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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why do hospitals do this

52 replies

Preparedforjobnottolast · 21/01/2023 17:55

So I’m a diabetic in hospital just wishing I’d kept the nil by month sign. I’m so glad I got rid of the drip not sure what was in that. There was some sort of syringe (so I thought I can cope with that) then this big bag of saline? appeared.

Gosh they kept pricking my finger every couple of hours, last reading was 10.6 so it’s even higher then normal, the first meal has err arrived, the choice of chicken or tuna sandwich on whole meal bread (top choice, full marks for getting fibre in) but pudding just blows my mind some sort of cold custard crumble with squirty cream - really should a diabetic be served this.

I’m petrified what is to come next.

Oh boy how much can people put on in hospital?

Can’t hospitals donate uneat food to the homeless or something?

Sorry I’m just lonely with a want to go home (only other patient on my side ward is an elderly lady who is recovering from her hip op to the point I asked my parents to go so we can get the zzz’s in at 6pm ad we’ll both have no visitors now and I’m home sick for the comforts of my flat.

OP posts:
Sukisal · 21/01/2023 17:57

Why have you got rid of a drip that was given to you by qualified medics? Or do you mean it’s been taken down by the medics?

this is all a bit strange and I expect only about 25% of the full story.

FTHC · 21/01/2023 17:59

Whenever I've been in hospital there's been a few options to choose from on the menu, usually fruit as a dessert choice.
Have you only just come off NBM so didn't have chance to fill a menu card in?

watchfulwishes · 21/01/2023 18:02

I'm sorry you're missing your home comforts. The food is awful, I agree.

But what are you doing with your drip? That sounds unwise!

AbreathofFrenchair · 21/01/2023 18:06

Preparedforjobnottolast · 21/01/2023 17:55

So I’m a diabetic in hospital just wishing I’d kept the nil by month sign. I’m so glad I got rid of the drip not sure what was in that. There was some sort of syringe (so I thought I can cope with that) then this big bag of saline? appeared.

Gosh they kept pricking my finger every couple of hours, last reading was 10.6 so it’s even higher then normal, the first meal has err arrived, the choice of chicken or tuna sandwich on whole meal bread (top choice, full marks for getting fibre in) but pudding just blows my mind some sort of cold custard crumble with squirty cream - really should a diabetic be served this.

I’m petrified what is to come next.

Oh boy how much can people put on in hospital?

Can’t hospitals donate uneat food to the homeless or something?

Sorry I’m just lonely with a want to go home (only other patient on my side ward is an elderly lady who is recovering from her hip op to the point I asked my parents to go so we can get the zzz’s in at 6pm ad we’ll both have no visitors now and I’m home sick for the comforts of my flat.

So the food iant good enough for hospital patients but it's perfectly suitable to be pushed onto the homeless?!

Why did you choose the pudding you did? Why not ask to swap it for something suitable.

If you are saying they are purposely feeding you food unsuitable food as a diabetic and its causing you harm, then don't eat it and report it to Pals. Ask your parents to bring in appropriate food for you.

strongallowed · 21/01/2023 18:10

In my hospital the money they receive to feed each patient is less than prisoners get and prisons aren't exactly known for nutrition either.

That said, there is a menu with options on for dietary requirements. Make sure you look at all the options.

And blame the government for cutting the budgets in hospitals. It wasn't like this 20 years ago.

FTHC · 21/01/2023 18:12

Also, first day of admission I've usually received the meal choice of the person whose bed you've been given, as you have to pick the day before.

Coffeecreme · 21/01/2023 18:13

do you have to eat the pudding?
can you ask for an apple?

Coffeecreme · 21/01/2023 18:13

presumably you are an adult who has freedom of choice in the food? yes to the sandwich, no to the pudding

Coffeecreme · 21/01/2023 18:14

use the opporutnity to rest op

Toddlerteaplease · 21/01/2023 18:15

Sounds like you are on sliding scale insulin. You need the drip and the syringe!

Toddlerteaplease · 21/01/2023 18:15

They can't discontinue that until you are able to tolerate food and fluids.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 21/01/2023 18:16

Quite often on the first day you get the person before you choice of food or if you're off ward the staff choose for you.

Hope you're better soon OP 💐

LIZS · 21/01/2023 18:16

@AbreathofFrenchair I think the point is that a diabetic with already high blood glucose is not going to be helped by high carb, high sugar foods. That food will now get binned. Relative found same with hospital meal choices even on a ward of patients with diabetic conditions.

Op is your admission diabetic related?

WetBandits · 21/01/2023 18:17

If you’re in hospital for help with your glycaemic control (which I suspect you are as the drip/syringe/2hrly blood sugar monitoring sounds like you were on a variable rate insulin infusion) then that is absolutely the treatment you should have had.

The pudding is 1) optional and 2) chosen by the patient, not just dished out willy nilly so I’m not sure why you chose it if you didn’t want to eat it? I’m sorry you’re unwell but you do have to take some responsibility for your own chronic condition.

WetBandits · 21/01/2023 18:18

Toddlerteaplease · 21/01/2023 18:15

Sounds like you are on sliding scale insulin. You need the drip and the syringe!

X-post!

AnotherNameChangeYes · 21/01/2023 18:26

really should a diabetic be served this

Im not sure what you mean by this. Are you type 1? As you should be able to eat most things as long as you carb count it, which you should know. Unless you can’t eat currently.

