Newly Diagnosed with Diabetes

[teachmedis]

Hello! My husband was diagnosed with diabetes this month. So far his treatment has included a diet change and one insulin shot a day. We have a trip planned for June. I'm just looking for any experiences or advice in handling meals/snacks while in the bubble. Our typical park day includes a quick breakfast in our room, rope dropping, then eating lunch around 11. We take a break in the afternoon then have a dinner out around 5 o'clock. We also have a dairy allergy in the family so we're a real hoot for waitstaff. I'm interested to see if people split meals to keep portions down, what restaurants you found had good, healthy options, and in general your experiences at the parks with diabetes, or with a family member who has managed it. Thank you!

 

[disney212]

I do not have diabetes but I eat low net carb to help control my crohn's disease (basically the same diet). DH and I eat breakfast in the room (we are DVC so we have a microwave or a full kitchen), I eat eggs in a low carb tortilla most days. We typically split meals. If we get a burger we share, I don't eat the bun or fries. For dinner we tend to hit the lounges and eat protein heavy appetizers for dinner. I keep keto crackers in our room if I want a snack. I don't find it difficult to eat in the parks. Our friends we travel with the husband has type 2, he says due to all the walking he can be a bit less controlled with his diet, unfortunately my crohn's doesn't work like that.

 

[gap2368]

As the pp said with all the walking he should be able to not be so strict with his diet. Also being something for low since he is on insulin

 

[lanejudy]

I'll echo about all the walking activity, the diet isn't as big a concern. He can have some extra carbs without impacting his readings, and he may find that he needs to adjust the insulin dose to avoid going low. As PP mentions, be sure to have glucose tabs or a quick-sugar snack on hand if he starts to feel low. If he's newly-diagnosed Type II then he probably isn't at all used to lows and it can be surprising so be sure to know the signs.

Unless your hotel room has a regular refrigerator (like home), don't trust the typical mini-fridge found in many hotel rooms. It may not cool well, or it may get too cold for his insulin. DH uses a FRIO wallet when we travel.

By June the carb counting will be much easier. He'll be more familiar with portion sizes and carbs. December and the holidays is a challenging time to hit the learning curve -- it will get easier!

 

[DisSurfer878]

I cannot stress enough how important it is to have snacks in the event of a low.

We had a very scary incident on our last visit where we got stuck on a ride for over an hour without snacks (it was 9 pm and this was our last ride of the day so we'd used them up) and my dh had a low episode.
It was scary and they had to rush evacuate us and we were met by six Disney suits at the exit.

Diabetes is a disease that you don't want to take chances with.

 

[teachmedis]

Thank you for all of this information! We have not experienced a low yet, but I will make sure to have snacks on hand--just in general that is good information to have as I don't carry snacks around when we are out but will now.
I'm also grateful to hear that the walking will help. I'm not sure why that didn't occur to me as we have noticed his number go down on days he was more physically active than usual. Thank you!

 

[Selket]

Hello! My husband was diagnosed with diabetes this month.

My teenage son has type 1 (insulin dependent) and could eat anything and everything and does on Disney trips - he just needs to figure out the insulin...which is admittedly very tough. You might want to search old threads here but be mindful of the differences between those with type 1 and type 2 - assuming your DH is type 2? He also has anaphylactic food allergies so we are more of a hoot than you guys believe me... haha!

I agree with what others said about hotel fridges and carrying low treatment. The pre-pandemic buffets were a good choice because you could really pick and choose your carbs and maybe load up on lower carb things you like. QS places it would be easy to split meals and maybe buy one pizza meal and one salad meal and divide that up for example. It's easy to find low sugar or zero carb drinks.

If you are dining sit-down and tell the server about the diabetes you may be offered some lower carb choices. Ask to have sauces on the side, etc. A warning about low sugar desserts - they can have almost as many carbs BUT may affect type 2 blood sugar more slowly. Some people find cheesecake or non-sugar sweetened desserts work well for them.

You might look into some sort of continuous glucose monitor - there's one that you hold the device up to your arm and it tells you the blood sugar. Something like that will give your DH a VERY good idea of how different carbs affect him and how quickly (quick jump and down or a slow rise, etc).

I will also add from seeing the experience of those with type 2 in my family that doctors were horrible with their treatment and didn't monitor them closely enough for damage or counsel them well enough to avoid the damage. I suggest ...again... continuous glucose monitoring.

