Brahmama

My DH is now on medication for diabetes (not insulin - but has to be controlled) We like dining with priced-fixed meals, but dessert is going to be a problem. Anyone have any experience about asking for alternatives? Maybe a fruit/cheese plate?

Also, we were going on a "Taste of NYC" type tour and that may not be possible. Any restaurants that you can think of that have some no-sugar options? (or low-sugar maybe.)Suggestions?

I thought it interesting that our doc still told him to drink a glass of red wine a day! But nice.

garyt22

You need to ask your Dr. for a referral to a Diabetes education class... I was recently diagnosed also and the class is a MUST, especially for future nutrition and meal planning... you will be suprised that diabetes management is more about balance in meals than anything else... get that class ASAP!

aileen679

I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but he needs to start getting in the habit of changing his eating habits. It would be a lot easier to just skip dessert than it would be to try to arrange a substitute. I think that's what most diabetics would do when away from home.

kdk140

My DH is diabetic type 1 insulin dependent so our situation is somewhat different because he can adjust his insulin depending on the meal. However, talk to your Doc about this issue because what really matters is carbs rather than sugar per se. Some meals might be low in carbs such that the addition of a dessert won't be out of the question. Also, your Doc may be able to give you some advice re walking or some other manageable exercise that can help control the increase in carbs while you are on vacation. Generally, our experience has been that good docs don't want living with diabetes to mean you can't have a life and enjoy foods. So I think if you talked to your Doc about your trip he/she might be able to advise or set you up with a nutritionist who could help you. I'm not familiar with pre-fixed meals, but I would think that in many cases if given advance notice, a more diabetic friendly meal could be arranged. But as noted above, I bet you could work around it just fine (ie, don't eat a bunch of rolls to make room for dessert, etc.) A new diagnosis is scary so read all that you can and you will soon become less worried. Good Luck.

NeoPatrick

I was never one to like sweets and before being diagnosed as a diabetic, I avoided desserts all the time. Once I was on oral medications, I found out that I am supposed to eat dessert (in moderation). The balanced diet needs both carbs and sugars to make the medication work. (This is sort of oversimplification, but essentially the way it is).

My doctor keeps telling me that I should eat a small piece of pie, or whatever as dessert -- it's really not a problem.

And yes, he needs a dietician to help him find the regulation he needs. The consistency is even more important than the actual things he eats.

kdk140

Just reading other comments. I agree also with aileen...however, I was making the assumption that this was a trip and not something of issue in everyday life. Your DH will have to make some permanent changes to his eating habits (assuming that's the cause, which if he's not taking insulin it's fair to assume he has type 2 and it's often controllable with diet so it is really important. On a tangent re NYC..we went a few years ago and visited the Statue of Liberty and practically couldn't get through security because I had snacks for DH in my purse! I put up a fight about it because you always have to be prepared for the dreaded low so just be aware if you go there. Maybe not part of the "Taste of NYC" tour tho....LOL.

NeoPatrick

I discovered Glucose tablets when the company I was ordering my test strips from sent some. They come in a small tube of 10 -- very fast acting tablets for emergencies. No need to carry snacks. These things are more effective and quicker acting anyway. After getting stuck in traffic on the interstate one day for about an hour after my lunch time, I wouldn't go anywhere without those tablets just in case.

MikeT

The thing about priced-fixed meals is that they are designed to be limited selections/options so straying may be a problem. Ultimately, however, once you eliminate the dessert, he could order off the menu, get a wider selection of options, and probably end up at the same price point.

nytraveler

Agree with the need to get some in-depth nutritional info. Some fruit has MASSIVE amounts of sugar (many diabetics carry OJ as the fastest way to solve blood sugar levels that are too low). So don;t assume fruit is an answer. It all depends on the entire meal - and what else was eaten that day.

NewbE

There are a lot of thoughtful replies here, but I don't understand the original question. Can you avoid sugar at restaurants in NYC? Well, of course. If the prix fixe dinner includes dessert, you don't have to eat it. You can ask for a substitute or a reduction in price, sure, but you didn't need us to tell you that, did you? I'm really not trying to be rude, I just don't get it.

NeoPatrick

Well, the question really does make some sense, NewbE. Being diabetic myself, I have often asked in Europe on a fixed price meal about getting cheese instead of dessert, even when it is not shown as an option. And at least half the time I am successful with that. I have also opted for a simple salad instead of dessert in France and have gotten that as well. And very often they will happily bring you an orange or another piece of fruit instead of the creme brulee or whatever. In New York, I'm not so sure it is as easy. Rules in US restaurants seem harder to "break" than in Europe, I find.

kdk140

Glucose tabs are a good idea. We carry them too along with a small tube of cake icing (the kind you would write with)which our Doc said is best because it can be squirted in the mouth and absorbed if DH is not able to cooperate with eating glucose tab or drinking soda, etc. One of the things that has really helped us is Extend Bars (they have a website). They are clinically proven to break down slowly, providing a steady amount of glucose over 8-9 hours. Great to avoid lows at night or any other time when meal times may be disrupted (cocktail party, dinner party, driving, meetings at work, etc) ; not intended to fix a low but more to avoid one. Might be worth checking out (peanut butter one tastes the best). Might be worth a look at the website info.

