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.

Sorry, should also say I’m greedy for carbs so talk the talk but unfortunately have difficulty walking the walk 😬🤣

Celeriac is really nice, it's potato like but with a really small hint of celery taste. It mashes and roasts in just the same way as potato but is a lot lot lower in carbs.

There's a low carb program that's very good - www.lowcarbprogram.com. I bought their low carb kickstarter book which has veggie alternatives for most of the recipes, and some good ideas for lower carb versions of meals.

Hi, LyingWitchInTheWardrobe I'll be honest, I was really bothered until I've started to suffer the consequences. I crave hi carb and very sweet food too. My mum would often hint to me about what I'm eating and my weight. It just made me feel uncomfortable and a bit, 'It's my life, I'll do what I want with it! I saw it as nagging rather than the concern she meant to show.
I'm sorry I don't really have any advice. It's wonderful how much you obviously love your brother though. He's very lucky to have you.

73kittycat73, that's really kind of you, thank you. We're all at a loss of how to help him. He's using his metformin to prop up his bad diet. He doesn't do his bloods, says that they're fine. Sometimes he does them and, if the result is good (for him), he'll tell us what they are.

He has to wear glasses but does; chooses not to drive instead but that's because he really doesn't see well so not really a choice anymore.

He used to have quite a weight problem but now is very thin, has lost so much muscle that his trousers don't stay up. He eats well (at my mum's) but goodness knows what he eats when he's out and about. He's very much loved and we're all so worried. How do you make somebody take their finger off the self-destruct button? I'd honestly take his diabetes for him, I don't have a sweet tooth and can stay off carbs if I have to. I honestly would. :(

*doesn't wear them

I recently had a post covid T2 diagnosis. Shocked the hell out of me I can tell you. I've decided to go cold turkey, no point beating about the Bush. Im on day 4 of the 8 week blood sugar diet. Its not as bad as I feared, but... I was moving towards more of a meat free diet, so that's been put on hold for a bit.

I plan my meals, and keep myself busy.
I'm testing several times a day, and I've already seen a difference in my numbers.

Good luck😁

(((hugs))) I can hear the desperation in your post. I'm sorry you are going through it. Maybe he feels like I did, that there's no point anyway as he'll end up legless, or have a stroke/heart attack anyway? Maybe you could find some information about the long term prognosis for diabetics that is positive and show him that?
There is a couple of websites/forums you could look to for advice this one www.diabetes.co.uk/ has this positive story on the front page: Man puts type 2 diabetes into remission 23 years since diagnosis
and this one has a very supportive forum, and loads of web advice:
www.diabetes.org.uk/

Oh goodness lying the weight loss is quite concerning. I wonder if you made him some low carb 'treats' it would show him that he can still have nice food and not miss out. I do still think though that unless he really wants to change there isn't much you can do, and unfortunately the consequences are likely to be quite devastating for him if he chooses not to take control of it.

I agree with looking at the diabetes.co.uk website.

@CaffeineInfusion

I recently had a post covid T2 diagnosis. Shocked the hell out of me I can tell you. I've decided to go cold turkey, no point beating about the Bush. Im on day 4 of the 8 week blood sugar diet. Its not as bad as I feared, but... I was moving towards more of a meat free diet, so that's been put on hold for a bit.

I plan my meals, and keep myself busy.
I'm testing several times a day, and I've already seen a difference in my numbers.

Good luck😁

Hi, Congrats on the 4 days! I did the fast 800 last year and lost about a stone in 6 weeks. (I've put it all back on though. ) Well done on the numbers coming down. So do you think Covid had something to do with your diagnosis, or it was (Luckily) caught by a routine check up? That's me out then addicted2spaniels, I really don't like celery! (Fussy bugger aint I?!)

T2D here. Like @addicted2spaniels I love celeriac now!! I usually aim for under 50g a day - and definitely no more than 100. I’ve been low carb for two years - initially it worked, but my last HBA1C was 50 so on Metformin now. The Diet Doctor website has some great recipes. Love the mug bread in particular! I’ve made some low carb cheese scones tonight - they’re fab.

