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.

Nice to have you Doing I am sure that you can get back to where you were it's really hard fitting the steps, I wish I had a treadmill so I could do it whilst not leaving the house

Hello everyone.
Hope you enjoyed your trip out PaperMonster. It's been freezing here most of the day. I've only just turned my heating off!
Ooh, a walk in a national trust park? I bet that would be lovely WreckTangled. How's your blood sugar today? I hope better than yesterday?
I'm going to blow my own trumpet here. I set a goal to do my walk everyday this week, and I've done it! My mental health usually squashes my goals but not this time. I did it! Didn't think I was going to get to do it today. I usually go about 12.30pm but I needed to help my mum with some admin that's taken all day. Did my walk at 6pm though. I quite enjoyed going at a different time today. Was cold, but no where near cold as it had been. Now looking foward to getting weighed on Monday (Then have my one treat, one of those new Magnum ice creams. )
Just out of curiosity, does anybody know how much sugar we can eat? I mean, I assume we'll be able to eat some? When I asked the nurse if I'll ever be able to eat chocolate again she said, 'Everything in moderation.' Like above, I'm having a little treat Monday, but don't know how much we should have or when?

Hello there DoingItMyself, welcome in. Sounds like you are doing really well with your diet. I'm sure you'll get into a new routine at home too. Congrats on fitting those 10K in! Especially after not being used to it. Well done!
I'm hitting around 3.5K at the moment. Did you go on a specific walk, or is it just a lot of activity in the day, or even both?

I've just Googled about sugar and got this information about sugar from a Canadian diabetic site:
Limit their intake of free sugarsa to less than 10% of total daily calorie (energy) intake. This is approximately 50 grams (12 teaspoons) of free sugars consumption per day based on a 2000-calorie diet. Limit intake of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) and drink water in their place.
Action on sugar says:
The current recommendation for sugar intake is that it does not exceed 10% of daily energy intake. The recent review published by the SACN has highlighted the need for this percentage to be further reduced to 5% (30g of sugars). Reducing sugar intake to a maximum of 6 teaspoons per day (25g).
Very well health:
It's worth noting that the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an even lower threshold for sugar of no more than 5% of total calories.
The Express:
The UK recommended guidelines for sugar intake state added sugar should not make up more than five per cent of the energy we get from food and drink each day.

This equates to about 30g of sugar for adults and children over the age of 11, which is equal to seven cubes or seven teaspoons of sugar.
The guidelines are the same for both diabetic people and people without diabetes, as even people without diabetes are advised to limit sugar intake.he ‘carbohydrates (of which sugars)’ figure on the nutrition labels will state how much sugar the product contains for every 100g.

More than 22.5g of total sugars per 100g is high, while 5g or less of total sugars per 100g is low.

Well done on getting out 73kitty! My levels have been better but not amazing, I'm not stressing though. I got my steps and workout in so that's something.

I wouldn't worry about sugar. I would stick to lower carb things and then have a bit of what you fancy occasionally. If that's once a week (after your weigh in or with your big food shop) then I think that works well. If once a month you decide you want a massive plate of pasta with a side of garlic bread followed by chocolate cake then, again, I don't think it's an issue, or whether or not you can continue to eat well after having a day like that if that makes sense? If you can then I say go for it and enjoy it as I do think we maybe be diabetic but we still have to enjoy life. I hope that makes some sense.

That all sounds very confusing I feel a bit stressed thinking about that!

Thank you, that makes loads of sense. Sorry to hear your BS isn't at it's best yet. Well done on doing your steps and workout! Are you having the weekend off exercising? I am.

Nope. I had a day off exercising yesterday but still need to get my steps. I will exercise at least once, might have Sunday off but again will still need to go for a walk. I need another 20,000 for the week to average at 12000 a day if I don't make it I won't be upset as I've made a massive improvement as it is. I enjoy working out though so it's not a chore, the walking is more so as I'm naturally a sedentary person

Good luck with your steps. I know you can do it, you have the determination. You enjoy working out?! lol I'm a naturally sedentary person too.
How is everyone today? I hope you all reach your goals today.

I have been exercising this morning after meaning to do it for days. I have something called a motomed which is basically a specialist exercise bike for disabled people. I managed 40 minutes which is a long workout for me.

I’ve also been writing a bit about having diabetes, trying to sort my head out.

