Can Dining Out With Diabetes be a Piece of Cake?

Convenience. To spend time with friends and family. Variety.

You eat out for lots of reasons. It's part of the weekly routine. In fact, most people dine out about four times each week. But, balancing convenience and cravings can be tough if you have diabetes.

People with diabetes, take note: dining out does not have to be off limits. With some careful planning and smart choices, you can eat away from home while keeping your blood sugar levels in check.

Plan ahead
If you have diabetes, you require a diet low in fat and salt, and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat or nonfat dairy. It is possible to get the nutrients you need from a restaurant dish without the added calories. It takes some careful planning before you go to the restaurant, though. Follow these five steps so you won't veer away from your meal plan:

1. Know what's on the menu. Many restaurants have their menus posted on their Web sites. If the menu is not available, call the restaurant and ask if they can accommodate your needs. Most restaurants offer healthy options or will prepare foods the way you want. If they can't fulfill your request, choose another restaurant.

2. Eat at the same time you usually do. If you take insulin or diabetes medication, you need to eat at the same time every day.

Schedule all dining plans close to your normal eating times.
Make reservations so you won't have to wait.
Ask if special dishes take a longer time to prepare. If so, consider ordering something else.

3. Have a nutritious snack before you go out to eat so you won't arrive at the restaurant starving. This may make you less likely to overeat. You may need to adjust your insulin, though. Check with your doctor.

4. Eat well the rest of the day. If you know you will be eating out, make sure your other meals that day are healthy.

5. Be prepared for a low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar reaction. Bring your insulin, blood sugar monitor, snacks and any other supplies you need to handle a blood sugar emergency to the restaurant.

May I take your order?
Restaurant offerings are more likely to be loaded with calories, fat and salt than homemade food. Use these tips to make a healthy selection:

Make substitutions.Your meal may come with a side of fries, but ask for a green salad with low-calorie dressing instead. Check if whole grain pasta or bread is available. If you see healthier alternatives on the menu that are not offered with your dish, request a substitution.

Ask questions.If you don't know what's in a dish, ask. Speak up if you want something but do not see it on the menu. Sometimes all available items are not listed.

Be menu-savvy. Choose items that are described as roasted, baked, broiled, steamed, grilled or poached. Steer clear of foods described as breaded, fried, crispy or are in heavy sauces, such as Alfredo.

Ask for sauces and dressings on the side. Dip your fork into the sauce or dressing and then add a bite of food to your fork. You may save a lot of calories this way.

Request that no salt or butter be added to your meal. Vegetables are often prepared using butter. Ask that they be steamed, stewed or broiled without it.

Watch portion sizes. Restaurant dishes are usually enough for two to three meals. Split an entrée, take half of the meal to go or have an appetizer as your meal. When eating fast food, do not order anything that is jumbo, giant, deluxe or super-sized. Better yet, opt for a junior-size or kids-size item.

Limit alcohol. Alcohol often has no nutritional value and is full of calories.

Ressource: healthlinerx.org