[DocTerry]

I am a type 2 diabetic sucessfully using NPH and NovaRapid plus Metformin to control my diabetes.

NovaRapid should be injected 5-10 minutes before eating. This is quite easy at home, and even in restaurants. However, when cruising this becomes a problem.

For those who haven't cruised, the evening meal can easily take 90 minutes. I find it impossible to estimate within 10 minutes when the main meal will be served.

I wonder what other cruisers have done in these circumstances?

 

[Richard157]

I think I would test before the meal begins and if I was somewhat high, exercise nearby until the main course arrives. Just walking arond at a normal pace would help. When the main course arrives I would then take my bolus. I am assuming there is not many carbs in the food you have eaten before the main course. With an insulin pump it would be much easier. Pushing buttons and delivering insulin for each part of my meal separately would work best.

I get sea sick very easily so I never take a cruise or even a row boat on a calm lake. Lol!

 

[DocTerry]

I think I would test before the meal begins and if I was somewhat high, exercise nearby until the main course arrives. Just walking arond at a normal pace would help. When the main course arrives I would then take my bolus. I am assuming there is not many carbs in the food you have eaten before the main course. With an insulin pump it would be much easier. Pushing buttons and delivering insulin for each part of my meal separately would work best.

I get sea sick very easily so I never take a cruise or even a row boat on a calm lake. Lol!

Thanks. I understand that you have never cruised, if you had you would realize that this is not practical. Imagine a dining room with 700+ diners; sometimes very formal, and the tables are closer together than in a regular restaurant.

What I have been doing is eating the starter, and then guessing when the main meal will arrive and take my shot at the table -- which has other guests whom I have not previously met -- through my shirt.

I guess I was hoping for someone to say "Ah! I had that problem, and here's what I did....." Oh, well, thanks for trying to help.

 

[jswede1149]

Have you spoken to the cruise line about this situation? I am cruising in December and they've made special arrangements.

 

[DocTerry]

Have you spoken to the cruise line about this situation? I am cruising in December and they've made special arrangements.

No, I never thought of that. Do you know what special arrangements they make? All they do for me is provide a disposal container for my needles. I know that they also provide special diets, but I never bother with that.

The only sure-file solution is to eat ALL your meals in the buffet restaurant--but that removes one of cruising's great pleasures!

 

[jswede1149]

No, I never thought of that. Do you know what special arrangements they make? All they do for me is provide a disposal container for my needles.

Many work with dietary needs. I would call the cruise line, explain your situation, and see what they can do to resolve this issue. It is a communication issue. The kitchen staff knows when food will be served.

 

[Anthill]

Would the cruise line can tell you about the amount of carbs that is in the food as that would be a great help for us to calculate how much insulin to take. As for the food as it should be just like any other passenger that is on board the vessel. I would like to be on a ship as the south pacific is nice to look at.

 

[breezeonby]

I am a type 2 diabetic sucessfully using NPH and NovaRapid plus Metformin to control my diabetes.

NovaRapid should be injected 5-10 minutes before eating. This is quite easy at home, and even in restaurants. However, when cruising this becomes a problem.

For those who haven't cruised, the evening meal can easily take 90 minutes. I find it impossible to estimate within 10 minutes when the main meal will be served.

I wonder what other cruisers have done in these circumstances?

I don't cruise but I have a suggestion. I have gastroparesis and take my rapid acting insulin after I eat. My doctor suggested this method. I test before I eat to see what my blood sugar level is. If my blood sugar is over 100, I calculate how many units needed to bring my blood sugar down to 100, I need 1 unit for 5 points. I then add up my carbs and eat and then take my insulin. I have been doing this for 10 months and I have not had any lows during my meals. My last A1C was 5.7 so the little bit of time that my blood sugar may be high has not affected my A1C. The rapid acting insulin Apidra is designed to be taken before or after meals and a recent article in Diabetes Self-Management for Humalog states that it can be taken after meals. Gastroparesis is a condition where my food digests slower and one way to avoid lows during meals is to take rapid acting insulin after eating. You can check with your doctor about this, but it should not be a problem. This way you won't have to give yourself the novorapid until after you eat. And if you happen to eat more carbs you can adjust your dosage and cover the extra carbs. Since you don't cruise everyday, taking your rapid acting insulin after eating should not be a problem. Becky

 

[sami30]

I do not understand why you annoy yourselves !
Too bad if you are in hyperglycemia some minutes. You make your bolus when the meal is served. You are not going to let a noun spoil your cruise!

 

[Anthill]

I do not understand why you annoy yourselves !
Too bad if you are in hyperglycemia some minutes. You make your bolus when the meal is served. You are not going to let a noun spoil your cruise!

A holiday would be to be comfortable in interesting serounds and interesting foods that has some information in regards to Carbohydrates. There is nothing more disturbing than being irritable of a mismanaged dose of insulin.