Low sugar menus

[kwitcherkicken99]

So I got a call today from my doctor saying my blood sugar is high so she is starting me on a medicine called glycosine (sp??), basically a pill for on-set diabetes. (we're doing a second test just to be sure)

I thought I ate decent (shredded wheat for breakfast, salad for lunch, some form of protein, veggie, and starch for dinner and I drink 2 cups of coffee/day and the rest is water.

That being said, has anyone had experience dining at WDW on a lower sugar (not diabetic) diet?

We are on DDP and have ADRs at Chef Mickey's (dinner), Akershus (lunch), Coral Reef, Boma, Le Cellier, Hollywood and Vine (breakfast), and T-Rex. I know most of the restaurants have sugar free desserts for DDP (I'm still going to try a zebra dome and the mousse at LC...).

I'm a little stressed out about this whole deal. This trip was the first time I was really ever going to be able to eat at the World out of 12+ trips (we were always on a budget, mostly ate in our room and 1 TS meal/trip and that was always Biergarten).

Any ideas?

P.S. I'm going to post this over on the disABILITIES board too.

Thanks all!

 

[catne]

Sugar free is still high carb & can really affect your blood sugar...just sayin'

 

[pumba]

Low carb probably is a better bet. Remember that you are going to be using alot of energy walking....So keep your meals on time and snacks also. Water in the heat too.
I am type 2 and I did fine at the World.....I did eat good but sugar free is not the route to go....Next time you shop, look at the sugar free or low sugar items.....those carbs are usually very high...

Ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetic certified educator. My educator had a masters in this and also was a RN...I had 7 meetings with groups and also solo and got alot of info out of this.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Low carb probably is a better bet. Remember that you are going to be using alot of energy walking....So keep your meals on time and snacks also. Water in the heat too.
I am type 2 and I did fine at the World.....I did eat good but sugar free is not the route to go....Next time you shop, look at the sugar free or low sugar items.....those carbs are usually very high...

Ask your doctor for a referral to a diabetic certified educator. My educator had a masters in this and also was a RN...I had 7 meetings with groups and also solo and got alot of info out of this.

Low carb?!? I can handle it, I think... I have a weakness for pasta and bread... Again, I don't eat it that often, but still. This is going to suck.

I'll see if she can refer me to a nutrionist/diabetic coucilor. I'm definately going to need some help.

 

[Gwendolyn]

Low carb is better, but make sure you make your meals high proteine instead (lots of meat, eggs, fish etc). But you can only do an high proteine diet when your kidney's are working properly.

I have hypoglycemia, and Ive noticed that carbs coming from bread, potatoes and rice have a bigger effect on my bloodsugar levels than "fast" sugars. So I can enjoy a really sweet dessert and walk that one off, but a piece of bread will knock me of my feet for hours.

 

[bahecasmart]

Things like changing your breads and pastas to whole-grain/whole-wheat will help. When you read the nutritional label, look at the total carb content per serving. 15g of carbs = 1 packet of sugar. It's more realistic when you think of it that way. Even natural sugars (from fruit) affect your blood sugar levels. One way to help your body absorb the carbs less quickly, and therefore not instantly turn them into sugar, is to try to eat protein every time you ingest carbs. For example, have a hunk of cheese with an apple - eat a hard-boiled egg along with your cereal in the morning - make sure there's meat or beans with your pasta - that kind of thing. It makes much less of an impact on your blood sugar.

 

[Bev J]

I got that same call last year, low carb is the ticket and of course low sugar too. I love pasta, bread, rice... you can still have it just very small portions and not too often. I got lots of great info on the american diabeties site and found out about dreamfields pasta- it tastes just like regular pasta but it is low carb. You would never know the difference, my family has no idea they are eating a healthier pasta now. You can usually find it in the health food isle in your grocery store. Watch your labels very carefully. Cereal is very high in carbs, the 'healthy' ones are the worst...
As for eating out, avoid the bread basket. Eat protein, veggies, berries, yougurt. sugar free cheesecake is a good desert choice if you want sweets.
all the exercise you will get walking will be great for the 'splurges' you will have on vacation.
Changing my diet to low carb brought my sugar levels down to 'normal', so no meds now and a side affect was weight loss and lower blood pressure too- so worth it in the long run. good luck!
Bev

 

[bahecasmart]

And just to clarify - there's a difference between low-carb and no-carb. Your body needs carbs. It's what is metabolised most quickly into energy. Don't by any means eliminate all carbs - just try to pick the healthier ones, and the ones that aren't as quickly turned into energy by your body. Anything whole - whole grains, whole fruits is absorbed less quickly. It takes about 15 apples to make a glass of apple juice. If you eat an apple, you get 1/15th less sugar, and it's not absorbed into your system as quickly because of the fiber.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Don't by any means eliminate all carbs - just try to pick the healthier ones, and the ones that aren't as quickly turned into energy by your body.

