What do Belgian and Dutch diabetics eat in Thailand?
A few months ago I was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Not surprising news in itself, because I am not the only one: in the Netherlands alone, more than 1 million people have that problem. I live in Thailand and am in the company of another 4 million fellow sufferers.
There are strict conditions that must be met to live with type 2 diabetes. Of course, first and foremost take the prescribed medications, but sufficient exercise is just as important. Healthy eating is essential: no sugar and as few carbohydrates as possible.
The latter in particular was a big change in lifestyle for me. No sugar wasn't really a problem as I don't really have a sweet tooth. But you have to be careful in Thailand, because many products contain a certain amount of sugar, such as alcohol, soft drinks, fruit juices, so stay away! Carbohydrates may pose the greatest threat to type 2 diabetes. That means no potatoes (especially no fries), no rice, no pasta. As a Belgian or Dutch person, just solve that in your daily diet in Thailand!
I started looking for solutions on the internet and soon found the website www.Zievrijleven.nl. This website tells a lot about how you can adjust your lifestyle. Valuable recipes of dishes, although it should be noted that not all ingredients are available in Thailand. There are alternatives to potatoes, rice and pasta, for example, that are supported for videos. There are also many other videos from Ziektevrijleven about, for example, which type of bread, which fruit and which dairy products are best to eat. Highly recommended!
With the knowledge of this website I give an overview of what I eat and drink every day:
- A generous portion of Instant Oats (oatmeal) with buttermilk (from Foodland) in the morning
- In the afternoon some whole wheat sandwiches with cheese and sometimes a fried egg
- In the evening a hot meal with sometimes a piece of fish, pork or chicken, accompanied by a portion of lettuce or steamed vegetables. It can also be an omelet with cheese and vegetables or pasta made from lentils.
Now I'm curious about what other blog readers eat in my situation. I would like to see tips and recommendations for other products available in Thailand in the comments. I don't have much use for recipes, because I'm not a hero in the kitchen. Bring it on!
About this blogger
-
Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!
Read the latest articles here
IsaanJanuary 15 2025Chaiyaphum, also Isan
Food and drinkJanuary 9 2025The pomelo in Thailand
SightsJanuary 7 2025The caves of Pang Mapha
SightsJanuary 3 2025Phetchaburi, a brilliant diamond
I've had it half my life and eat and drink basically everything. I have type 1 and have to inject 3-4 times a day. Type-1 is considered the heavy version, but the advantage is that you cannot neglect it. In type 2, neglect threatens, which often causes the effects to be more serious, not the disease itself.
You simply need carbohydrates, without carbohydrates you will eventually die. I see some whole wheat sandwiches in your diet and that is of course fine.
'Older' doctors do indeed say: no sugar, but that is outdated.
By the way, I'm not saying this as a doctor.
complete nonsense Erik, I had diabetes2 myself and was 145 kilos and could not walk further than 2 meters for 25 years. Until I came to Dr. Ken Berry's YouTube website and switched to the Carnivore diet, after which a world opened up for me after 2 months. I walk again and after 1 year I currently weigh 95 kilos, my glasses were 3.5 and are currently 1.75, so clearly better visibility, high blood pressure from 189/129, now 125/85 and after the last blood test it turned out that my Diabetus has disappeared.
I walk for 1 hour every day in the morning and evening for exercise and do moderate weight training and rowing on a rowing machine.
youtube Dr.Ken.Berry and everything will become clear to you Gringo and in 1 year you will be the gentleman again.
success
Every person is different from a medical perspective. Your 'resume' is quite different from mine. It's good that you are doing much better now, but to accuse me of 'utter nonsense'...
You're right, Eric, even without knowing the details of your disease 'CV', the big difference is in the diagnosis of type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Type-1 is completely different from the type-2 patients discussed here. Professionals often talk about “metabolic syndrome” or “hyperinsulinemia”. This form of type 2 DM often responds quickly and spectacularly to changes in diet and lifestyle, especially if the patient is extremely overweight. Type 2 diabetes with metabolic syndrome has become a common disease and you wonder why if it is so easy to cure, as becomes clear in the messages you read here. The solutions are clear and simple, but the big problem is getting patients to do it and stick with it. Addictive behavior as Philippe (see below) indicates plays a major role and if we manage to break through this, much has been gained. It is clear that type 2 diabetes is a complex problem that cannot be reduced to just one cause (such as a lack of fiber in the diet or too many carbohydrates) and simple solutions for everyone (such as the carnivore diet).
