The type 1 diabetes charity JDRF and award-winning restaurant Smith & Wollensky have come together to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes – and make dining out much easier for those living with it.
People with type 1 diabetes love eating out like anyone else. But they face bigger challenges when doing so.
That’s why famous steak chain Smith & Wollensky has worked with JDRF to create a special version of its lunch and dinner menu for its London restaurant. It doesn’t have any items removed – because type 1 diabetes is not linked to lifestyle, and those living with it can eat the same balanced diet as anyone else.
The special menu instead displays the carbohydrate content, in grams, of each dish. But why?
JDRF’s Director of Fundraising, Dean Benton, explains: “Calculating the carbohydrate content of each meal is a vital and demanding part of daily life with type 1 diabetes.
“Those with the condition must inject insulin every day, just to stay alive. But it’s not just a simple case of injecting the same amount each time. When someone with type 1 diabetes eats any food with carbs, they must inject exactly the right amount of insulin to fit the amount of carbs in that particular meal.
“When eating out, this ‘carb counting’ is generally guesswork. But special carb-counted menus mean people with type 1 diabetes can spend a little less time managing their demanding condition, and more time enjoying their meal. Those with the condition will be delighted that Smith & Wollensky has made this kind move.”
As part of the relationship with JDRF, Smith & Wollensky, whose steak dishes are internationally renowned, has also generously announced that a proportion of the proceeds from the Seared Chilli & Garlic Shrimp dish will go to the charity, helping support vital research into type 1 diabetes.
JDRF funds research projects across the world working on treatments for type 1 diabetes and towards curing and preventing the condition.
Carbohydrate Counted Lunch Menu
Carbohydrate Counted Dinner Menu
About JDRF
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes research. Our mission is to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and its complications. To accomplish this, JDRF has invested more than £1 billion since our inception. We collaborate with the most talented minds to develop and deliver a pipeline of innovative therapies to people living with type 1 diabetes. Our staff and volunteers around the globe are dedicated to campaigning for our vision of a world without type 1 diabetes. For more information, please visit jdrf.org.uk or follow us on Twitter: @JDRFUK.
About type 1 diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, life-threatening condition that has a life-long impact on those diagnosed with it and their families. JDRF exists to find the cure for type 1 diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which cannot be prevented, and is not linked to lifestyle
- People with type 1 diabetes rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive, until we find the cure
- It normally strikes children and stays with them for the rest of their lives
- Type 1 diabetes affects about 400,000 people in the UK, 29,000 of them children
- A child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five faces up to 19,000 injections and 50,000 finger prick blood tests by the time they are 18.