One medical practice I used for consultation when my son was first diagnosed is https://integrateddiabetes.com. We did remote counseling (by phone at the time - he commonly does remote counseling) . I haven't talked to Gary in awhile but I cannot recommend him more highly. I know your DH is an adult and likely has type 2 but if you ever find yourself dealing with basal rates and/or cannot get things under control I think he is well worth it.

 

[ttintagel]

Hello! My husband was diagnosed with diabetes this month. So far his treatment has included a diet change and one insulin shot a day. We have a trip planned for June. I'm just looking for any experiences or advice in handling meals/snacks while in the bubble. Our typical park day includes a quick breakfast in our room, rope dropping, then eating lunch around 11. We take a break in the afternoon then have a dinner out around 5 o'clock. We also have a dairy allergy in the family so we're a real hoot for waitstaff. I'm interested to see if people split meals to keep portions down, what restaurants you found had good, healthy options, and in general your experiences at the parks with diabetes, or with a family member who has managed it. Thank you!

I can kind of guess from the context, but I just wanted to confirm that you’re talking about Type 2 and not Type 1? The kind of advice that will help you depends greatly on which condition your husband actually has. Having spent a lifetime nodding politely at well-meaning advice about a condition I didn’t have, I wish I could get some of that time back, and I’m sure the people giving it wish the same thing.

 

[mcall12]

T2D here! Just dropping a note that lows can be less common with T2D but to definitely be prepared in WDW with all of the activity. It can happen. Have test supplies handy and make sure you have snacks. Also a good idea to just stop and take breaks and make sure he eats regularly and HYDRATE. The hydration piece is so important.

I typically have breakfast in my room, and I usually have things like nuts and string cheese in my bag for on the go snacking. I always have something to bump up my sugar if needed but not being insulin dependent, it’s not super common for me to have that happen. I do allow myself more latitude than usual with meals, but my management method is diet/metformin. So I may get a sandwich and not get the fries or remove the bun from a burger and have a couple of fries if I feel like it. I also try to bulk up my veggie intake as much as I can when dining out, even at home, so if they can switch the side I sometimes do that. Be careful with salads - always ask for dressing on the side as that’s possibly a sneaky way to get a sugar bomb. You can ask to speak to the chef if you need to for table service. I personally haven’t had to, I’m pretty good at navigating to stay in range. But also, he can relax a little bit. He’s still on vacation. The walking will offset a good bit of it. And if he’s newly diagnosed, he’s still figuring things out so his next A1C pull probably won’t be super great anyway because it takes some time for these changes and meds to take effect.

good luck and have fun!

 

[teachmedis]

My teenage son has type 1 (insulin dependent) and could eat anything and everything and does on Disney trips - he just needs to figure out the insulin...which is admittedly very tough. You might want to search old threads here but be mindful of the differences between those with type 1 and type 2 - assuming your DH is type 2? He also has anaphylactic food allergies so we are more of a hoot than you guys believe me... haha!

I agree with what others said about hotel fridges and carrying low treatment. The pre-pandemic buffets were a good choice because you could really pick and choose your carbs and maybe load up on lower carb things you like. QS places it would be easy to split meals and maybe buy one pizza meal and one salad meal and divide that up for example. It's easy to find low sugar or zero carb drinks.

If you are dining sit-down and tell the server about the diabetes you may be offered some lower carb choices. Ask to have sauces on the side, etc. A warning about low sugar desserts - they can have almost as many carbs BUT may affect type 2 blood sugar more slowly. Some people find cheesecake or non-sugar sweetened desserts work well for them.

You might look into some sort of continuous glucose monitor - there's one that you hold the device up to your arm and it tells you the blood sugar. Something like that will give your DH a VERY good idea of how different carbs affect him and how quickly (quick jump and down or a slow rise, etc).

I will also add from seeing the experience of those with type 2 in my family that doctors were horrible with their treatment and didn't monitor them closely enough for damage or counsel them well enough to avoid the damage. I suggest ...again... continuous glucose monitoring.

One medical practice I used for consultation when my son was first diagnosed is https://integrateddiabetes.com. We did remote counseling (by phone at the time - he commonly does remote counseling) . I haven't talked to Gary in awhile but I cannot recommend him more highly. I know your DH is an adult and likely has type 2 but if you ever find yourself dealing with basal rates and/or cannot get things under control I think he is well worth it.