And yes it sounds like you’re on a sliding scale so what are you doing with your drip?

AlmostSummer21 · 21/01/2023 18:31

@WetBandits your assumptions are just that.

I was in hospital due to an accident, nothing to do with my glucose control.

I had 2hourly finger pricks. Drip, syringe and a fuck ton of tutting and constant pressure to go on permanent diabetic medication. They're fucking determined to get me in meds I don't need.

i am diet controlled and it's just fine on my very low carb diet. The hospital menu is NOT suitable for a diet controlled diabetic (especially a vegetarian one). I asked for salad, I might as well have asked for kittens on toast. The day they did have salad it was horrible and on a heated plate under a lid.

fruit is too Carby for me (other than berries) but if the food is vegetarian I'll eat it if I have no choice, but don't feed me constant fucking carbs then rant at me about 'my' glucose control.

Hospital is NO place to get well.

AbreathofFrenchair · 21/01/2023 18:33

LIZS · 21/01/2023 18:16

@AbreathofFrenchair I think the point is that a diabetic with already high blood glucose is not going to be helped by high carb, high sugar foods. That food will now get binned. Relative found same with hospital meal choices even on a ward of patients with diabetic conditions.

Op is your admission diabetic related?

The food being binned is the least of their worries if they are petrified about what food is coming next, which is weird in itself as you pick your own so they could pick something suitable. I'm assuming they didnt pick their meal as they didnt expect what was given, in which case they are implying the hospital is trying to feed them inappropriate food.

SBHon · 21/01/2023 18:36

The main aim of hospital food is to feed them, get them to eat. It’s not a perfect system, especially at first.

But if you’re going to be in for a while it is possible to get it all sorted and pick and choose from the menus (or off menu) to get food suited to your health. You might need to speak to someone as it takes a tiny bit of sorting out, when I was in it was a nutritionist. As you’re diabetic it might be someone in that specialism. Next time you speak to someone, ask them what you can do about the meal options.

LIZS · 21/01/2023 18:38

Relative found none of the meal options were low carb or low sugar though, which is counterproductive. Op has probably been served whatever was left over or available with little reference to their needs.

CoorieInByTheFire · 21/01/2023 18:41

I’m diabetic, from experience most choices like custard will be the (disgusting) sugar free stuff, and squirty cream is not an issue as you want fat to slow your absorption of the carbohydrates, it’s why insulin for pizza is such a headf**k to work out. If it’s OP’s first night then they won’t have had a choice of what to eat, they’ll just get whatever the previous bed occupant ordered.

OP if you are on sliding scale insulin you can eat freely. Drink plenty of water and don’t meddle with your drips.

If you’re not and you’re type 2 I’d ask your family to bring in suitable snacks, but you’ll have the option on the menu to choose more suitable food. As for double portions of the vegetable and protein options.

WetBandits · 21/01/2023 18:51

AlmostSummer21 · 21/01/2023 18:31

@WetBandits your assumptions are just that.

I was in hospital due to an accident, nothing to do with my glucose control.

I had 2hourly finger pricks. Drip, syringe and a fuck ton of tutting and constant pressure to go on permanent diabetic medication. They're fucking determined to get me in meds I don't need.

i am diet controlled and it's just fine on my very low carb diet. The hospital menu is NOT suitable for a diet controlled diabetic (especially a vegetarian one). I asked for salad, I might as well have asked for kittens on toast. The day they did have salad it was horrible and on a heated plate under a lid.

fruit is too Carby for me (other than berries) but if the food is vegetarian I'll eat it if I have no choice, but don't feed me constant fucking carbs then rant at me about 'my' glucose control.

Hospital is NO place to get well.

Even so, if you were nil by mouth after an accident (for surgery?) and you are diabetic, you still need assistance with glycaemic control as your body can’t do it itself, for which the treatment is variable rate insulin until you are able to eat and drink. You can of course refuse, but it would be unwise to do so.

Like I said, I appreciate and understand that you are unwell, but the aim in hospital is to get you better, and the treatments you have mentioned are nothing unusual or outside of guidelines.

AlmostSummer21 · 21/01/2023 19:16

WetBandits · 21/01/2023 18:51

Even so, if you were nil by mouth after an accident (for surgery?) and you are diabetic, you still need assistance with glycaemic control as your body can’t do it itself, for which the treatment is variable rate insulin until you are able to eat and drink. You can of course refuse, but it would be unwise to do so.

Like I said, I appreciate and understand that you are unwell, but the aim in hospital is to get you better, and the treatments you have mentioned are nothing unusual or outside of guidelines.

Show quote history

@WetBandits

then the guidelines need looking at! I'm not 'getting better' when the only available food is high carb

im not getting better when I'm being pressured to go on diabetic medication because the hospital isn't allowing me to control my diet.

im not getting better when I'm being patronised & pressured into medication I don't need & don't want.

neing spoken down to & treat like a naughty child doesn't help anyone get better.

Coffeecreme · 21/01/2023 19:21

who is the op @Preparedforjobnottolast

MyNameisMathilda · 21/01/2023 19:30

Coffeecreme · 21/01/2023 19:21

who is the op @Preparedforjobnottolast

Or @AlmostSummer21 ?

Regardless you have a voice so use it and tell them that in your situation you cannot have this and can they get you an alternative.