I treated myself to a 2 in 1 from the chinese last night.It was gorgeous but i was filled with wind all night.

I have 8062 steps done i will do more later.

I do when I've finished it

Please the motomed sounds great.

I'm on 7250 steps but feel like I need a lie down.

That motomed sounds amazing! Well done on doing so long on it.

We had glorious weather yesterday so had a nice trip out to a park in a nearby town. Today is also glorious. I’ve walked about four miles this morning which is great, but I’ve just been pottering so it doesn’t feel like a walk. Might do a short walk later though.

@WreckTangled I keep getting cravings for those hot cross buns now they’ve all gone!!!

Way to go with the 40 mins PleaseStopExplaining, that's excellent! Has writing helped you with your diabetes diagnosis? I hope so. It can be hard to get your head around.
Congrats on all the steps BorderlineHappy! Sorry to hear about your wind problem.
Congrats on your steps too so far WreckTangled. You can do it! (Read that in Arnold Schwarzeneggers' voice. )
Congrats on your 4 miles PaperMonster, that's really good! Did you get another walk in later?
I'm quite pleased as although I haven't done my walk today, I've been quite active and have only done 1000 steps less than on a walking day.
Anybody watch 1000-lb Sisters? I'm off to watch it in a mo'. I'd recommend it. It's about two American sisters, One around 600lbs, the other around 2-300lbs and their journey to lose weight. It's quite funny at times, and sweet.
Have a great rest of the day everyone, have fun!

I didn't get my steps. My hip really hurt after my workout so I've rested and hoping to make up for it tomorrow. My levels have been good too although I've got 500 calories left and dh has loads of chocolate...

Chocolate...drools Don't give in, you can do it!
Sorry to hear about your hip. I hope it's much better for you asap. Glad to hear your levels are good. I haven't taken mine for ages. I suppose I should really...
Enjoy your last 500 cals!

Didn’t get another walk in - it started flipping snowing!! So I did some sewing. Arranged to go for a walk with a friend later on in the week, so that’s something to look forward to!

It was snowing here today too. First time in years. Then we had rain, wind, and sunshine. All the seasons in one day! Do you sew as a hobby, or did you need to do some repairs? I hope you enjoy your walk with your friend.
How are you WreckTangled? All fine I hope?
Hello all other posters, hope you are having a good day too?
Well, I only had two small yogurts and a Nice biscuit today as it's my nieces birthday and she came round for her cards and cake. I had been looking forward to that cake all day. (Only my brother ate the cake, everyone else didn't like/want theirs. Heathens. ) I ate my cake and within half an hour felt like absolute crap and a bit sick. It wasn't a very big portion either! (Ok, I did have a bit more of the buttercream icing. :P ) I would like to say I learned my lesson there but have a feeling I haven't...We shall watch this space.
Weigh in day tomorrow!

Hello! I know you haven't got gestational diabetes but if your missing cake and sweet things there's some good diabetic cake/sweet recipes on the Gestational diabetes UK website including diabetic cheesecake, chocolate mousse and caramel shortbread. You can pay a one off £5 and get all the recipes x

Good thanks! I've got my steps in, worked out and done some housework. Still avoiding the massive pile of washing that needs folding...

I hope you enjoyed your cake, sorry you felt a bit ill after! I'm feeling a bit yuck now actually, think I ate a bit too much at dinner.

Hi Metallicalover That site sounds fab, will check it out, thank you.
Glad you are Ok WreckTangled Well done on all that activity! Don't blame you not wanting to do the folding after that.
I did enjoy the cake when I ate it, yes. Sorry you are feeling a bit yucky now. Anything nice for dinner?

I had a pork and chorizo burger in a low carb bun with salad then for pudding had Greek yoghurt with skinny syrup and strawberries. Definitely shouldn't have had pudding!

Sounds nice though. What flavour syrup? I've recently bought Toasted Marshmallow and Birthday Cake. I'm not to keen on either of them, prefer the Chocolate Fudge Cake and Maple Syrup ones. Next time I order I'm going to get the Choc Fudge Cake again, and I spotted a Cookies and Cream I really want to try.

I think it's the chocolate fudge brownie one. Definitely a chocolate type one. That and the banana are the only ones I like really.

I'm currently working my way through them. Does it taste good in the Greek yogurt? I like yogurt but wasn't keen on the Greek one I tried. I found it a bit thick.