Self Medicating With Food...Diabetes, Support?

[73kittycat73]

Hi, I've tried to word/start writing this a few times, so I hope it comes out OK...But, today I have finally realized that I eat junk/sweet food to self medicate.
I have type 2 diabetes and have been 'getting away' with it for a while, but I'm starting to feel the effects of eating sweet food. If I eat chocolate before bed for example, I get terrible cramps in (Mainly my left) calf. Recently I have cut down on chocolate as it was making me feel like crap after eating it. I take depression and anxiety tablets and they make me tired so I thought it was them. However I have really noticed recently that eating it makes me so wiped out afterwards.
Today I was bored so ate a bit of cheesecake. Boy did I feel like shit afterwards. I was still feeling a bit rubbish a few hours later so I decided to dig out the old blood sugar testing kit. My blood sugars were17. In the dangerous category. (A non diabetic person should be between 7.1 to 10.0). It has given me a shake, and a wake up call.
I went to my Sainsburys delivery (Due Sunday.) and have taken all the sweet things out, including Pepsi Max. I drink 2ltrs of the stuff a day (I get 'cotton wool' mouth from the medications I take for depression/anxiety and just water does nothing.). I have read conflicting articles on whether Pepsi Max spikes your insulin so have taken them out my list too. I tried finding a decent drink that wasn't full of sugar or artificial sweeteners, I couldn't find any! So I have ordered some fizzy water and orange squash (With sweeteners.) to have it very diluted for some flavour.
However, like I said, it's only just clicked that I self medicate with food (Sweet stuff being the most.). I know I'll be back to craving even later tonight, or definitely tomorrow, so I was wondering if anybody would like to join me on cutting down on junk food. We could come on when we are craving, or just for some support generally. If you're doing it to loose weight that's fine too.
I hope I haven't gone on...I just wanted to be honest (With myself too.) and start a new, healthier, way of eating.

Oh @BorderlineHappy, hope your day improved. I always find that a lump of cheese helps xxx

Lovely six mile walk today. Weather has turned a bit though - but pleasant enough for walking.

Yes went for my walk this morning.So that brightened my mood.
And i have only had my breakfast and lunch so im having my dinner soon.
And im going to have a nice coffee and some dark chocolate after dinner.

I think its because im counting calories and the amount of calories in everything,just got me a bit down.

But i feel much better now.

I think you can look at your calories over a week rather than a day, so if you're having a hungry day and go 200 over today then it's not going to have a big impact over the week so not worth feeling disheartened by. Again I highly recommend the 0% Greek yoghurt with some skinny syrup. High protein, low carb and fair calories. I wonder if you can make ice cream with it 🤔

@WreckTangled I think its more to do with some food have loads of calories for the little bit you get.
If i was going to waste calories on them im better off having something nice.Something worth going over the odds for

Well, I would first like to say I don't appreciate being told I come across as a victim.
Just popped on quickly, will reply properly tomorrow. I have been painting all day and am shattered, planning on going to bed soon.
Thank you all who stood up for me, I appreciate it.

Hmm yes borderline completely get that! Sometimes it's just not worth it is it?

73kitty enjoy your early night. I'm trying to do my online food shop but it's coming it v v expensive Would be cheaper to buy a load of pasta.

Sounds like a productive day @73kittycat73. Have an early night and a good sleep. And don’t worry, you are so not a victim xx

Well that exploded but we seem to be on track. It's not low carb per see but If i have the carb cravings, i have made 20g oatbran with oat milk. Low ish cals. High fibre. Slow carbs. Tasty a d hit and 'feels' carby satisfying. My other I need satisfaction is cottage cheese. Good nutritionally, low cals, satisfying amount in a small bowl. I sex it up with pepper or chili and may try marmite stirred through it! I really try and stay away from sweet as it is like kryptonite- have some want more. I've started cleaning my teeth more so I want to eat less ( nothing goes well with minty fresh lol).

Two questions:

Does anyone know of a good “introduction to type 2 diabetes” book or site? I’m now thinking I need to learn more about how diabetes works, particularly with the risk of complications. I think some of what I thought was the risk is wrong.

Also, would I be better eating my main meal at lunchtime so I burn it off more? I’m doing 16:8 and eating two meals a day.

It doesn't matter what time you eat, whatever suits your lifestyle really. I think diabetes uk is good for explaining what's going on but I don't think much of their diet advice, diabetes.co.uk is better for that. I'm not sure about any actual books I'm afraid.

Hello everyone. Thank you for your kind words PaperMonster. Thank you to everyone that stood up for me yesterday. It really made my day. (((hugs)))
I was out all day yesterday repainting the fence. We now have pink fencing and a purple Shed. Looks a lot better than it sounds! lol
Is anybody having an Easter egg this year? I have one coming, but it's a big one! I'm going to try and not launch into it.

I've got myself a raspberry divine Easter egg. It's 30g carbs for the whole thing (70% cocoa). You can get higher cocoa content ones which I would have liked but they're ££££.

Pleased you got your painting done!

Loving the sound of your fence and shed! I’ve got some little Lidl eggs - I find Lidl chocolate tends not to increase my bloods. A raspberry divine one sounds, well, divine!!

