There's a test for diabetics on insulin called an A1C which is a very acurate measurement of blood sugars. I'm not sure just being on the pill you get that A1C test with your blood work. Maybe, the doc can do the better test and give you better answers on what may be happening. Depending on your daily habits you could be in need of more medicine. It might only be a higher dosage of what you are taking now.

At Disney you do get tempted on snacks (ice cream) and high sugar drinks. It might not just be the meals.

Also, has anything changed in your life recently? Is there extra stress right now? Have you gained weight. Many things can affect your readings.

in this case it's my son, and we test normally about 10-12 times a day at home, and probably 15 or more times a day at disney.

Everyone with diabetes (type 2 or type 1, insulin or not) should be getting an a1c regularly - most with type 1 get it every 3 months. the ADA is also recommending a1c testing for anyone at risk of type 2 diabetes as a routine screening.

Your post-prandial blood sugars are the first to fail though, and that's generally the opposite of how most drs treat it. They usually base a whole lot on fasting BGs and determine "when to go on insulin" if your fasting numbers are not good. It's been shown that by adding meal time short acting insulin to help post-prandial blood sugar spikes, you preserve more insulin producing cells and cause less stress to your body.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I do get the A1C test ... my last reading was 5.9. My numbers at home run about 85-90 pre-meal and 115-135 post-meal, depending upon carb intake.

I actually tested more at WDW than I do at home - took tons of strips/lancets and 2 meters (in case one got misplaced).

I am on a new BCP that I started shortly before our WDW trip in September - I have gained about 10 pounds while using it, despite my best efforts on the treadmill and with weight lifting. My doctor has agreed to switch it to a different one - just waiting for it to arrive via mail-order pharmacy. Other than that, no new meds.

Stress? Who doesn't have stress, right? LOL No seriously though, everything is going great here at home.

What I finally have decided to do is this: I went through all the places Disney recommended that would "work with those with special dietary needs." I went over the menus with a fine-tooth comb ... figured out how I could make the meals work for me ... and I will talk with management when I arrive at each restaurant to see what exactly they are willing to do.

Thanks again for all your input.

 

[Sadie22]

Did you know that better blood glucose control can lead to weight gain if not coupled with lifestyle change? And despite that I'm struggling to lose weight -- a lot of weight. Your numbers are better than mine. I need to work harder, but you're doing great. Don't worry so much. Maybe that's your hidden stress!

Enjoy your trip!

 

[buffettgirl]

I do get the A1C test ... my last reading was 5.9. My numbers at home run about 85-90 pre-meal and 115-135 post-meal, depending upon carb intake.

I actually tested more at WDW than I do at home - took tons of strips/lancets and 2 meters (in case one got misplaced).

I am on a new BCP that I started shortly before our WDW trip in September - I have gained about 10 pounds while using it, despite my best efforts on the treadmill and with weight lifting. My doctor has agreed to switch it to a different one - just waiting for it to arrive via mail-order pharmacy. Other than that, no new meds.

Stress? Who doesn't have stress, right? LOL No seriously though, everything is going great here at home.

What I finally have decided to do is this: I went through all the places Disney recommended that would "work with those with special dietary needs." I went over the menus with a fine-tooth comb ... figured out how I could make the meals work for me ... and I will talk with management when I arrive at each restaurant to see what exactly they are willing to do.

Thanks again for all your input.

I wouldn't even bother to talk to management at the restaurants. They have such limited knowledge of diabetes that they turn into the food nazis. You're much better off knowing what has carbs, what doesn't, what those carbs do to YOUR bg, and what you have to just avoid. What Disney could do for us: provide carb counts and fat / protein content on their foods. What they choose to do: ignore those requests.

Here's a good example - my son has a REALLY hard time with fresh fruit even though that's something that the restaurant would tell you is "allowed". The fruit moves through his system so quickly that unless we're very careful with insulin dosing he gets huge spikes. And even then, 90% of the time we just have to toss our hands up and deal with it later. And that's healthy food! lol. But because I know this for my son, I'm better able to let him eat the foods that will help counteract that, usually a fat, usually another carb. Disney..they would just say "eat the fruit, stay away from the ice cream"

oh, and speaking of ice cream: it's a PERFECT night time snack for us because after a long day of activity it's got just enough fat to keep him from plummeting overnight. Again..would Disney say ice cream is allowed if you go telling them you have diabetes? nope.

Your Diabetes may Vary.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I wouldn't even bother to talk to management at the restaurants. They have such limited knowledge of diabetes that they turn into the food nazis. You're much better off knowing what has carbs, what doesn't, what those carbs do to YOUR bg, and what you have to just avoid. What Disney could do for us: provide carb counts and fat / protein content on their foods. What they choose to do: ignore those requests.

