Finding your soulmate under the best of circumstances can be tough enough. When you have a chronic disease like diabetes, dating may become even more difficult.
Explaining to your date why you have to go to the bathroom to test your blood sugar before a meal, watch your carbs during dinner, or fuel up before a walk might be complicated. There’s a chance your date won’t understand.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t successfully date. Below are a couple of tips to make your dating experience more enjoyable and compatible with diabetes.
1. Express Your Needs
You will still have to manage your diabetes whether you’re at a concert, beach, or eating out at a restaurant. If an activity is too much for you to handle and you need a break, you should let your date know.
Try discussing restaurants that suit your dietary needs with your date. Restaurants serving only fried foods or a fixed menu may not meet your dietary requirements. If you choose to stay silent, you may be putting your health at risk, which is not worth it.
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2. Prepare for your Dates
Dating with diabetes may require some extra planning.
If you’re going out on an active date, like hiking or biking, bring some hard candy, juice, or another fast-acting carb in case your blood sugar starts to dip.
Manage your carbohydrate intake while you dine out. Managing your carbohydrate intake is one of the most important things you can do when managing your diabetes. However, don’t let this discourage you from trying out new restaurants. Try looking at menus ahead of time and being mindful of your carbohydrate portions, no matter where you eat or what you decide to order.
Try enjoying a salad as an appetizer. You may want to order an entrée of lean protein with lots of vegetables. Meals like these can