[mazea]

I went to a my first party since being diagnosed with type 1 tonight. My husband told me there would be little snacks to eat maybe spring rolls. When I got to the party, My BGL was 7.1 and I took my insulin. After taking my insulin, I thought I had about 11 snacks which took place of my dinner, bitesized filo pastries, cheese, little bite-sized home made sausage rolls, and chicken nibbles. I didn't think it was that many carbs and I might have a BGL of 8-12.

I checked my BGL and it was 21.8!I think I nearly died from the shock and took novorapid straight away. I feel really silly now and think I may have managed wrong with the snacks and underestimated how many carbs. How does a type 1 go to a party?

[owlyn]

It takes some experience until you get to know what does what to you, and even then, there are surprises.

A quick Google finds that one philo hors d'ourve will have about 8g Carbs (and a million grams of fat, but let's not go there). You had 11 of them, so that's 88 grams of carbs at least, not counting the fillings. That would require 6 units for me, or it would raise my BG by 180 points (or 180/18 = 10 of your points). So, that fits in pretty closely with what happened to you.

Over time, you get pretty good at looking at food and figuring out how many carbs you are looking at. You then take some insulin to compensate. I play it safe and underestimate if I'm not sure- I can always correct later.

There are still some problem foods that seem to vary depending on the phase of the moon: pizza, Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese food, and Mexican food.

[soso]

well for me, I would try to arrive at the party with a bloodsugar between 4 and 5.. then I would have some insulin ( not a big bolus, maybe 2 -3 units) and eat a good grounding of something no carb like the cheese, then I would add a few of the yummie filo pastry type things and then I would wait a while... after say 60 mins from when I took the insulin, I would check my bg.. if it was low say 4-5 still I might have a couple more nibbles, if it was medium 6-7 , I would wait and see what happened in half an hour, or take another small bolus(probably only 1 unit) if I was determined to eat on..
if it was high (over 9) I would give the unit and not eat or take more insulin to eat on....

I am guessing by now you can see why I would have eaten before I went! I usually just have a small bolus and a very light pick at those snacks, 1 or 2 pieces as they are usually carb laden, even if they look innocent.

It is a minefield to eat in those situations, I wish I didn't have to write that, but it is true. No doubt at all, in a few years you will know your own responses to insulin/food so much better and will be able to do it with a lot better results though—so please don't despair.. I underestimate carbs in food i eat out all the time, I overestimate too...not sure which situation I like least!

It will get easier...

[-sammy-]

yeah you gotta be careful with party snacks and whatnot, as like mini ausage rolls and other things, they contain carbs yeah but also fat aswell, and fat can make your BG rise aswell.

[mazea]

thanks for your comments. The party thing threw me as I had no idea what they were serving. I've come down to 5.8 now. My eyes are a shade of red and I'm sure I'll get over it with a headache in the morning.

[-sammy-]

argh.
well its good to know your going to be ok.

[Mich]

Hi Mazea,

I laughed when I read the title of your post. Yes, party snacks are one of the banes of our existence. Soso summed up my approach exactly, so I won't repost it. I definitely go for the protein/fat stuff. I really have to watch out for the white flour pastries (which I LOVE to eat) like phyllo, bread and pies.

I found myself at a "Taste of" party recently, where all of the best Chefs gather and make a tasty bite. I gave up and took about three times my total day's insulin just to cover that one. But, it was worth it and I went back to being careful me the next day.

On a plane, I always bring baggies of cheese and crackers to avoid the free "snack packs" they offer as food. They are loaded with cookies, dried fruit and sweets.

Olwyn was correct. It does get easier with experience.

Mich

[Alice]

Weight Watchers (not diabetes) has pretty much put a stop to my party "grazing"...but still, since I don't always follow the footprint of a perfect WW, I will eat.

I do the same as I do at dinner parties...I will start the meal with a small amount to get a foundation...then guestimate at the end of the meal the difference. Often, upon arriving at home, I will correct again with insulin...or start eating again if running low due to "over guestimating".

No one gets it perfect. I've learned to look at density of food at related them to foods which are familiar. I often make a last minute visit to the ladies room before leaving a party or restaurant anyway...perfect time to see what the glucose is trending.

[Kendall]

I hate going to parties with snacks and not a meal. I love the party just not the rollercoaster of blood sugars that goes with it. I went to a baby shower last weekend that was after dinner. I started with a BG of 150 or so. I corrected as well as taking insulin for some snacks. Then I waited a bit to eat...had a little, then a little more, then one or two more bites. Two hours later my BG was 325 or so...BIG OOPS!

I almost always end up high if I eat anything. I just don't have the will power to be there and not eat. I think I need to eat at home before going to these kinds of things so I'm not so tempted to eat things I don't know how to count. There is also the grazing effect of losing track of exactly how much I have eaten. That doesn't help either. You will get the hang of it, but the inevitable slip ups are often no fun.

[gambi]

I always eat before I go, that way I know I am eating a healthy meal and will not feel the need to graze on junk food and keeping my blood sugar in line.

[KCP]

Yea i hate when that happens!!!
These days i just test at teh start and start by giving 5 u then an hour later testing and injecting again depending on what im eating and how my sugars are.. I inject at hourly increments and its usually no more then 7u a time..

[nono87]

I've taught myself to only look for meat at parties.....my downfall is the drinks thats what then causes my sugar levels to rise.....its a 50:50 when going out you either get it right or you don't