Down with Dhall

Great food is like great sex.  The more you have the more you want.  ~Gael Greene


          For some, living with diabetes is much like living on a diet.  One must always be aware of the number of carbohydrates and amount of fat in each food or beverage, and properly deliver the corresponding dose of insulin to adjust.  Special meals, dining out, or snacking can make estimations difficult.  Packaged foods display the exact number of carbohydrates, but everyone enjoys a warm, prepared meal now and then.  Especially if your dorm is less than five minutes from a dining hall open for 16 hours a day.


        The wide selection, cozy setting, and of course delicious food itself make frequent trips an obvious necessity during those early days of freshman year.  But soon enough the pizza, prime rib, lo mein, and ice cream add up and leave you with blood sugars over 300 for the whole day.  You've eaten all these foods at home, but struggle to keep your scores in check now that you're away.


       The biggest change lies in portion sizes.  Unless you plan on carrying a plastic measuring cup with you around the dining hall, its difficult to determine if that pile of mashed potatoes is one, two, or maybe even three cups.


       Best way to master the dining hall is simply through practice.  Be careful of course, but overtime you will learn how to handle your favorite foods in any desired size.  About 15 minutes before heading to eat, deliver a bolus of half the normal number of carbs.  This will help prevent the severity of blood sugar spikes while also giving you a safety net in case you decide to eat less than normal.


       But one very helpful resource I can give you now is: Calorie King.  The nutrition fact counting monopoly has managed to track down the data for every major fast food chain, restaurant, grocery store, and major food producer.  Their small and handy comprehensive food guide also includes the average nutrition information for almost every prepared item imaginable.  I always get the newest edition every year, and it has helped my counting immensely.  Even more convenient is the company's mobile app for iPhone users, which directly connects you to the entire guide of 17, 000 foods (the same information can be accessed on other smart phones by typing www.calorieking.com into your browser).


       And I advise you to continue searching the web yourself! The beauty of blogs are their individual nature and the stories everyone has to tell.  As Justin Hall, freelance journalist himself once said: "The best content comes from people who love what they are doing."  Everyone will experience their own set of challenges, but by sharing part of our personal experiences through the freedom the Internet has to offer, we are able to begin a conversation that may have never taken place.


Be healthy, have fun, and enjoy tonight's supper!