HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

My Mum Is A Diabetic & We Went Out For

default
Posted on Mon, 15 Oct 2018
Question: My mum is a diabetic & we went out for s Chinese meal on Saturday night on Sunday morning her blood sugar levels were 33 & her ketone levels were 2.5 the diabetic nurse sent for the doctor who sent us to A&E we were discharged after 6 hours because her blood was down 17 I cannot help feeling guilty because I suggested the meal & there cannot be any other reason why her levels would go so high what do you think
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Suggestions

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
I am Dr Mittal.
I have read your message.
I think I can help you.

You have correctly surmised that blood sugar is a balance between food intake (which increases sugars) and medicine and exercise (that reduces sugars).

So yes it is likely that the change of diet increased her blood sugars.
Having said that it should be noted that the diabetic can have all diets albeit in moderation.

I usually Recommendation my patients to use their glucometers to test sugars when they change their diet or exercise regime . The dose of medicine can be adjusted accordingly. A suitable scale can be advised by your diabetecian. While this doesn't always work perfectly , it does allow the patient a level of Freedom in choosing from a variety of diet.

A second Recommendation is use of the diet calories application that are now so freely available. You can record the type of food you are about to eat and it tells you the number of calories in a portion of food. One can enter the type of food before eating it and guide themselves to the amount of food they can eat maintaining a level of calory intake.

I have tried to make it as simple as possible.
I hope that this information is helpful to you.
Feel free to contact me if you need any further information.
Best of luck.
Dr Saumya Mittal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (43 minutes later)
Do you suggest that we don’t have Chinese food again
default
Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (8 minutes later)
She’s been a diabetic for 35 years now she’s also got dementia which is why the district nurse comes twice a day to administer her insulin so are you suggesting that she cannot have many meals out from now on
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (1 minute later)
Brief Answer:
Moderation is the key

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for the response.
I never suggest not to eat a type of food.
Variation in diet is essential.
However moderation is the most important attribute that you need to look into.
And as I said adjustment of medication dose and monitoring the portion of food eaten is in itself most essential.
I hope that helps.
Best wishes. Dr Mittal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (12 minutes later)
The district nurses check her blood sugar levels & then give her the insulin accordingly once in a morning & at tea time so therefore we cannot up the insulin ourselves so if she goes out for a meal she is likely to go high
default
Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (3 minutes later)
She only ate vegetable soup prawns with scrambled egg & rice it was not a massive portion
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Diet can be reduced

Detailed Answer:
hello again.
I understand your restriction with sugar monitoring.
However, I think you can still monitor the portions of the diet she takes in if she is eating outside food.
best wishes.
Dr. Mittal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Kampana
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (12 hours later)
All she had was a bowl of soup fried prawns with scrambled egg & less than a portion of fried rice do you think it was the oil that the food was dried in caused the problem
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (7 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Suggestions

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for the response.
Yes the calory count of that diet seems to be high.
The added oil would have further increased the calories.
A moderation in the quantity of food is advisable.
Best of luck.
Dr Mittal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
doctor
Answered by Dr. Saumya Mittal (31 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
specific information as asked

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
It is always better to take the regular food you eat.
And in regular proportions.
As for the dehydration, that was probably due to decreased fluid intake and high sugars.
That may have caused the dehydration.
I hope that helps.
Best of luck, Dr Mittal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Saumya Mittal (2 minutes later)
In the hospital the doctor said that mum was dehydrated what would be causing that in the Chinese food is it advisable to stick clear of Asian cooking
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Saumya Mittal

Diabetologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2897 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
My Mum Is A Diabetic & We Went Out For

Brief Answer: Suggestions Detailed Answer: Hello. I am Dr Mittal. I have read your message. I think I can help you. You have correctly surmised that blood sugar is a balance between food intake (which increases sugars) and medicine and exercise (that reduces sugars). So yes it is likely that the change of diet increased her blood sugars. Having said that it should be noted that the diabetic can have all diets albeit in moderation. I usually Recommendation my patients to use their glucometers to test sugars when they change their diet or exercise regime . The dose of medicine can be adjusted accordingly. A suitable scale can be advised by your diabetecian. While this doesn't always work perfectly , it does allow the patient a level of Freedom in choosing from a variety of diet. A second Recommendation is use of the diet calories application that are now so freely available. You can record the type of food you are about to eat and it tells you the number of calories in a portion of food. One can enter the type of food before eating it and guide themselves to the amount of food they can eat maintaining a level of calory intake. I have tried to make it as simple as possible. I hope that this information is helpful to you. Feel free to contact me if you need any further information. Best of luck. Dr Saumya Mittal