Food/Insulin Effects During Trip to Paris

owlyn · #1 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 11:37 AM

Just got back from 5 days in Paris. Wanted to report on a couple of diabetes-related things. First, for the 6 hour time difference, I took my endo's advice and didn't do anything special with Lantus- I just changed my watch when I got there and kept to my normal schedule based on the current local time. Did the same thing coming back. Worked out fine.

Next, I had more bread and bread-like items during this week than I've had in any 2 week period, and my BGs were perfect- better than at home. I think this was due to two things- the amount of walking we did, but, really, I am convinced it was mostly due to the amount of fat consumed. The pastries are all made with lots of butter, and there was also much cheese consumed. Didn't gain any weight, either. Also, keep in mind I am a vegetarian, so there was no meat eaten. Almost everything was carbs and fat with some vegetables thrown in.

Had ordered the Vegetarian meal for the flights. They consisted mostly of rice and bread

but there was so little of it, that it didn't matter much

Glad to be back. I can avoid croissants and pans du chocolat for a while...

soso · #2 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 12:05 PM

mmm mmm mmmmmmmmmm....

I love the patisserie in Pareeeee.....!

Last time I went was just before my dx, I agree about the walking.. it is such a great city for that!
Hahahahaha.. to the airline meal—fell prey to that myself, once. If you were not a veggie the best thing to order is the Hindu-non veggie.. you get a lovely curry...

The pan au chocolat have no equal this side of the world.. they make the same thing, but it's just not..
Lucky old you...

fgummett · #3 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 01:52 PM

Paree for the 'olidays... sounds like you had a great time

owlyn · #4 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soso

mmm mmm mmmmmmmmmm....

I love the patisserie in Pareeeee.....!

Last time I went was just before my dx, I agree about the walking.. it is such a great city for that!
Hahahahaha.. to the airline meal—fell prey to that myself, once. If you were not a veggie the best thing to order is the Hindu-non veggie.. you get a lovely curry...

The pan au chocolat have no equal this side of the world.. they make the same thing, but it's just not..
Lucky old you...

You are right about the pain au chocolate- it's just not the same here. Except for one place about 25 minutes from my house. In New Hope, PA, there is a small French bakery that just happens to be owned by the former pastry chef of the French Embassy in Washington. He and his family live right above it and work in it, and it has a lovely courtyard with a view of the Delaware River. Lucky me!

I have now learned to always bring my own food on flights, even if there is a meal served. The meal is a nice little snack. An amuse bouche, really. If you like rice wth nothing on it. I mixed the ineveitable canned vegetables in, added salt, and it wasn't too bad. The refrigerated roll is always humorous, and the canned fruit cup for dessert, well, yum (not).

owlyn · #5 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgummett

Paree for the 'olidays... sounds like you had a great time

It was a lot of fun, but very cold.

fgummett · #6 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 03:28 PM

Couple of years back I was there in January with my son Josh... beautiful city... very cold as you say, but no line ups... even for the Louvre

owlyn · #7 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgummett

Couple of years back I was there in January with my son Josh... beautiful city... very cold as you say, but no line ups... even for the Louvre

No shortage of lines! Fortunately, we studied up in advance on TripAdvisor and bought a museum pass. Aside from being cheaper, you walk right in, bypassing the lines.

fgummett · #8 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 03:47 PM

Yikes! I guess it has become busier! Good tip about TripAdvisor

Actually this hearkens back to my diagnosis in early 2003... I was limping around Paris in the cold, with a really stiff knee, and weird eye symptoms... I could see OK at a distance, or very close up but was blurry within about 10 feet or so... poor Josh had to do all the sign reading on the Metro, and poor me was not able to focus on the Mona Lisa

On our return to Canada Josh's Mum finally nagged me to see a new Doctor about my knee (I hadn't seen one in 12 years) and a week later she phoned me up with the result of my blood tests

soso · #9 (**permalink**) 01-01-2009, 05:37 PM

First time I went to the Louvre, I walked right in, walked right up to the Mona Lisa and nary another head in sight! Quite a lot different on my 2 subsequent visits (only a couple of years later)
One thing I found in Paris is to find the little side streets with all the independent food shops on where the local shop... delish.. butchers shops with barbecues set up outside selling ribs etc.. lovely greasy and no sauces in sight!
Right opposite pick a nice wine and some veggies from the stand in the middle.. on my return flights (before the liquids ban) I took my own pic-a-nic basket.... cue envious stares all around....