Here's a good example - my son has a REALLY hard time with fresh fruit even though that's something that the restaurant would tell you is "allowed". The fruit moves through his system so quickly that unless we're very careful with insulin dosing he gets huge spikes. And even then, 90% of the time we just have to toss our hands up and deal with it later. And that's healthy food! lol. But because I know this for my son, I'm better able to let him eat the foods that will help counteract that, usually a fat, usually another carb. Disney..they would just say "eat the fruit, stay away from the ice cream"

oh, and speaking of ice cream: it's a PERFECT night time snack for us because after a long day of activity it's got just enough fat to keep him from plummeting overnight. Again..would Disney say ice cream is allowed if you go telling them you have diabetes? nope.

Your Diabetes may Vary.

What I have done is gone over the restaurant menus and, here at home, typed up what I could do to modify the meals I'm interested in to make them work for me. I will ask the manager if they are willing to make these modifications (ie: a wrap without the wrap - served as a salad instead ... or apple slices from the child's meal for chips with the adult meal - stuff like that). If they're not willing to work within my requests, I'll eat somewhere else.

Last year, I had pretty good luck with getting them to do what I asked - I would never rely on their estimations or suggestions on what I should or shouldn't eat. Afterall, I know my body and my diabetes better than anyone else does.

And you're completely right - I think Disney should provide the nutritional information. Not just for diabetics, but for those watching their salt intake (ie: high blood pressure) and others who just simply want to know what they are eating. I will keep emailing, but it is going to take more than one to change the system.

 

[buffettgirl]

What I have done is gone over the restaurant menus and, here at home, typed up what I could do to modify the meals I'm interested in to make them work for me. I will ask the manager if they are willing to make these modifications (ie: a wrap without the wrap - served as a salad instead ... or apple slices from the child's meal for chips with the adult meal - stuff like that). If they're not willing to work within my requests, I'll eat somewhere else.

Last year, I had pretty good luck with getting them to do what I asked - I would never rely on their estimations or suggestions on what I should or shouldn't eat. Afterall, I know my body and my diabetes better than anyone else does.

And you're completely right - I think Disney should provide the nutritional information. Not just for diabetics, but for those watching their salt intake (ie: high blood pressure) and others who just simply want to know what they are eating. I will keep emailing, but it is going to take more than one to change the system.

I have had good luck at counter service places seeing their packaged food label book which each register is supposed to have on hand. I did that more early on when I wasn't sure how many carbs basic items had. But what you're doing is about as good as you can do.

Personally, I think Disney is afraid to release the nutritional information of their restaurant food because the health people would be all over it. I can tell just by blood sugars that the food is so high in fat- most restaurant food is - but they should be willing to provide that info to us.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Personally, I think Disney is afraid to release the nutritional information of their restaurant food because the health people would be all over it. I can tell just by blood sugars that the food is so high in fat- most restaurant food is - but they should be willing to provide that info to us.

I couldn't agree more.

Last year, the best I could get was the ingredients in each item (as in, what the buns were made of, etc.). I guess they have to provide that info for people who need gluten-free items, etc. It's a great start, and I applaud them for doing that for those who need specific ingredient info ... but we all know it isn't enough. How hard is it to provide how many carbs are in a bun or any other pre-made item? The QS restaurants are pretty much all pre-made stuff - it isn't like at the TS or Sig restaurants. They have the ingredients for these items, so they can't tell me they don't have the nutritional information, too - they just choose not to provide it.

Heck, I went to a church fish-fry last year and even THEY were able to give me the nutritional info for the fried vs baked fish!

 

[book_junkie]

Heya-
It may be excitement jerking up your sugars- until you know what your "triggers" are, you may be up or down for unknown reasons. Mine tend to drop on vacation anywhere, so I have to dial down my insulin.

Another thing is even though you're taking off the obvious carbs, the counter service meals you listed aren't exactly the best for you. You might take a look and see if there are better ones out there that appeal to you... Instead of doing the a bunless burger or a cesear salad without dressing (boooooooooooooring), walk over and brave Sunshine Seasons and do the children's size sweet and sour chicken with rice?

It may be also a portion's thing- the portion size in all food establishments is just horrible for diabetics and managing anything, and I've found that it helps to try the kid's portions for better exchange control. It won't max out your value with the dining plan, but it might be better for your health.

Just a thought, YMMV. Another thing is if you have a smart phone, there are some free apps out there that you can use to track your sugars based on the day, that might be helpful as well.

If anyone cares, I can list the ones I've found have decent kids meals that work.

 

[BearcatsFan]

I would love to know about the decent kid's meals - do tell!