NewbE

I never meant to minimize the problem, I only meant to say that the ways of dealing with a diabetic diet at a restaurant seem kind of obvious. I have diabetic friends, vegetarian friends, high-cholesterol friends, et al, and they all negotiate menus without fuss.

NeoPatrick

And you would have given your friends grief if before going to a restaurant they had asked if anyone knew specific restaurants where getting something different was easy? Do you have something against "planning" generally?

I don't get what YOUR issue is with the question. How is this different from someone asking which hotels have larger rooms or which airlines have more room in the seats, so the poster can make a more informed choice of a place to go? Asking which restaurants may offer alternative courses is not a sin, is it?

And by the way, Brahmama, we went to Junior's Cheescake in Time's Squre where the waitress insisted the "diabetic version" of their traditional cheesecake is identical to the regular one and no one could tell the difference. I ordered it. If that's what their regular one tastes like, I'm staying away. It had an oily and rather chalky taste. It was just awful.

NewbE

Patrick, lower the volume. I don't get the OP's issue, you don't get mine, none of this is news, but you've got to stop trying to shout me down, it won't work.

As for the question, yes, it is different from asking for help with hotel planning, because the question is "how can I find sugar-free food at restaurants in New York,' and, maybe, "can I ask the waiter if I must eat the dessert".

Brahmama

Thanks for a lot of replies - as usual. Trip-Planning would be totally different without Fodorites.

First of all, I learned a lot from reading the posts. I called the hospital and asked about a Diabetes Ed class or some kind of info. We live close to a tiny town with a little hospital and not much is offered. However, a dietician comes once a month and I've made our appointment with her for April.

I didn't realize that it was the balance of food; I (rather naively for sure) assumed that just cutting out most sweets would do it. I've been reading stuff on the internet plus the hand-out that our doc gave us and have some new ideas. (Fruit being harmful - potentially - just blew me away)

I had never heard of any potentially dangerous reactions (?) and certainly didn't know of any strips or any need to carry food or candy. I'm sure that my husband's diabetes is at the first stage, but I have lots of questions to ask our doc when he gets back from his convention!

aileen - this is the most important issue I think - that we just have to change our eating habits - but still this is a long-awaited trip and I don't want to bog down in worrying about everything that we eat.

I am so in the habit of turning to Fodor's for opinions and ideas - if this was inappropriate, I do apologize. But I do also thank all of you for interesting and useful info.

For sure, we wlll not order the diabetic cheesecake at Juniors, thank you very much for that, Patrick!

To keep this travel related - how about ideas about excellent snacks, or places that you have noticed in NYC that might be suitable for diabetics? My research today (as short as it was) indicated that there are a *lot* of diabetics and the number is forecast to multiply rapidly - even with children.

And as for us, The Golden Age is certainly not as advertised! But we're going to travel as long as possible.

NeoPatrick

Huh? Who's trying to shout anyone down? You seemed to take exception to the poster asking a simple question and I defended his logic in asking it. Sorry you don't get it, and sorry you don't understand why anyone would want to know how difficult it is to get alternatives to suit his concerns. And equally sorry I don't understand your original objection. No shouting here.

But did you really think the poster's question was asking if he was going to be FORCED to eat the dessert if he didn't want to? Come on now. You know better than that.

walkinaround

I think it's sad that you are left alone without, frankly, even a basic understanding of how to manage with this disease.

as usual, there is a lot of misinformation here or, at best, information that might be right for some but not for others. i will try my best not to add to the problem.

fruit is not 'bad' for diabetics. like everything containing carbs, it must be managed (i will not even begin to try to describe how to manage your diet and your testing - you really need to speak to someone). as a cruel irony, most low carb, satisfying foods (cheese, meat, etc) must be minimised as cholesterol rich foods effect diabetics more than non-diabetics (we have problems managing it and when it does go high, it does more harm to us).

your 'golden age' might not be turning out as planned. however, you can be thankful it did not come on much earlier in life (as it did for me - and the type 1 insulin dependent variety). but i am thankful that it did not effect me in childhood as it does for so many. i was able to enjoy childhood and university years without this burden and i'm very thankful for that. many are not so lucky.

NewbE

Brahmama, I am very sorry that an unseemly spat has broken out in the middle of your post. I should have just let it go, and I apologize.

I wish you and your DH a very pleasant trip and all the best in dealing with his diagnosis. For what it's worth, having seen friends and family deal with diabetes, the first part seems the hardest--once you get the info you need and get your bearings, it won't feel so scary. Enjoy New York! Bah humbug to Junior's!

doug_stallings

Well, for what it's worth, your suggestion of a cheese course instead of dessert is a good one if you don't want to eat desserts every day. Artisinal has an excellent selection of cheese, including some that will make you wonder how you never realized cheese could be so good. I think you'll probably find a lot of places with low-sugar fruit desserts as well. Just a thought. I can't think of specifically diabetic-friendly restaurants, but I think you'll be able to get by fairly easily.