Rad Warrier · #10 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgummett

Couple of years back I was there in January with my son Josh... beautiful city... very cold as you say, but no line ups... even for the Louvre

Cold ? I was there once in the fag end of December and it was far less cold compared to the Halifax that I returned to. (For non-Canadians: Halifax is in Nova Scotia on the east cost of Canada).

By the way, I have heard many people complain that the French try to avoid speaking English even if they know it. My experience is that this is NOT true, be it in Quebec (the French-speaking province of Canada) or France. Everybody made an honest attempt to speak in English with me, even if they didn't often succeed in their endeavour.

Regards,
Rad

owlyn · #11 (**permalink**) 01-02-2009, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rad Warrier

By the way, I have heard many people complain that the French try to avoid speaking English even if they know it. My experience is that this is NOT true, be it in Quebec (the French-speaking province of Canada) or France. Everybody made an honest attempt to speak in English with me, even if they didn't often succeed in their endeavour.

Regards,
Rad

As many visitors do, we studied some French vocabulary and some phrases before our trip. That all came in very handy- to have someone speak to you in English. After some trial and error, I found that the best way to get along was to just start speaking French. If the person you are speaking to is at all comfortable with English, they will recognize your bad accent, pidgen French, general butchering of their Language, and start speaking to you in English. If they don't speak English, you usually get an understanding person who is trying to help you the best way they can. They will still recognize your butchering, so, will either point, gesture, or similar, and try to use simple words, as you might to a foreign visitor who can't speak English. If you manage to say something very well, that is, properly, then the person assumes you speak French, and they will reply in French, at which point you look puzzled, as you have no clue what 90% of the words meant. You picked up "to the left", and "five minutes", but not much else. So, this is the _only_ good time to ask, "Parlez vous Anglaise?" as you are really stuck, and that question otherwise gets a reply indicating either "no", or "not very well", and you are back to French anyway.

The only mistake I made was at the airport during check-in for the return flight, where I just started speaking English to a line monitor. I was tired and confused about which line to get in, so I just blurted out, "Is this the line for US Air?" I got a shrug, but it wasn't even the classic Gaullic shrug- which was a bit disappointing, as I was hoping to have received at least one during the trip- it was more the shrug of a very annoyed person of any nationality. Can't blame him, really- I think it's an occupational hazard in any country.

fgummett · #12 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 06:06 AM

I think folks anywhere are content if you at least make an effort to say some words in the local language, rather than assume that everyone on the World speaks English - nor does everyone appreciate the old standby of TALKING VERY LOUD AND VEERRY SLLOOOOWLLY

As for the cold, Rad you are right... not cold by Canadian standards but I guess I was not expecting it and was not dressed appropriately. I suspect that the cold helps to keep BG levels down with the extra work of keeping warm..?

Caravaggio · #13 (**permalink**) 01-05-2009, 12:48 AM

I love Paris, and France in general! I heard negative opinions about the French behavior towards tourists who can't speak French, but I've never had any problem there. I guess that's because I'm not American (no offense meant to our American members).

I've never gained weight every time I visit Paris. It's not just the amount of fats you consume or the walking, but also (1) the size of the serving, (2) they use fresh ingredients and (from what I know) real ingredients (meaning, 100% butter instead of the so-called low-fat butter) so you feel satisfied with the meal, (3) the French use a lot of sauces but do not limit their sauces to barbecue sauces and do not drown their food in them, and (4) more importantly, they enjoy their food and dining in the company of friends.

When I travelled there alone for the first time, no one felt conscious that I had dinner alone, but the waiters, waitresses and/or other customers engaged me in conversation as if it's a sin to let anyone dine by himself (but mind you, I didn't feel that they pitied me for being by myself).

If there's anything I noticed about, and learned from, the French, it's enjoying every meal.

Too bad, the younger generation in France are eating more fast food and are starting to balloon.