This is a wealth of information. Thank you!

 

[teachmedis]

T2D here! Just dropping a note that lows can be less common with T2D but to definitely be prepared in WDW with all of the activity. It can happen. Have test supplies handy and make sure you have snacks. Also a good idea to just stop and take breaks and make sure he eats regularly and HYDRATE. The hydration piece is so important.

I typically have breakfast in my room, and I usually have things like nuts and string cheese in my bag for on the go snacking. I always have something to bump up my sugar if needed but not being insulin dependent, it’s not super common for me to have that happen. I do allow myself more latitude than usual with meals, but my management method is diet/metformin. So I may get a sandwich and not get the fries or remove the bun from a burger and have a couple of fries if I feel like it. I also try to bulk up my veggie intake as much as I can when dining out, even at home, so if they can switch the side I sometimes do that. Be careful with salads - always ask for dressing on the side as that’s possibly a sneaky way to get a sugar bomb. You can ask to speak to the chef if you need to for table service. I personally haven’t had to, I’m pretty good at navigating to stay in range. But also, he can relax a little bit. He’s still on vacation. The walking will offset a good bit of it. And if he’s newly diagnosed, he’s still figuring things out so his next A1C pull probably won’t be super great anyway because it takes some time for these changes and meds to take effect.

good luck and have fun!

Thank you! I love all of the positivity on this post.

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

You have 6 months to learn more about how DH should treat his condition.


I recommend taking that time to look over all food options to see what meals/snacks sound good to him that are maybe a healthier option.
For example I've seen where you can sub fries for a veggie like green beans.

I've read some posts that say all the walking will negate the bad diet but realistically we have no clue what your DH's body will say to that.
Speak to his doctor or a dietician to see if they think that's accurate for him.

 

[china mom]

Keep the strategy of eating breakfast in the room. The parks are really, really bad a low carb breakfast options. I even went as far as visiting the first aid center to ask them for advice and they had none. Many of the breakfast sandwiches are premade so they don't "cook to order". You have to peel off the bread and it leaves you with a pretty gross and difficult to eat glop.

Lunches, snacks and dinner aren't too bad to navigate as you can usually find enough proteins and toss the carbs aside.

 

[notatallmagic]

T1 parent here - diagnosed two years ago. I'll echo the "be prepared" idea - my daughter also had an extreme low on Splash Mountain this summer. Even with chugging about 30 ounces of Gatorade, she was losing conciousness. Heat and physcial activity can really drop blood sugar - if you CAN get a monitor (Libre can be easier to get than Dexcom) it would be really helpful.

My daughter carries lots of extra supplies (split between her bag and the room); Frio pack for insulin during travel; packaged nuts, peanut butter cups, granola bars, Gatorade powder and liquid - prepared for lows and healthy snacks. She does go low unexpectedly at Disney, so that makes a Disney cupcake possible

We also carry a water bottle (stainless steel) at all times - good to stay hydrated. And we like some of the kids meals (check menus ahead of time) for reasonably sized portions and sides OTHER than french fries! Jungle Skipper's steak with vegies is great; do some research and you'll find all kinds of options. Have fun!

 

[redberyl]

Bring double the amount of testing supplies he would use at home. He will likely need to test more often while at the parks, and you don't want to end up short on supplies.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Hello! My husband was diagnosed with diabetes this month. So far his treatment has included a diet change and one insulin shot a day. We have a trip planned for June. I'm just looking for any experiences or advice in handling meals/snacks while in the bubble. Our typical park day includes a quick breakfast in our room, rope dropping, then eating lunch around 11. We take a break in the afternoon then have a dinner out around 5 o'clock. We also have a dairy allergy in the family so we're a real hoot for waitstaff. I'm interested to see if people split meals to keep portions down, what restaurants you found had good, healthy options, and in general your experiences at the parks with diabetes, or with a family member who has managed it. Thank you!

DH was dx'd about 6 years ago. (woah, his new used kidney has been in play for 7 years next month!) No food allergies, but he does have to avoid certain foods (sour orange, pomegrante, starfruit, grapefruit, tumeric) that interact with his meds, and can't have fresh veggies unless they are properly washed, no deli meats unless steamed, no meat that is not throughly cooked (bye rare steaks), etc. For meals, we just focus on low carb, higher protein, and high veggies; not always easy to do on vacation though. Sometimes we get an appetizer and an entree to split; or he just controls his portion by not eating it all.

