Ralphie instructions
Do not let the “doctor” or observer see the patient scenario if you are the Ralphie.
You are a 50 year old builder. You came to see your GP because you had been feeling very tired for about 2-3 months. You had put this down to age but your wife, Mary had “nagged” you to see the doctor. The GP arranged some blood tests.
Last week, you saw the nurse for the results and she said you have type 2 diabetes. She explained a bit about it and said you need a healthy diet.
You have no idea what a healthy diet is; you left school at 16 with no qualifications. You do eat bananas and fruit muffins as well as apple pie so you think these are healthy. Your wife does all the cooking at home and makes your lunch up for you. You’re not a big reader and don`t like using a computer so you haven’t been on the website the nurse recommended.
The nurse also said some things about carbohydrates and protein but apart from meat being protein you have no idea what a carbohydrate or anything else is. You know that diabetes is something to do with sugar but you`re not a big fan of cakes anyway and you have stopped taking sugar in your tea since last week.
Your job is very physical and you need to keep up the calories but the nurse has advised you to lose about a stone. She has said that the blood test shows your sugar is “a bit up” and diet will help it. You have a friend who lost his leg through diabetes so you don`t want that to happen. You smoke and drink a few beers at the weekend only.
The nurse asked you to bring a diary of what you eat so Mary has written it down for you. You may show this to the medical student before you see the nurse.
Your typical working days diet.(written by wife)
Get up 6am cup of coffee, no time for breakfast. Get van ready. Arrive work 7.30am. Start work. 9.00 am break have breakfast from burger van 2 sausages in a roll or local café “full English”.
Break 11am yorkie bar.
Lunch 12.30 sandwiches from home. 6 slices white bread and butter with either meat paste or cheddar cheese. Just started using diabetic chocolate spread on his sandwiches (but he is not keen on it) Banana and kitkat. Sometimes a pot noodle
Snack mid afternoon blueberry muffin
Evening meal
Chicken Kiev/ or meat pie/or steak/or beef burgers with chips, frozen peas and carrots.
Pudding not usually but at weekend’s vienneta ice cream or apple pie with squirty cream on a Sunday.
Supper, white crust of bread and butter with small amount of cheese.
Drinks mainly tea with milk and now no sugar. May be 1 can of coke a day if out and about.