In Reply to: low carb/sugar in bali posted by tanglewood on Sunday, 20. January 2008 at 18:35 Bali Time:
My wife suggested I post this as I'm type 2 and kept good BGL (with one problem). This is a bit late after good dinner so please excuse if cryptic. Firstly - the comments posted so far are excellent. Advice following is subject to disclaimer - advice is of general nature - don't know your specifics, check with your Doctor for your situation. There - that's over with.
1. Make sure you get your extra test strips for your meter before you leave. It is the only sure way to know how you are reacting.
2. Metformin can be got over the counter here at very reasonable generic price from an "apotik". Although one can go up to 3000 mg pr day this can cause GI irritation as side effect - not good in Bali. However, remember this option is available for short term situations.
3. Swimming pools here give an ideal opportunity to manage BGL and change adipose/muscle ratio. 1 hour gentle movement in a pool morning and night (forget all that thrashing about) will be as effective at lowering blood pressure and BGL as anything else. One thing you will come to notice, however, is that it is extremely rare for people to stay in the water. They bake and then cool off, but rarely use it to relaxedly move. This gentle movement in one hour blocks is surprisingly tiring if you are not used to it. Forgive your body and enjoy extra naps.
4. If you are a hobby exerciser then "L-Men" high protein for Men is a "relatively" inexpensive low carb protein supplement available in the powdered drinks section of the supermarket. Serious body builders pay a lot more but then they wouldn't take my advice anyway.
5. The "Yummy" brand of yoghurt has natural unsweetened in both full cream and skim versions. It's not bad actually and can be used to add to mid morning/afternoon down periods while keeping GI health intact. Don't forget Yakult, but it has a small amount of sugar.
6. If you can find a good quality Balinese restaurant they can make things specially for you. In Sanur we go to Oasis which kept one cook trained at the old Corridor restaurant (now gone). They do a fragrant gentle chicken betutu with 24 hours notice. I see you are looking at Satays and similar. Unless you are eating a lot of Satay sauce the total carbohydrate load is low even with a little sugar in it.
7. Around areas like Sanur (which I know better) there are other cuisines too, so your body gets variety. Tonight we went to Arena near McDonalds in Sanur because we were told the locals eat there and the food is good. Well, that's true, but by locals I think they mean expatriate locals because the food is very European - I suspect the Security guard is really there to prevent the smuggling of Chilli into the restaurant. This does give really good Caesar salad or ribs, however.
8. Look at the AUD price of your meal and in many cases it will be worth ordering two mains and leave the rice. I know this seems extravagant and all the worst of foreign tourism - but it's your health at stake (or steak - oops sorry - it's late OK). The Balinese won't worry, it's the other tourists, so ignore them and look after yourself.
9. For emergency snacks check out "Black Canyon" coffee chain. They usually have some part air conditioned as a bonus, and the prices are pretty good. They have chicken (the lemon grass chicken is good, but has skin - depends on your diet as to whether or not it's OK). They are used to no sugar requests.
10. Watch all packets. All those healthy looking fruit teas are really prepacks. Look for "Gula" (sugar) in the list of ingredients. Normal tea bags are easy to buy. After a swim I will have a prepack of Ginseng Coffee though (Kopi Ginseng) - low carbohydrate load and keeps the engine running even with a little sugar.
11. Take water, water, water. Aqua is a reliable local brand with a handy 1.5 litre bottle although imported waters are usually placed at the front. I keep the empty bottles and fill them from tap water. Add one aquatab water purifier or equivalent and leave 24 hours with occasional shake (easiest to get aquatabs in local chemist first but Apotek in bigger shopping centres will have. Stack up the bottles and you have water to spare for rinsing toothbrushes and making tea/coffee with just one boil of the jug. Boiling seems to remove most purifier taste. This is also an emergency supply if you run out of fresh bottled water. The purified water supply water is fine except for purifier taste. This leaves me with an attitude of water to spare so I feel free to use it - and use it diabetics must.
OK - hop off soap box. Hope that helps (if the rant didn't put you to sleep).