Waiting to board our plane and....

[NHdisneylover]

I still don't get why peanuts or peanut butter seems to be the superior option. It seems like a bad option from all the stuff I learned during my wife's pregnancy.

http://blog.joslin.org/2011/02/hypoglycemia-or-low-blood-sugar-how-is-hypoglycemia-treated/

Chocolate, while on of life’s list of things to eat before you are 50, is not one of the treatments for hypoglycemia. Nor is peanut butter for that matter.

In fact, if the food is fatty or contains fiber it isn’t a good treatment for low blood glucose because it won’t bring the blood glucose up quickly enough.​

An in any case should diabetics be able to assert that they also have no other option? Yeah - this is getting pretty silly because it seems to be more an argument over who has the superior rights and possibly even over relatively minor things like a small expense for a substitute snack. And if the same argument is made, should a diabetic be placed in a metal tube where they may not have access to medical help in case of hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia?

It's easy enough to say that this person or that person should just avoid this or that because there are risks. Heck - I remember discussing something with my mother about a restaurant that got in trouble because of it didn't have a properly placed elevator for disabled customers. Her response was that people in wheelchairs should just stay home. I was rather shocked. But in the end reasonable steps can and should be taken. I don't know if it's ideal that airline personnel don't typically announce an allergic passenger until just before the flight, but that's just the way it tends to happen.

OK, I am not diabetic, so I might well be wrong, but as I understand it, the goal is to not have a low blood sugar episode in the first place--you are not trying to bring things up quickly, you are trying to keep things even and safe over the long term. This is done by eating snacks and meals at regular intervals and includes limiting and spreading out the carbs one does eat, not allowing the sugar to drop then bouncing it up with lots of carbs and repeating such a dangerous cycle.
The diabetic person eating their high protein snack at the correct time prevents a dangerous blood sugar drop, thus preventing the nee for a glucose tablet, juice, etc later---it keeps the situation from ever reaching that emergency point. That is a good thing. What you are posting about is things that would treat the emergency situation if it were allowed to happen--sort of like thinking no one needs to worry about peanuts because the allergic person can quickly and easily use their epi-pen if needed. Uh. no.

 

[bcla]

OK, I am not diabetic, so I might well be wrong, but as I understand it, the goal is to not have a low blood sugar episode in the first place--you are not trying to bring things up quickly, you are trying to keep things even and safe over the long term. This is done by eating snacks and meals at regular intervals and includes limiting and spreading out the carbs one does eat, not allowing the sugar to drop then bouncing it up with lots of carbs and repeating such a dangerous cycle.
The diabetic person eating their high protein snack at the correct time prevents a dangerous blood sugar drop, thus preventing the nee for a glucose tablet, juice, etc later---it keeps the situation from ever reaching that emergency point. That is a good thing. What you are posting about is things that would treat the emergency situation if it were allowed to happen--sort of like thinking no one needs to worry about peanuts because the allergic person can quickly and easily use their epi-pen if needed. Uh. no.

There are plenty of alternatives to peanut butter. There are soy spreads and even sunflower spreads. I recall you (or someone else) mentioned refrigeration of meats, but hard salami and hard cheeses can easily last hours, so a salami sandwich could be a pretty good alternative.

However, I don't get why there's some comments in this thread basically about not budging almost out of principle, whether it not being warned in advance or some thought that people are being foolhardy for using air travel when someone has a nut allergy.

 

[cjbcam]

Well I used to be of the opinion that why should 100+ people bend to accommodate one? Heres a little back story. My one daughter has always been very small. She got to the point of being severely underweight. We were sent to a dietitian. She said we needed to feed her whatever fattening stuff we could to try to make her gain weight. We were told peanut butter is a really good option. Well she got hooked on pb&j sandwiches. Well when it came time for her to go to school that was the only type of sandwich she would eat. Schools are peanut free. What happened? She refused to eat anything and lost a bunch of the weight she had gained. She is now in 4th grade and eats way more variety. We also found out around last October she has a hole in her heart they think may contribute to her size.
I always thought she should have been accommodated as well if the person with allergies was. But that's for everyday lunches.
For a few hour plane ride I would have no problem accommodating. Although I don't understand why someone so severe would risk it.
I would like to point out that I would be really annoyed if all my kids treats had peanuts in and I had to fork out a bunch of money to buy new snacks for the six of us. I would but I would be annoyed.
It would be better if in these cases the airlines would give deep discounts to people that now have to buy a snack because they can't eat the one they have.
I am so glad my kids don't have food allergies. I feel very bad for people having to deal with these issues.

 

[Minniesgal]

Having taught for years I have seen many kids with very very severe peanut allergies. In fact we get at least one in every year group. This is not fun and it is certainly life threatening. We obviously see othe severe allergies too but the peanut ones seem sot be the fastest and the most severe.

