BECAUSE. I. CAN.
It’s not uncommon that if I’m out somewhere with someone who I’ve met recently or who doesn’t know me super well and if I eat chocolate, have a drink, or eat anything like dessert, I’ll get asked about it because I am diabetic.
I realize that even prior to my diagnosis that I didn’t understand the different between type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but that’s also why I’m trying to educate people now.
The only thing that I cannot have is sugar-sweetened beverages. I can’t have regular coke or soda. I can’t have sparkling grape juice, apple juice, orange juice, or anything that isn’t diet/sugar-free. This is because these drinks are typically consumed in a shorter period of time and are essentially just sugar, so a simple carbohydrate. These items and ones similar hit the bloodstream more quickly than insulin can so it will cause a rapid spike and then a rapid crash.
There are some drinks like lattes, flavored coffee, milkshakes, that do have sugar, but because they are typically consumed more slowly, then it’s easier on the body so that the insulin and carbs will still hit at relatively the same time.
So cookies, cake, ice cream, dessert is still okay. It just needs to be taken into account with insulin and shouldn’t be taken overboard.
So, no, I shouldn’t eat 6 Oreos, but 1-2 is okay. I shouldn’t eat 4 scoops of ice cream but one is okay. It’s all about moderation just like everything in life.
But I can guarantee that if I’m eating a cookie and you tell me I shouldn’t be because I’m diabetic, I’ll eat two.
HP