I have been diabetic for 10 years, take metformin and diamecron. I check my glucose levels 3 to 4 times a day. I adapt my lifestyle accordingly. Get up at 6am and drink coffee latte first. Usually my sugar is around 110. In the morning bread with jam or peanut butter, piece of fruit such as mango. Sometimes fried egg. At 10 o'clock again late with a cookie. Hot food in the afternoon. Depending on my meal, I take 1 or 2 metformin after dinner. Be careful with spaghetti or rice. Afternoon tea with cookie. In the evening 2 slices of bread with toppings. I have to say, in the morning I clean the pool and the cooler water causes your sugar levels to drop sharply. I can usually do without metformin in the morning. I also go swimming in the afternoon, so around dinner I have to be careful that it doesn't get too low. Checking yourself is very important. Also make a note in the beginning. You will automatically get into a routine. Also be careful when driving that it doesn't get too low. Regular living is very important. This means I can actually eat almost everything in moderation
Dear Grringo, I also have problems, not with diabetes, but more with my weight. Carbohydrates are also disastrous for my diet and I know how to cut back on them. My problem is a nice glass of wine and I know all too well that it is also disastrous for a weight-loss diet. Thank you for your advice and reference to the website http://www.ziektevrijleven.nl
I am also a type 2 diabetic. In Belgium I pay close attention to my diet and strict intake of medication (insulin). When I am in Thailand, I am forced to drastically reduce my insulin because my blood sugar level drops very low. However, I eat almost everything, so you can perfectly eat some rice, noodles, etc., in combination with chicken, fish, seafood ... I try to eat as little fried things as possible, because Thais do that eagerly, but I prefer grilled ones. Affairs. Of course, just like here, no sugary drinks or cloying desserts; Even if you order something at a restaurant, just ask them not to add sugar to their wok. Look into which sauces contain the most sugar, Pad Thai for example, which contains a lot of sugar and avoid them. Drinking a lot of water, a Chang now and then is no problem. According to the endocrinologist here, a warm climate is beneficial for your blood sugar levels. Conclusion: for me, Thai food and the climate are a blessing.
I have had type 6 sugar for about 2 years now and use methormine twice a day and just eat everything alone, I don't add extra sugar anywhere and my sugar remains stable
The best thing you can do is always cook or prepare the food yourself, if you see how much sugar is used in Thai dishes, it will never be a good idea to eat it as a diabetes patient. Or not to mention the fried dishes….
I almost always cook myself and leave out all sugars in my recipes, I am not a sweet tooth... what I use for sugar is replacement sugar and then I take Monkfruit, which is a healthy replacement.
I also buy a lot on Lazada under Keto products, there is so much of it for sale.
Dear,
I have had type 35 diabetes since I was 2, I had 14,5 Hb1ac.
On the advice of countless doctors, I also wanted to eat “healthier” like you, my conclusion and that of the doctors was that their diet was taking me from bad to worse, the foods you mentioned were extremely bad for me, oatmeal, oats, whole wheat bread etc..
I can only speak for myself that the diet and the diabetes diet had the opposite effect in my case.
I have completely changed course and still eat a maximum of 5 grams of carbohydrates per day, I eat carnivore.
In my case, carnivore means only meat and eggs.
After 2 hellish weeks of "sugar withdrawal symptoms" this completely turned into a great feeling, after 30 days I had lost 11 kilos, after 60 days 15 kilos, and that continued until I lost 30 kilos, which I was surprised by, without some hunger.
I usually eat once a day.
I have been able to stop taking my 2500mg Metformin, my blood pressure medication has ended up in the trash and I swim for 2 hours every day without any problem.
I can only say for myself that the diet tips I received in Belgium and Thailand did not help me at all.
Can I advise you to try the carnivore diet? Lots of fat, lots of protein, I feel like superman now after years of misery.