He does avoid pasta, rice, and breads, limiting himself to just once or twice a week; same with fruits.

He finds he has to eat regularly, to keep himself even. He uses these to keep his insulin cool at the parks and for travel; he carries (well, I do, in my bag or in our backpack) something similar to this to carry the cool bag and his supplies (pen needles, monitoring device, etc). I also carry a variety of snacks for us, like single serve bags of nuts, Kind bars, freeze dried fruits; and I also carry some glucose tablets, just in case. In the room, I get precut veggies from the grocery store (that I then 'wash' myself), for snacks. He monitors himself more frequently when we are out doing things, than he does at home, where there are less distractions.

On a side note, he says these are the best for him for lancets. They sell them at Walgreens or CVS and sometimes Walmart has them too.

 

[teachmedis]

DH was dx'd about 6 years ago. (woah, his new used kidney has been in play for 7 years next month!) No food allergies, but he does have to avoid certain foods (sour orange, pomegrante, starfruit, grapefruit, tumeric) that interact with his meds, and can't have fresh veggies unless they are properly washed, no deli meats unless steamed, no meat that is not throughly cooked (bye rare steaks), etc. For meals, we just focus on low carb, higher protein, and high veggies; not always easy to do on vacation though. Sometimes we get an appetizer and an entree to split; or he just controls his portion by not eating it all.

He does avoid pasta, rice, and breads, limiting himself to just once or twice a week; same with fruits.

He finds he has to eat regularly, to keep himself even. He uses these to keep his insulin cool at the parks and for travel; he carries (well, I do, in my bag or in our backpack) something similar to this to carry the cool bag and his supplies (pen needles, monitoring device, etc). I also carry a variety of snacks for us, like single serve bags of nuts, Kind bars, freeze dried fruits; and I also carry some glucose tablets, just in case. In the room, I get precut veggies from the grocery store (that I then 'wash' myself), for snacks. He monitors himself more frequently when we are out doing things, than he does at home, where there are less distractions.

On a side note, he says these are the best for him for lancets. They sell them at Walgreens or CVS and sometimes Walmart has them too.

Awesome, thank you!

 

[Joy70]

Following along. Type 2 here! Just diagnosed in December. We also have a trip planned in June and I came here to see if anyone had any advice or tips and found your thread. I am not on insulin at this time. Just metformin and diet/exercise changes. I have found that my medical provider has not been great at providing information and answering questions. I had one brief "counseling" session where I got some diet handouts and learned how to test my blood sugar and was told to come back in three months. Maybe that is normal? They were nice, but its all overwhelming at first and you don't really know what questions you have until a few weeks in! So I am doing a lot of research on my own. We were just talking about our trip today, and realized that vacation could be challenging as my whole way of eating will change. Found some great information in this thread already! Thanks!

 

[mcall12]

Following along. Type 2 here! Just diagnosed in December. We also have a trip planned in June and I came here to see if anyone had any advice or tips and found your thread. I am not on insulin at this time. Just metformin and diet/exercise changes. I have found that my medical provider has not been great at providing information and answering questions. I had one brief "counseling" session where I got some diet handouts and learned how to test my blood sugar and was told to come back in three months. Maybe that is normal? They were nice, but its all overwhelming at first and you don't really know what questions you have until a few weeks in! So I am doing a lot of research on my own. We were just talking about our trip today, and realized that vacation could be challenging as my whole way of eating will change. Found some great information in this thread already! Thanks!

sent you a PM

 

[Selket]

I have found that my medical provider has not been great at providing information and answering questions.

This really makes me angry at your medical provider and exactly what happened with my aunt. Now that I understand the absolute heck out of diabetes (one of my kids dx'd with type 1 at 26 months old - he is a young adult now) - I cannot begin to suggest strongly enough that you find another doctor - a endocrinologist that has some clue what they're doing. There's no 911 emergency but it's something you can start thinking/planning for and looking for. I also would get a Freestyle Libre if I had type 2. You would not need to wear it every day of every week but I don't think there's a better tool (other than another cgms) to give you info on how foods affect your BG numbers, how exercise affects it - how your meds are affecting it, etc. so you can make changes that fit best with your lifestyle and what you like to eat.