Given the frequency and severity of these allergies and the fact peanuts are hardly an essential food group I think they should be banned outright on planes

 

[Disneychick75]

How do the extremely allergic people go anywhere? I'm not being sarcastic. Someone at a grocery store may have eaten something with peanuts or peanut butter before going into a grocery store or a place like Wal Mart and touched a shopping cart or merchandise. I cannot imagine how many parents might give their children a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at a theme park or zoo. Then the kids or parents touch a railing or a door knob. There are so many different scenarios.

 

[Planogirl]

I think that the only conclusion I can get from this thread is that there will always be people who will eat their peanut snacks and that it's foolhardy to rely on others in this instance. I see a lot of blame being thrown at the airlines for not alerting everyone in advance but it's possible that they aren't being alerted in advance either. I wouldn't expect them to police what other people eat either, it just isn't realistic.

I doubt that peanuts will be banned on flights. But even if they are, then what about all of the items that include peanuts? I can't see airline personnel searching bags and examining labels for every person going onboard.

 

[Christine]

Why should someone have to spend money to buy airline food because the person with the allergy/the airline didn't let the passengers know in advanced to not bring foods containing peanuts on the plane?

You've used this phrase a few times in your posts so I just wanted to comment. Please stop blaming the passenger for this. Most peanut allergic people notify the airline at booking of their allergy so it is noted in the file. It's what we are instructed to do--do it right at booking. At least for me, this is MONTHS, before the trip--the airline knows they have an accommodation to make on that flight. If they'd give me a list of all other passengers, I'd happily notify them. But I can't do it and the airlines don't do it.

 

[fly girl]

And what if it is at a moment during the flight when flight attendants absolutely cannot leave their jump seats?

A person with a medical need requiring particular food is coached to rely in themselves. Why create an unnecessary emergency by telling them the must rely in the FA with no means to predict the timing will work out that the FA can assist in a timely manner.

Like I said previously, it is requested that you don't consume peanut products. Not demanded. No one is going to take away your food. But if you wanted to comply with the no peanut product request, you could talk to the flight attendant during boarding and express your concerns. Ask them if they could provide you right then with a can of soda and snacks to be proactive. They'll understand.


I was a flight attendant for a major airline for 18 years. We will get off our jumpseat at ANYTIME for a necessity. (What we don't like is you ringing the button for trivial requests when it's obviously not the best time. ie, headphones during take off.) It's what you do for your passengers. Part of the job.


Let me also say this as this as I did previously, but I don't think anyone took it in. I'm putting it in bold so it sticks out. Severe peanut allergy flights are NOT common. In my 18 years with thousands upon thousands of flights under my belt I had, are you ready -- 2 in my career. That's it!

 

[mondragon]

OK, so I guess we found a reason. I am a little stunned there is not any doctor within a few hours drive that could treat him. This is still a rare thing that one MUST fly with such severe allergies. and, again, your nephew and his family clearly know in advance when he will be flying--so the airlines could easily alert people of they only had a system set up to do so.

They alert the airline before flying and only fly virgin air since they will refrain from serving anything with nuts if you notify them. They are first to board and my sister in law places a special seat cover on the seat and wipes down everything around him. He also wears a mask during the flight. The doctor he sees in Houston is one of the best pediatric cardiac specialists in the country. By here is no one really good close to them. It's up to the airline to notify others. Before boarding they announce at the gate well in advance before boarding to refrain from bringing anything with nuts on the plane and make the announcement several more times. There is also a sign placed at the gate with a picture of a nut and a line going through it. Also on board they announce several more times not to consume anything with nuts due to a passenger with allergies. They carry a huge set of epipens with them just in case.

 

[phorsenuf]

There are plenty of alternatives to peanut butter. There are soy spreads and even sunflower spreads. I recall you (or someone else) mentioned refrigeration of meats, but hard salami and hard cheeses can easily last hours, so a salami sandwich could be a pretty good alternative.

However, I don't get why there's some comments in this thread basically about not budging almost out of principle, whether it not being warned in advance or some thought that people are being foolhardy for using air travel when someone has a nut allergy.

And nobody is disputing that point. The issue is the person is already at the gate, ready to board and they only have their peanut butter crackers with them. They do not have time to substitute them out for a safe alternative. So instead they go without, which causes a blood sugar imbalance and they have no way to stabilize it before it gets too low.
I fly Southwest and they do not have any kind of snack box or equivalent that the diabetic has the option of getting to keep their blood sugar even. Empty carbs, such as pretzels will not do it. That is why a snack containing a protein is important. It's very easy to keep a pack of crackers in your bag should you need them. I have my husband keep a pack in his laptop bag in case he's out on a job longer then expected and can't get back to his regular snack.

 

[Mkrop]

Are you kidding me? This is the board where people talked about taking crock pots on vacation. I fail to see how people can't think ahead.

And sandwiches and other shops are easily available before and after each flight. Since flights offer alternative snacks (even snack boxes!!), I fail to see that there are no options available for peanut loving airline passengers who become belligerent at the thought of having no nuts for 2-3 hours.