I don't think it's even possible for me to do that! Though I do love bacon...

I got lots of great info on the american diabeties site and found out about dreamfields pasta- it tastes just like regular pasta but it is low carb.

I'll have to check out that site and the pasta. I'm hooked on Trader Joe's pasta... it's so good. Maybe I can compare the ingredients and see how much different they are.

I was planning to slim up for Mickey, just wasn't planning to go this route!

 

[Sadie22]

Assuming your diagnosis is prediabetes or glucose intolerance, or even if you are found to have type 2 (adult onset) diabetes, you are looking at balancing your carbohydrate intake throughout the day, and depending on the portion sizes you have been eating, you may feel better with smaller portions. Your carbohydrates will preferably be whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fewer refined carbs like cake with frosting. You can still fit treats into your overall plan and with all the exercise you hopefully will get at Disney, you may be able to splurge more than at home.

I was diagnosed with prediabetes several years ago, and now with type 2 diabetes. I'm still overweight, still don't exercise enough, and I used to not eat as well as I should. I would be on the long drive to my parents' home and I would get a burger, fries, and cola, and then a while later feel very sleepy. I thought I was going to have to give up driving. Through diabetes education I found out how many grams of carbs were in that meal, and that the sleepiness was the effect of all that hitting my bloodstream, raising my blood glucose level, and then the resulting crash of low blood glucose afterward.

I do not drink colas anymore, and I know I can have a burger and salad, but the fries should be rare because a bun and fries together is too many carbs for me. And through self-testing I have learned that fries in particular raise my blood glucose level higher than other carbs.

Many of the "sugar-free" foods have something else added -- more fat, or sugar alcohols which can cause diarrhea or other intestinal symptoms and may even raise the blood glucose level just as much as the "regular" food. You won't know the effect until you eat some and feel sick afterward or you eat some and test your blood glucose reading. Although I enjoy a diet root beer or diet cola occasionally, I do not seek out "sugar-free" foods.

You may have been eating a good diet already. You may have been on the borderline for a while and natural aging had its effect. Not all diabetics eat poorly or are overweight. People who eat poorly, are overweight and don't exercise are at increased risk of developing problems, though.

Attending training with a certified diabetes educator and a nutritionist, paid for by my health insurance, was one of the best things I have ever done. I wish I had known about and had had the education when I was first diagnosed with prediabetes. I learned about a healthy diet including my favorite foods, how many calories I should be eating, how many grams of carbs, protein and fats, how often to eat (for me, three meals and three snacks), the importance of drinking enough water, the effect of exercise, and how and when to test my blood glucose. I have been able to get my hemoglobin A1C (average blood glucose for the previous three months) down to my target level and keep it there.

If you can have diabetes education now it will pay off for you, too. There is a lot of literature out about diabetes. Some is written for type 1 and some for type 2, and it's not always easy to figure out which is being discussed. There have been many changes in recommendations in recent years due to more recent research. Some doctors do not even know diabetes education exists, so you may have to ask around, but it's worth it.

I eat three meals and three snacks, between meals. They are all smaller than what we have become accustomed to thinking a meal should be, but that's what I need.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Sadie - thanks so much! I have a lot to go over. This is going to be a complete lifestyle change and I have a lot of homework to do! I have diabetes on my dad's side (but it always only seemed to affect the boys in the family) and have been closely watching my diet (or so I thought).

I guess the bonus is that it's happening NOW versus 5 months down the road.

It's hard for me to conceptualize eating 5-6 times per day. Shoot, when we were on vacation it was 1 big meal a day and maybe 2 snacks. The hardest thing for me to let go of is caffine. If I drink coffee in the morning, I won't have a soda during the day, but I have 1, maybe 2 on the weekends (I don't have a coffeemaker at home).

Argh! Meh... at least I'll be healthier for Mickey (and my family). That's what all this is about, huh?

 

[disneyag]

kwitcherkicken99--I am a registered dietitian and see diabetic patients all day at work. Ask your doctor for a referral to a registered dietitian or a certified diabetes educator. She (or he) can make this much easier for you! Let her know you are traveling to WDW and she can help with that as well. Lots of info in mainstream media, women's magazines, disney websites, blogs, etc is erroneous. Your insurance should pay for the visit(s). Good luck! This does NOT have to end your enjoyment of all things Disney!!!