F&W Festival with diabetes????

[Kteacher]

Hi all,long time DISer but my first time on this board. My DH was diagnosed yesterday with type II diabetes. We're still trying to figure a lot of things out. I'm trying to be as supportive as possible, but I'm wondering how doable the F&W Festival will be for my DH. I know the basics of dietary restrictions for type II, but should we just skip certain events altogether ( we usually attend Party for the Senses ), where there is so much food and wine ??
Thanks so much for any and all advice

 

[Talking Hands]

I wouldn't skip it. He just needs to count his carbs and control his portion size. Basically he can eat anything he wants in limited amounts. Yes even candy. Instead of a candy bar, 1 mini candy bar. Instead of a cup of rice, 1/3 cup. Instead of a baked potato with the works, a sm baked potato plain with some herbs. ETC.
Good luck with his new lifestyle. I've had diabetes over 30 years now and still live a great life.

 

[Kteacher]

Thank you We are still in the learning phase, so any advice is extremely helpful

 

[SueM in MN]

Agree with Talking Hands.

Two things I can think of to be very aware of:
1) since the portions at the Food and Wine are small, it's easy to eat more than you realize you are.

2) alcohol can have a very profound effect on blood sugar, and it may not be immediate.

The American Diabetes Association has a very good website with lots of helpful information.
Here is a link to a page of cautions about alcohol - he can still drink it, just will need to be careful and alert to what can happen.

Also, a good idea to get an id that indicates he has diabetes. One of the most popular is www.medicalert.com because it is an id band, but also a system of information.

 

[PatsMom]

I've had Type II for years and years and I do F&W Festival every chance I get! I am doing it this year for sure. You've already got good advice. Watch the portion size and try to estimate carbs. He won't be able to eat everything in sight but he'll be able to try what he wants. My husband splits with me so that I can try more varieties. Except for alcohol - he is stricly a beer drinker and I enjoy a mixed drink (especially frozen) or a glass of wine once in a while.

I definitely try not to drink if I am not eating. Alcohol has weird effects on blood sugar and it actually can cause lows.

Test blood sugars often. Take more test strips than you think you will need. The walking can help to lower blood sugars.

 

[Kteacher]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice! My DH initially wanted to cancel our trip, but I convinced to wait until we talk to all his doctors (he's been referred to a podiatrist and eye specialist as well as a registered dietitian).

I think once we both got over the initial diagnosis we needed to realize that we had to focus on what he can eat as well as what he can't eat.

 

[PatsMom]

Thanks to everyone for the great advice! My DH initially wanted to cancel our trip, but I convinced to wait until we talk to all his doctors (he's been referred to a podiatrist and eye specialist as well as a registered dietitian).

I think once we both got over the initial diagnosis we needed to realize that we had to focus on what he can eat as well as what he can't eat.

Of course you will want to listen to his doctor and dietitian but my team's approach is pretty much that I can eat what I want, but with limits. I count carbs so if I have an almost no carb meal (like salad) I might split a dessert with my daughter and use that as my carbs. Nothing is off limits, it just has to be done in moderation. That approach works much better for me than the way I started out 20 years ago with a long list of prohibited items.

It stinks sometimes when I am watching my husband - a little guy who eats like a horse - chow down on stuff while I sample from his plate. But at least I can sample. My old doctor would prohibit foods entirely which just made me want them more!

 

[minkydog]

It stinks sometimes when I am watching my husband - a little guy who eats like a horse - chow down on stuff while I sample from his plate. But at least I can sample. My old doctor would prohibit foods entirely which just made me want them more!

This is a great point. A lot of people hear "diabetic" and think, oh no! there goes my life! Back in the old days, doctors thought that was good advice--avoid sweet tea, sodas, snacks, cake, candy, etc. Which of course, makes any diabetic crave them that much more. The fact is, you can eat anything anyone else can eat. You just have to do it in moderation and keep track of your blood sugars. I have type 2 diabetes and my sister is type 1. Diabetes has not deterred us from doing anything--hiking, camping, eating out. And we're both good cooks, too.

I hope you go and enjoy the F&W fest. Just plan to do a lot of walking and keep up with the carbs. I'm sure your DH will be fine.

 

[book_junkie]

I have type 2 and done F&W the past few years (mostly food, not so much the wine! ) and had a blast! Closer to time, the menus will be up and pictures (YUM! ), and you can kind of ( with what you learn from your nutritionist between now and then ) guestimate carb counts and serving sizes. I like Visual Serving Guide as a starting point to help you compare what things are supposed to be, but I'm a visual person...

The menus that Disney puts up and pics and reviews from the Disboards lets me pic and choose what I want, and lets me figure out what's worth "spending" my carbs on (Ireland chocolate Bailey's cake ). Usually, we just snack around the world, and that ends up being lunch and dinner, with a late night snack back at the resort food court or in the room if need be due to medication or sugar levels.

The big things I've found is a. test often, and b. make sure to keep hydrated with water- not diet soda (or other beverages ), but water. The past few times I've been it has been HOT and dehydration is not good in anyone, but really bad with diabetes. It can mask low sugar symptoms, so then you're suffering both and may not know it- especially if you're not used to hypoglycemia or like me, can't tell when you "bottom out".

Meters are really small now, and can easily fit into a pocket of cargo shorts without a problem, so testing can be done anywhere...

Have a blast!