Disney World with Diabetes

I am a type 2 diabetic and have to really watch the carbs. Since I’m not on insulin I have to control my disease with diet, exercise, and oral medication. Disney World can be a challenge as it offers quite a lot of tempting treats and meals that may not be appropriate for a diabetic. There is an excellent article on All Ears Net that relates to Type 1 diabetics. There are many tips for the insulin dependent and some of them work for the non-insulin dependent as well. Here is the url: http://allears.net/pl/diabetes.htm#9 It is an often amusing and informative article.

I will give you a few tips that are not included in the article that I’ve garnered over my many trips to Disney World.

Most of the quick service restaurants now offer a no sugar added dessert with their combo meals. At the ABC Commissary at Hollywood Studios, they have a tasty no sugar added Strawberry Parfait. At the Electric Umbrella in Epcot, they have no sugar added chocolate brownie and I have seen this available at other sites as well from time to time. The bakery at Norway in the World Showcase has a delicious no sugar added Chocolate Mousse. The bakery on the Boardwalk offers no sugar added cheesecake. All of these are delicious! You can find sandwiches made with multi grain or whole wheat bread pretty much anywhere. There are candy shops that sell sugar free peanut butter cups and a few select sugar free candy options. They are expensive, but the peanut butter cup is big enough that you don’t even eat the whole thing in one sitting. At least I don’t. I have also bought sugar free gummy bears. There are also sugar free Mickey chocolate candy bars available in the resort gift shops. You have to of course be careful of the sugar free candy because it contains mailtol or other sugar alcohols which can have a laxative effect if eaten in abundance.

In addition to the specific items above, you can always ask at any restaurant if they have a sugar free or no sugar added option for dessert. I have also heard that you can ask the people at the ice cream carts if they have sugar free ice cream and if they don’t have it with them, they will send for some. I prefer to get a little cup of ice cream at Gertie’s, the dinosaur shaped concession at Hollywood Studios.

All in all, due to careful choices and lots and lots of walking around at the parks, I have not had any problems with diabetic control at Disney World. Actually, while some people complain that they gain weight at DW due to all the food choices, I usually maintain and sometimes lose a little weight while there because I’m basically exercising all day long and very careful of what I am eating.