What a wrong assumption about places being available, we have been in airports where things are not open yet bc the flight is so early. and you are also assuming the person has the money, we also talk about people budgeting to the nth degree to make these trips possible, to buy other items. Or that the person has the time to purchase another item, I gave the example of my DS17 on a mission trip, through no fault of his own, they made it to the gate by the skin of their teeth and were not allowed to go buy other stuff. He actually ate stuff that was suppose to be for his 10 day trip bc he had not eaten since noon and it was now 9pm.

 

[Hrhpd]

And nobody is disputing that point. The issue is the person is already at the gate, ready to board and they only have their peanut butter crackers with them. They do not have time to substitute them out for a safe alternative. So instead they go without, which causes a blood sugar imbalance and they have no way to stabilize it before it gets too low.
I fly Southwest and they do not have any kind of snack box or equivalent that the diabetic has the option of getting to keep their blood sugar even. Empty carbs, such as pretzels will not do it. That is why a snack containing a protein is important. It's very easy to keep a pack of crackers in your bag should you need them. I have my husband keep a pack in his laptop bag in case he's out on a job longer then expected and can't get back to his regular snack.

Why does the person take a chance with a peanut product when they know it could possibly be forbidden if it is so vital? Peanut bans are becoming more and more common. If I were a diabetic and it was life saving important to have a protein product on hand, you bet I wouldn't be taking the chance that I get to the gate and they say that my peanut product is banned. I would be bringing a safe substitute that I know didn't have a chance of being banned.

 

[mefordis]

If we are all okay with mandating that people to get injections to keep immune compromised people from becoming sick, I think we can also ban people from eating peanuts to keep those with allergies from dying. I really don't see how this is very different.

 

[Art 1]

I appreciate your post but wanted to pick out this part of it. I didn't realize it either until a PP pointed it out, but it's NOT a closed system...
Source

If we are all okay with mandating that people to get injections to keep immune compromised people from becoming sick, I think we can also ban people from eating peanuts to keep those with allergies from dying. I really don't see how this is very different.

That's crazy and makes on sense. Think about what you just typed.

 

[Art 1]

Why does the person take a chance with a peanut product when they know it could possibly be forbidden if it is so vital? Peanut bans are becoming more and more common. If I were a diabetic and it was life saving important to have a protein product on hand, you bet I wouldn't be taking the chance that I get to the gate and they say that my peanut product is banned. I would be bringing a safe substitute that I know didn't have a chance of being banned.

I know a lot of people, lots. In several states and several countries. I mean a lot of people. I have never, ever heard anyone talk about this allergy once. I have only heard it talked about here on the dis. It's part of the reason I read here, to enjoy these silly stories.

 

[morgan98]

If we are all okay with mandating that people to get injections to keep immune compromised people from becoming sick, I think we can also ban people from eating peanuts to keep those with allergies from dying. I really don't see how this is very different.

Again, another example with the...if there is a peanut anywhere in the near vicinity it will cause death.

This drama is too much. Again, people would be dropping dead from peanut allegories everywhere everyday if this were the case.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I still don't get why peanuts or peanut butter seems to be the superior option. It seems like a bad option from all the stuff I learned during my wife's pregnancy.

It seems everybody in this thread is focusing on hypoglycemia. Peanut butter, and the proteins suggested that require refrigeration, should be used to combat episodes of hyperglycemia.

 

[morgan98]

If we are all okay with mandating that people to get injections to keep immune compromised people from becoming sick, I think we can also ban people from eating peanuts to keep those with allergies from dying. I really don't see how this is very different.

Also, from pervious posts you are against vaccines, but you are okay with telling people what to eat?

 

[mefordis]

Also, from pervious posts you are against vaccines, but you are okay with telling people what to eat?

This is the way it has to be to save lives.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Like I said previously, it is requested that you don't consume peanut products. Not demanded. No one is going to take away your food. But if you wanted to comply with the no peanut product request, you could talk to the flight attendant during boarding and express your concerns. Ask them if they could provide you right then with a can of soda and snacks to be proactive. They'll understand.


I was a flight attendant for a major airline for 18 years. We will get off our jumpseat at ANYTIME for a necessity. (What we don't like is you ringing the button for trivial requests when it's obviously not the best time. ie, headphones during take off.) It's what you do for your passengers. Part of the job.


Let me also say this as this as I did previously, but I don't think anyone took it in. I'm putting it in bold so it sticks out. Severe peanut allergy flights are NOT common. In my 18 years with thousands upon thousands of flights under my belt I had, are you ready -- 2 in my career. That's it!

How would you know as the plane is accelerating down the runway that you should violate your own safety instructions and captain's request to leave your seat to give a diabetic passenger a cracker?


And no need to worry about me. I wouldn't eat the peanuts. It does not change the absurdity of a poorly handled situation by a passenger with a lethal allergy and an airline. All this talk about "kindness" is slow absurd given the notion that lack of consideration is what creates the problem in the first place.