Diabetic and No meat Fridays

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This is my first lent as a type 2 diabetic, and I am a little freaked out. I’m not supposed to eat anything with breading, no potatoes, no pasta, and frankly, I’m not sure what I can eat. Most of the fish is breaded and fried. I do see one fish fry that is a considerable distance from me that has baked fish, so that is an option, but this is served with french fries.

Granted, if I stay home, I can avoid eating meat and stay within my dietary guidelines, but what if I am out and don’t have the option to eat at home? Am I relegated to sin if it is not good for my health?
 
My blood work showed pre diabetes so I’m on a similar but not as strict diet. As I understand it for certain health conditions you are allowed to eat meat and forgo the abstinence. I don’t eat out though so I just get unbreaded fish at the store and bake it. Since that can get expensive sometimes I’ll have pancakes which are filling and then try not eat the rest of the night.
 
Pancakes are loaded with carbs, which raise the blood glucose, so I couldn’t do that.

It just seems that almost everything at a fish fry is really unhealthy if you think about it. Almost all stuff is friend, loaded with carbs, etc. Yes, fish is healthy, but with the heavy breading and oils and gobs of french fries, sure they taste great, but if it sends my blood glucose over 300, I struggle with how to eat on Fridays in lent.
 
Yeah I figured pancakes wouldn’t be good for your diabetes. I’m not quite there yet so am not as restricted. Maybe if you eat out and get unbreaded fish you could get a different side other than fries.
 
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The only vegetables I have seen at a fish fry are french fries.
 
I tried to follow the much stricter Lenten fast as an Orthodox Christian and a Type 1 diabetic. My spiritual advisors always reminded me to try to remember the spirit of fasting (that it’s not a legalistic thing) and to do what I thought best for looking after myself and my health. I mean no offence, but avoiding meat for one day seems pretty doable if one is prepared.
 
I think there are ways to adhere to your dietary restrictions while still abstaining from meat. I don’t think that you get a pass.
 
Do I “HAVE” to go to a fishfry, no, but my in-laws are insisting tonight that we go to one. Last lent it was the same thing. Each Friday they wanted to try a different one. I want to support our local churches, but it’s hard to do with what they have on the menu.

If someone had baked fish with vegetables, yes, I could do that, but I have only found one in our diocese and it is over an hour drive. They also do not offer vegetables (well, they offer fries which are potatoes which are loaded with carbs).
 
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Let not your heart be troubled! I do not see this as a spiritual or Lenten problem, but a medical situation which applies every day of your life. Type II here as well. What are your blood glucose readings? If they may be kept in check by oral pills or injections, then you may compensate for any sugar/carbs you eat. You technically can eat anything if you inject the proper insulin to keep glucose in check; as long as the glucose is kept in check. Now, depending on your situation, that may not be prudent, but it shows that a recent diagnosis of diabetes is not the panic that it once was.

As well, I do not know your condition, or the reasons for it, but if doctor is trying to provoke your pancreas to wake up (post steroid use or other treatment) then medical advice is necessary for your recovery and continuing health.
  1. Call doctor/nurse for guidance.
  2. Go to the American Diabetes Association and poke around for valuable information.
Lent should be a quiet, reflective, sacrificial time of experiencing our Lord’s journey in the wilderness. Where we can, I think that excluding all forms of anxiety will deepen our spiritual experience.
 
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flintlock said:
but what if I am out and don’t have the option to eat at home?
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Salmon salad? Or Greek salad (cheese no meat). Or Veggie salad. Does your physician oppose.you eating any of these salads?
My mom has/had diabetes. The whole point was to eat in small amounts and avoid oil.and sugars. There were no restrictions about forbidding no-eating periods of time during the day (aka fasting). So uf mom went to a restaurant and the only food available was oily and filled with sugar, not eating anything would be acceptable and not eating is acceptable for the Church’s fasting rules as well. I fail to see how fasting is opposing the diet of a person with diabetes.
 
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You need to be guided by your doctor on this. Do what he or she advises.

We are not to give out any advise of this sort which could severely affect your medical condition.
Having a medical condition can negate the requirement to fast according to the requirements of the Church, so you will NOT be sinning in any way if you cannot fast
 
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Boca burgers are a great replacement for meat. Just make sure to add all the usual toppings
 
We are not this person’s medical health professionals and cannot give advice here. Any advice given besides ask your health team could be detrimental to a diabetic.
 
If you want to go to a fish fry, you can go to any one you like and scrape off the breading. You can also ask for double coleslaw instead of French fries, or just skip the fries.

I’m a Type I diabetic, and the dietary restrictions that have been placed on you (? maybe they’re voluntary?) sound concerning and unsustainable. Real life includes reasonable social eating, and diabetes doesn’t have to get in the way of that. This is your first year, so I understand it’s overwhelming right now; once you’re feeling up to it, you might consider finding some additional education. Carb counting will enable you to live a normal life, just with a little more work.

If you can get to a Joslin Center for Diabetes - I know of one in Syracuse, NY and another in Boston, MA - they’re very good for education.
 
If you and family are out and about visiting parishes offering fish fries, bring a tuperware container of your own food and enjoy the visit.
 
Pull the breading off and just eat the fish… pass on the fries. There might not be any good vegetable options though. Even cole slaw - would have sugar in it. Would be good if one of the fish fries you went to offered green beans or broccoli!

(Hopefully your in-laws understand your new dietary stipulations of Diabetes and want to help you - not hinder you! Maybe bring your own veggies?)
 
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