With my newly diagnosed status, I became more conscious of my food choices especially when it comes to eating out. I found it extremely difficult to have enough vegetables when dining out alone. Typical hawker food tends to be loaded with carbohydrates. The bulk of common one-dish meal is usually rice or noodle, e.g. Chicken rice, Wanton mee. 160-200g of rice/noodle with little meat (protein) and few measly pieces of vegetables, if any. The only exception is Yong Tau Foo where I get to choose more vegetables. Sometimes when I have the cravings for specific dishes like prawn mee or lor mee, I plan for the ‘cheat meal’ where I bring my own vegetable box (steamed broccoli or some tomatoes and cucumber). I may get some stares or strange looks but I have mastered the skill of being oblivious to them.

When it comes to bigger meals with family and friends, it is often a guessing game when the dishes are shared. What are the dishes ordered and how much am I going to eat of each? Sometimes it could end up in a situation where I have given myself a bit too much insulin for the meal when I do not really enjoy the food, but have to eat it up so as to prevent my blood glucose from crashing.