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.

@travailtotravel is it this book? [https://smile.amazon.co.uk/Life-Without-Diabetes-definitive-understanding/dp/1780724098/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3INOEWLFL70WG&dchild=1&keywords=life+after+diabetes&qid=1617575643&sprefix=Life+after+dia%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1 link]

@PleaseStopExplaining that's the chap!

@73kittycat73 When I first started walking,I barely did 2 k.But I find with the Fitbit it pushes you on.
I easily do 11 or 12,000 steps a day now.
I do my big walk in the morning and exercise .
Then I potter for the day using the rest of my steps.
Also the stairs are great,I can run them now without killi g myself😅

I always challenge myself to run up the stairs I still can't get that many steps though, no idea how I could fit it in. Maybe if I didn't work or lived in a town.

@WreckTangled I read earlier in the year that going up and down the stairs 42 times a day was equal to 10k steps a day. I did have this crazy idea about doing that, but with my musculoskeletal issues I do have a habit of stumbling down the stairs unless I’m really careful, so gave it up as a bad idea!!!

I've done 11500 steps today! Feeling pretty pleased with myself. Hope I can keep it up...

Hope everyone had a nice day. It snowed a bit earlier but was sunny. Ridiculous seeing as it was so warm yesterday I got a burnt nose!

Thanks BorderlineHappy
Congrats on the steps WreckTangled! How's it going with the new regime?
I pigged Sunday night. Ran into one of my triggers and there was chocolate around...Still, did much better yesterday (Had bad cravings all day!) and feel better this morning.
My sports watch has synced but it's terrible for counting steps. It doesn't register some and registers more than I did on others. Still it's encouraging me to move so that's got to be a good things.
Off up the shop in a minute! Bit nervous about doing it on my own, but I'm sure I'll get right back into it.
Have a great day everyone, and good luck with your goals!

My watch counts loads of steps when I fold washing! It's annoying but I figure it evens out throughout the day. I'm finding it really good thanks, 1600 calories is a lot for me so I'll see how I go, find it hard to believe I'll lose any fat eating this much.

Good luck on your walk I'm sure you'll do great! I always want to eat loads the day after a slip and eating chocolate, it's very annoying.

Thanks for the luck. I did do it. That wind was bloody cold! Still, going to do the same tomorrow.
Thanks for the watch tip. I suppose it does even out. Mine says I have done 3115 steps today. (Was too embarrassed to post yesterdays, was under 1000 But I did have a rare day of not doing much.) ), so not bad for me. Will stick with this for a week then try and go up next week.
Let me know how you get on with your diet/calories. Is it particular food types you have to eat, like lots of protein, no dairy, etc? I hope today has gone really well for you.

Your step count today is really good! I'm usually on 3-5000 steps so I'm really having to make an effort, not sure how I'll be once I'm back at work after the Easter holidays will just have to wait and see. Anyway a gradual increase is what's best and anything is better than nothing.

I have the calories and then have to get 100g protein but otherwise can eat what I like, it's really good and I'm actually eating much more than before. Oh and six portions of fruit and veg.

I was going to go on a walk after dinner but it started snowing really heavily so I didn't bother but I found on YouTube there are workouts to help you get your steps in, basically stepping to music. Was quite funny I'm on 11k probably won't do many more today.

Thank you.
Did you say, 'Eat what you like...?' Sign me up please! lol I imagine though you want to use your calories wisely, and not just eat chocolate and pizza.
Snow! We had a few flakes but that was it. Congrats on the 11K! That's awesome! I'll probably have a few less tomorrow because I had the shopping delivered today and that was a few trips up and down the stairs (First floor flat.). Still, I am determined to go tomorrow!

@73kittycat73 Can i ask you about cpap.Do you find you have dry skin because of it and wake up with an awful dry mouth.

Im finding the cpap is marking my face around where it is at night.Its really annoying me.

Also did 10,380 steps today and did a big hill.Im knackered.

[quote BorderlineHappy]@73kittycat73 Can i ask you about cpap.Do you find you have dry skin because of it and wake up with an awful dry mouth.

Im finding the cpap is marking my face around where it is at night.Its really annoying me.

Also did 10,380 steps today and did a big hill.Im knackered.[/quote]
Hi BorderlineHappy I don't have a cpap, sorry. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea years ago by a dr, then moved cities and my new dr has never been interested. Told me the machine would be 'too clunky and make lots of noise,' and I 'didn't want that,' did I?
I do get a very dry mouth at night though so keep water by my bed.
Congrats on all those steps! I know it's not easy, but well done!

Anyone else experiencing serious lag tonight? Pages not loading either?

@BorderlineHappy I don’t use cpap but I have friends who are on it 24/7 they use dressings to provide a cushion, maybe ask your specialist or the nurse at the GP.

Hello all, hope everyone’s well! Well done for all the steps! Had a lovely walk on Easter Monday with our friend a five miler. Pottered around the house yesterday. Off for a short walk shortly and then an Occ Health appointment for my decrepit bones!!!

I'm going on a walk with ds in a minute. Already did a lower body workout. Dd is being lazy so staying home, no doubt she will eat all the things she isn't meant to

Went for my walk today. Cold, so cold. Brr. It's that wind! Hopefully won't be as windy tomorrow.
How is everyone doing today? I did have a step count but my silly watch/mobile decided to disconnect so lost all my progress. I saw I had around 2500, and I've done 263 after that, so not brilliant, but not too bad either.
Going to clean the oven later, that should use a few calories!

That's annoying about the watch! Well done in the walk, the wind is bitter isn't is? It really hurts your ears.

I'm going to get my 12k today I think. Ds and I went for a long walk this morning which was nice, until I tripped and fell over luckily no one saw and ds gave me a hug, he's so sweet. I also did a lower body work out. Tomorrow will be a rest day I think but I'll still try and get my steps. Sugar levels have been a bit on the low side so still need to work on that or I'll get my wrist slapped again by my nurse

Yes, very bitter! Good luck on your 12K! You can do it! Sorry you tripped over. Really hurts the knees doesn't it? Well done on the lower body workout too! Do you have a plans for your rest day? (Apart from all those steps.)
Just slathered the oven in cleaner. Going to give it 10 minutes, then I'm going in!

I've hit my 12k now. Just putting ds to bed then will probably fold some washing and go to bed!

Well done! Hope you have a restful night.

Weighed myself.Lost 3 lb,so that's 11 lb so far.
Couldn't have come at a better time,as I was feeling down the last few days
Felt like it wasn't working.

Congrats and well done BorderlineHappy! That's really good. Sory to hear you'd been down a few days. I'm glad your scale victory helped.

*Sorry