If type 2 diabetic, is it okay to eat a sugary "cheat-meal" once a week (i.e. McDonald's McFlurry)?
neely47
Posts: 30 Member
Let's say for the rest of the week, the diet is on point and healthy (low carbs, high protein, lots of veggies, etc), and the diabetic is exercising regularly. Is it okay to have one "cheat meal" per week? For example, a McDonald's Mcflurry, or a can of soda, or white rice/pasta,, etc just once a week as a "reward"?
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Replies
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While I don't believe in "cheats" (I either consume it or I don't), I don't see the problem as long as it doesn't affect your blood sugar horribly. My dad has been diabetic for 21 years and still has rice/pasta regularly.2
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As a type 2 myself it won't kill you but why waste a good long term goals for a small short term treat.11
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I’m going to say no to the McFlurry and the sugar soda. If you don’t believe me, test two hours after the “reward”. The sleepy feeling of syrup for blood is no reward to me.
I could doctor the rice with a creamy curry and steamed spinach and I’m betting the blood sugars would stay just fine.
If you are missing sweet, stick to a piece of fruit or an artificial sweetener.
Over a decade type 2 and I had no nerve damage in my eyes. Continued health was my reward.22 -
Let's say for the rest of the week, the diet is on point and healthy (low carbs, high protein, lots of veggies, etc), and the diabetic is exercising regularly. Is it okay to have one "cheat meal" per week? For example, a McDonald's Mcflurry, or a can of soda, or white rice/pasta,, etc just once a week as a "reward"?
What does your doctor say?
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I’m going to say no to the McFlurry and the sugar soda. If you don’t believe me, test two hours after the “reward”. The sleepy feeling of syrup for blood is no reward to me.
I could doctor the rice with a creamy curry and steamed spinach and I’m betting the blood sugars would stay just fine.
If you are missing sweet, stick to a piece of fruit or an artificial sweetener.
Over a decade type 2 and I had no nerve damage in my eyes. Continued health was my reward.
The issues for us as T2 are more than just weight gain. We also need to remember long-term damage like retinopathy, neuropathy, and more. Diabetes is systemic -- meaning it affects the whole body, and everything going on inside to keep us alive. We have to pay attention to a lot more than just the scale.10 -
I wouldn't drink my calories in a sugar laden soda pop. There is no nutrition whatsoever in a soda.
Have you ever watched "My 600 Pound Life", and seen how many of these super morbid obese patients have lots of sugary pops and juices around them to drink?
Many are bed bound by their weight, and still they take in enormous amounts of calories in their beverages along with their poor food choices.
Every bite and every sip, is like a hit to a drug addict.
Drinking your sugar day in and day out leads to no good as far as most peoples health goes.
Eating a piece of fruit is a better choice for your mind and body. Save the pop for a hypoglycemic attack.23 -
I’m going to say no to the McFlurry and the sugar soda. If you don’t believe me, test two hours after the “reward”.
This. If you want to find out if it's "OK", check your blood sugar two hours after and see what it does.
I'm a type 1, and I know I wouldn't want to deal with the bolusing to make that amount of sugar work -- liquid sugar always hits me hard and fast -- but other people may be more relaxed than I am.
Rice and pasta, sure. But that's because they're pretty easy to carb count for, and I'm type 1, so the insulin matching is on me.
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How about talking to your doctor and following his/her advice?7
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The thing about chronic conditions is that the doctor can’t be around for daily routine decisions. Diabetics must be their own best advocates.9
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I was taught for acute care, follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter (finish the antibiotics, come back in six weeks for cast removal).
For chronic conditions however, self management decisions could be hourly (will the egg or the apple better balance my sugars this morning? One puff or two for my shortness of breath?) There is no doctor who can be on call that frequently.
https://www.selfmanagementresource.com/programs/small-group/chronic-disease-self-management6 -
I’m going to say no to the McFlurry and the sugar soda. If you don’t believe me, test two hours after the “reward”. The sleepy feeling of syrup for blood is no reward to me.
I could doctor the rice with a creamy curry and steamed spinach and I’m betting the blood sugars would stay just fine.
If you are missing sweet, stick to a piece of fruit or an artificial sweetener.
Over a decade type 2 and I had no nerve damage in my eyes. Continued health was my reward.
I agree. It's probably a bad idea. Testing repeatedly the next 24 hours after a sugary binge will reflect that.1 -
The thing about chronic conditions is that the doctor can’t be around for daily routine decisions. Diabetics must be their own best advocates.
In this case, the OP is asking a bunch of people on the Internet if it is okay to have a McFlurry or similar on a weekly basis, if their diet is "on point" the rest of the week.
To me this is a question that looks to be an ongoing situation and direction would be better obtained from the doctor who is familiar with the OP's particular circumstances.12 -
My brother is T1 since birth and he eat both pasta/rice and have a cheat day were he eats pretty much whatever he wants and it works just fine. Only thing i would recommend to skip is the sugary soda.0
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andreascjonsson wrote: »My brother is T1 since birth and he eat both pasta/rice and have a cheat day were he eats pretty much whatever he wants and it works just fine. Only thing i would recommend to skip is the sugary soda.
T1D and T2D are very different problems. If a T1D has the extra sweets and takes the appropriate insulin, he may not get elevated blood glucose. A T2D will be dealing with elevated blood glucose for a day afterwards.6 -
I would say probably not. if you didnt have diabetes that would be one thing. but I dont think I would want to risk the after effects of eating said mc flurry if I was a type 2.a can of soda would be ok if its diet and the artificial sweeteners dont cause you any issues(for some people it can). as for the pasta maybe if you have a small serving balanced out with some protein and fat you MAY be ok. but its up to you if you want to take a possible risk or not and have to deal with the consequences later.0
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What happens to your blood sugar? Next day and A1C?
My husband is very loose on his diet. He eats ice cream and cookies, potatoes and rice. He has been type 2 diabetic for 15 years or so. He takes Metformin which keeps his blood sugar levels quite stable. Morning test after eating dessert he is usually right where he is supposed to be. His A1C is always good. He may be doing long term damage to his body, but he considers it worth the risk. I doubt his doctor would agree.3 -
I am T2D and I will occasionally cheat - but only when I have a hard workout that will help burn the extra sugars. Also, I know exactly what foods my body does OK with and which to avoid due to religiously logging and taking my blood sugar levels after meals for the past year and a half since my diagnosis. For me, French Fries and a small regular Coke on a hard workout day is fine - all my levels are good that day and the following. But a tablespoon of Nutella on a graham cracker half sends my levels through the roof, no matter how hard I work out. I am very cautious, and only cheat when I work out hard, with foods I know are not going to give me huge spikes. Work with your doctor and use the tools you have to learn what foods are ok as a cheat and what should always be avoided.9
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If you're going to give in to a McFlurry, have it in combination with food that has some fat, fiber and protein, to help slow down the sugar processing.6
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You are right soda and all that sugar it's not good for you it's not nutritious it is empty calories.
I'm diabetic and I've been having one or two sodas a month sometimes every other month but I'm going to make a commitment today you hear me cuz I really love soda lol this day forward I'm going to do my best to never touch another soda I drink water most of the time now and every once in a while Little tea. But I'll try from now on nothing ever touch it again. I really want to be healthy not just to lose the weight but to be totally healthy. I wish you the best in ,with your diabetes and trying to get everything under control.2
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