Did a five mile walk yesterday and we’re off for another walk this afternoon but half of that will be through quite a rural town as OH has an appointment and daughter wants to visit the park there!

ooh, that egg sounds nice. You'll have to let me know what it tastes like?
Thanks about the painting. One last push today amd the garden should be done. Got to move some shingle, lay down a slab, do some painting and plant a plant (Fake one. ) and straighten up the trellis at the back.
I hope you all have a lovely day.

Oh, made a low carb cheesecake- it’s a bit rubbish!!

I've had the chocolate version of the egg before and really like it so I'm happy they do an egg version I've been for a walk this morning with dh, am on 6000 steps and the programme in starting tomorrow wants you to hit 12k a day on average

Oh, shame about the cheesecake. What flavour was it?
Good luck for your steps tomorrow WreckTangled. Well done on the 6k today!
I remembered I had a fitbit in my cupboard and went to charge it and nothing. Dead as a dodo. So I bought a cheap (£17.00) pedometer from Amazon, that has similar bells and whistles on. I haven't opened it yet, came about an hour ago. I'm looking forward to using it. It has an hourly buzz to remind you to move. That's good for me as usually of an evening I'm sat down for a couple of hours on the computer.
I must be getting into this walking thing because I bough some summer sandles yesterday especially to go walking in. Hopefully it'll be too warm for trainers!
Got most of the garden done. Just have to sort the trellis and plant the (Fake) plants. We're having a two day break though and back to it on Tuesday as tomorrow and Monday are supposed to be cold. Brr.

Oh good idea. Dh has a cheapo Amazon one and it works just as well. I have my sugar levels on my Fitbit which is why I went for this version. It's Monday my programme starts I'm all confused with the days! Haven't quite got to 7.5k steps today. I really have no idea how anyone does it.

I didn't realise FitBit did blood sugar levels. I think mine was only version 2 though.
Definitely Monday? Don't forget it's a bank holiday.
Just read another thread with a 16 stone lady taking up walking and someone on there said she started at 2.5k steps a day, went up to 5k, now aiming for more. I don't know how I'm going to get 2.5k steps in! lol You did well with 7.5k. That's really good.
Many good luck vibes with your programme, I hope you enjoy it. If not, I hope you get the results you want!

Definitely Monday well the Fitbit connects to my freestyle libre which reads my sugar levels with a little filament under the skin.

I was only doing around 4K steps a day so I've doubled them in the past week but I really don't know how I will find the time?! Also because we live so rurally we have to drive everywhere even my primary school dc get a bus to school so it's tricky.

Thank you for the good luck I'll see how I go. Also thinking about joining the gym but that's pretty scary...

It was a vanilla cheesecake @73kittycat73 - I had a recipe but no instructions and because it had an egg in I thought I better bake it. Had some more last night and it had improved with resting!! Not sure I’ll bother again though!!

Good luck with all the walking @WreckTangled!! We’re quite lucky in that we do have a really nice easy loop to do in our village which is about 10000 steps if you do it three times apparently!! I’ve been venturing over the fields more recently though. I’m going to do the loop later. Tomorrow a friend I’ve not seen for a year is coming over so we’re off over the fields again! Yesterday I did three miles around a nearby town.

Happy Easter! I hope you enjoy your eggs.
That's cool how you measure your blood sugar WreckTangled. Does exercise affect your insulin/diabetes? Very good luck with your steps and new regime.
Oh yes, that does sound tricky with no instructions PaperMonster. Glad it tasted better later! Well done on all your steps too! You're doing so well! I hope you have a wonderful time with your friend.

I ate my egg. Was delicious. Yes exercise affects it. Strength work outs make my blood sugar levels higher and cardio makes it lower about two hours later for four hours. It's taken me quite a few years to learn what works for me.

Met these fellas on my walk today

Wow, that's weird how strength training effects your BS. Glad you enjoyed your egg. I had about half of mine, and none of the extra KitKats with it, that's a first for me!
Lovely ponies there on your walk.
Trying to set up my fitness tracker. I think I should have listened to the 'ask a question' section. (Amazon.0 All the reviews were good, but the ask section were saying how bad it is and it doesn't connect. It did connect at first but now won't. I've got it on charge at the moment in case that helps as the actual watch kept turning off anyway. I hope I don't have to return it as my printer is broke and I can't print out the returns label.

Happy chocolate day, everyone. I said I'd 'come off the wagon' for a treat this weekend and I have. I learned that eating carbs now makes me super sleepy ( roast potato), I can only eat small portions now ( the much longed for lasange), I love Oppo ice cream DH doesn't ( win for me). I'm ok with dark chocolate, ,milk makes me spike so badly now with sugar. Lots of treats but no real damage done except for wine giving me a thick head lol. The road ahead looks much more manageable as a long term strategy.

@PleaseStopExplaining I highly recommend Life After Diabetes. I'd been T2 for 4 years and not really paying attention. A friend recommended it and a lightbulb went off. It talks about how it all works physiologically in really easy language. The author is a professor in Newcastle whose name escapes me but is responsible for lots of the most recent research that is transforming treatment plans. 3 months after reading it I'm 2.5 stone down and as you can see from post above, doing ok on low carb .