Good luck in advance
Warning!
The carnivore diet and any form of strong carbohydrate restriction can be dangerous in the following cases:
a. During treatment with insulin or strongly blood sugar lowering medications such as SGLT2 inhibitors. There is a threat of a serious hypo (hypoglycemia). In this case, switching to carbohydrate restriction is only possible if you know exactly what you are doing and careful blood sugar control. I strongly advise not to do this on your own, but under the guidance of a diabetologist and/or specialized dietician.
b. In case of reduced kidney function, chronic kidney damage or certain types of kidney stones. The high protein content leads to increased excretion of end products of protein breakdown. This places an additional burden on the kidneys and the risk of so-called ketoacidosis. In these cases, please consult the treating physician carefully about the options available.
I would also like to emphasize the positive effect of this nutritional system on obesity and increased blood fat levels in connection with type 2 diabetes. Just by significantly reducing obesity, exercise (2 to 3 times a week, at least 30 minutes of sweaty exertion), a healthy diet and stress management are 90% of type 2 diabetes patients can be cured.
The carnivore diet can (temporarily) support this.
The extent to which this is sustainable and healthy in the long term remains unclear because insufficient recognized research has been done on this and we have to make do with individual reports of experience.
I would like to make the following more or less philosophical comment:
It is often argued that this diet is the most natural because ancient humans did not have carbohydrate-rich foods and consumed a lot of meat (Paleo diet, etc.).
They were served with a diet that allowed them to function optimally (as “superman”) in their short time of life.
However, the current human being is on average much older, has different lifestyle habits and the question is whether a protein-rich diet fits in well with that. Many bodybuilders who have done well on this diet for decades get problems at an older age.
If you forget the way home after your visit to the gym, this is a bad omen.
Hi John,
What you wrote is completely correct.
My only diabetes medication was Metformin.
Kidneys, liver and other organs are still in excellent condition.
That carnivore was the first radical step to get a chance at a healthy BMI and, in my case, to be able to do it again without medication.
Even without my medication, I am theoretically no longer a diabetic, but I am also convinced that you almost always remain diabetic.
I have now actually switched to KETO, but my diet is still 90% animal-based, so I hope to find a healthy balance.
“Even without my medication, I am theoretically no longer a diabetic, but I am also convinced that you almost always remain diabetic.”
This is a remarkable observation and the question arises: what is actually “health” and what is “disease”? You have switched to different dietary habits and more exercise, which means that your morbid excess weight disappears, your blood pressure and blood glucose normalize, your condition improves, and you say you feel like “superman”. I think you are then in a healthy balance. You probably mean that the diabetes will come back if you go back to your old lifestyle and eating habits... but why would you?
The YouTube video of disease-free living recently showed that we have been eating less and less fat for a long time. This means that a lot of flavor disappears. To give the food some taste again, sugar products are added. This way we eat less fat, because that is “healthy”.
The comments above are actually funny to read. It now says exactly what people say about disease-free living. Gerardus' reaction is certainly very recognizable. Just about everything he writes is exactly what you shouldn't do.
I give the youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRSO_qdmfzU
You can subscribe to this video yourself if you want.
What is wrong with my lifestyle? I feel comfortable with it. My glucose levels range from 70 to 125. Seems like a good value to me. Take an average of 1000 to 1500 metformin. I recently had an annual check-up and the doctor is very satisfied. All important values are within the standards. So I don't see any problems
Hi
For the carnivore dieters, can you name some products to eat or is it any steak, can cheese and eggs also?
Hi Jan,
My first 90 days were beef steak, ground pork, bacon and eggs.
For example, day 1, 1kg steak + 4 eggs
Day 2, 1kg bacon + 8 eggs
Day 3, 1kg minced pork with 2 eggs added.
It is remarkable that since carnivore I usually only eat once a day.
Since I reached my target weight and without medication, I now eat vegetables and some fruit every day, about 10% mainly green vegetables, avocado and berries.
I hope to be able to systematically bring the percentage of vegetables to a realistic level.
I swore off rice, bread and potatoes unless it was on an exceptional occasion.
Good luck and above all be careful. Best under medical supervision.