[Mack Khelly]

It's time to admit the truth...promis not to call your doctor.

1) When on vacation, do you really stick to your daily diabetes diet, or you just forget about being diabetic and eat whatever you wish.

2) How often do you vacation and the length of it?

3) Do you feel guilty when its over and try to punish yourself when you get back home?

4) How much weight do you gain on average?

I myself like to admit that I eat many things I shouldn't when on vacation. However, I do lots of walking during vacation. I normally vacation about 5 times a year, on average 5 days.

I do gain about 2 pounds per vacation and lose them within 5 days.

Now it's your turn to speak. Thanks to all

[Penny]

When my husband and I take a rare trip, my BS seems to do better than normal, and I might even lose a couple of pounds. I think it is because we are busy all day, tend to eat at regular times, and sleep more (because we are tired from staying busy all day). I actually work harder when we are at home, so you would think that would make me sleep better......but it is so routine, you find shortcuts. I do try to stick to low carb foods, but always eat more at least one time a day. We try to limit restaurant eating to one time a day, stopping at a grocery or eating things we brought from home the rest of the day. I could really use a little vacation about now!

[Larry H.]

We were on Amtrak last spring for 6 days and Diabetic foods aren't exactly on the Menu. I took my meter and checked here and there and was getting fairly good readings. Frankly I don't think that would work right now after a few things that sent me up pretty easy in comparison. Don't know if it was the earlier stages or if all the exercise I had been doing pushing my mower and gardening carried me though in some better shape.. I think had I checked carefully all meals they would have been more than I think.. but on vacation I too would want an occasional pleasure.

[JediSkipdogg]

When on vacation....live a little. I don't think one should go all out and do something stupid, but they should have some fun and not worry constantly about their diabetes. As a type two not on insulin though one shouldn't eat tons of stuff that will make their BG go high and stay high. It's pointless to ruin a vacation due to being high the entire trip (which can happen.)

[notme]

1. No
2. Usually about ten days, twice a year.
3. No
4. Usually none because we are also so busy that we stay exercised and fit.

My husband and I usually travel out of the country twice a year. This March we are going to Italy. I never diet and always eat whatever I want and use insulin to compensate. We are usually gone ten days or so and when I get home, I get back on the band wagon. I have never gained weight on vacation.

[Jan B]

Hi Mack,

I go on vacation once in a while; sometimes 2 or 3 times a year, and sometimes not for 2 or 3 years!

I eat whatever I want, but I don't typically want things I wouldn't ordinarily have anyway. I lead a Type 1 lifestyle that doesn't ever change, no matter where I go. If it's hard to find healthy food, I usually eat less and gripe more!

Guilt is bad for you! I usually lose weight or maintain while traveling.

Honestly, I'd almost rather be diabetic, so I have an excuse to eat healthy. I don't understand all the junk people like to eat! I play funny mind games w/myself & am trained to not like unhealthy, fatty or overly sweet stuff.

P.S. I use substitution instead of denial.

[Keezheekoni]

I go on vacation once or twice a year. We always go to CA to visit my parents and Troy's parents. The kids need to see their grandparents.

Since we stay one week with my parents and one week with Troy's, it's not all that difficult to maintain what we normally eat at home. Troy's mom is a T2 and my dad is a T2. Troy's a T2 and I'm a T1. We've always tried to not go overboard eating out, since the driving takes us two days to get there and two days back, we usually have pretty good snacks with us... We usually don't gain any weight on those vacations, and will typically lose since we tend to eat less while not raiding our parents' kitchens like we can at home.

That said, I went on vacation last year by myself. I went to the Vegas meet and greet with other DFers. There I ate out daily, drank alcohol in the casinos, and was basically lazy. I never walked the strip, instead took the Deuce bus up and down the strip. I didn't exercise either (unless you could the swimming that I did at the pool at Carwy and Dewey's hotel). However, I didn't gain weight because I think the heat made me sweat every calorie off that I ate! D A M N it's hot there! I even bought myself a 1/4 lb block of fudge! (I didn't eat that all at once!)

Like Jedi said though, you do have to live a little. If you're not on insulin, then go easy but have a good time. A week out of an entire year won't kill you!

[DonnieD]

Vacation means an entire week to hike, bike, canoe while exploring a new place .. so lots of extra exercise allowing a more latitude diet-wise ... not to mention the lack of stress does great things for my blood glucose. It's all good.

[davef]

I haven't had a holiday (other than Christmas) since DX. At Christmas I did allow myself a little latitude (roast potatoes) and did not feel guilty. I have holidays in July for two weeks in Italy, I love Italian food, but will be doing a fair bit of cooking for myself so I intend to enjoy eating in restaurants, walking to compensate and when cooking "be good", plenty of Barbeques