73kittycat73 and WreckTangled, thank you both again, I don't want to derail the thread but I really appreciate your comments. We've been on diabetes.co.uk - it's excellent but he doesn't want to hear or see anything about it, however positive. He's a real enigma, sunny and upbeat yet secretive and deceitful. He says anything to please, nods agreement to anything and then does his own thing. I'm not sure if it's arrogance (not in short supply in our family, unfortunately) or just ostrich. I think ostrich. I'm sad about that because arrogance I would understand.

I've made nice treats, my mum has too. We looked up recipes and I've 'discovered' that if you peel sweet potatoes, cut them into 'chips', bung quite a bit of Jamaican spice over them and slowly roast them, they taste a lot like proper chips with curry sauce (if you add a bit of water before you roast them). He loved them. Always loves anything we give him. Then eats whatever he wants. Not an alcohol drinker but orange juice and anything sugary.

I was talking to my mum about this when she was last in despair (we take it in turns)... I said that at least, if he goes, chances are it would be quick and painless (diabetic coma). If we can't have him healthy and well then I hope it's painless. I have to think that or cease to function myself. He knows how much we all love him and he does love us too.

Thanks again for your kindness and I'll carry on reading this thread, it's really inspirational, massive jumps being made!

Since I was diagnosed I've craved more stuff I shouldn't eat. Anyway, I had a wake up, too. I'm on a low cal low carb diet - I cant manage just 800 cals a day but am averaging between 800 and 1000 a day to get weight off. Low carb, very little processed. 5 weeks in I'm 1.5stone down - just 4.5 to go then, ffs.

What helped me really understand that I needed to get my shit together was a warning about insulin not being far off, recognising how I've been using food to suppress emotions and reading a book by the professor from Newcastle who has been researching this stuff and reversing t2. I realised the physiological differences and somehow found that easier to accept that I'm built differently so have to live a bit differently as a result. Before that I was - despite being fairly well educated - just a bit blase about it all.

Good morning everyone. Welcome PaperMonster CaffeineInfusion and travailtotravel Hope I haven't missed anyone out!
Well, I did alright yesterday, but caved in the night. I get terrible insomnia and the only thing that works to get me to sleep is to eat. I was eating peanuts (Good) and ran out, so started on the crisps (Bad). I had about 4 packets. Still, I didn't eat anything sweet though, that's a first for me! Also (Sounds like I'm making excuses here...) my shopping doesn't come till tomorrow so I haven't got the 'right' food in yet.
How is everyone else doing?

Google cheesies, they're 100% cheese burgers crunchy like crisps. Great for when you're craving something like that. So tasty. Of buy exam slices, cut into triangles with a pizza cutter and bake for 10 mins and you'll get cheese crisps. I love cheese

I’m T2 was diagnosed after having gestational diabetes with my first. Managed to get my hba1c down to 42 from 50 but it’s crept up in the last lockdown and eating so much chocolate.
I’ve been doing no chocolate since the start of the year as that’s my downfall and that’s led to me snacking less anyway. I’m now trying to lose weight as that drove the previous blood sugar decrease.
I’m not specifically going low carb as it doesn’t work for me but I’m thinking more about what cabs I eat. I’ve switched to wholemeal pasta and pitta. Brown rice is a step too far though.
There are some great recipes in the hairy bikers diet books and their eat to beat T2 diabetes book. I generally have the same thing for breakfast (porridge with chia seeds) and find if I plan lunch and tea for the week then I snack much less than normal. Same if I drink loads of water - generally feel better as well.
Good luck with it. It’s good you’ve recognised what you need to do 😀

Hi
I am type 1 but have been struggling for a while up until Christmas, have now gone low carb and it is helping so much especially with the sugar cravings, I think because my blood sugars were going high then crashing and then I would eat sugars then soar high again I was in a never ending circle, I haven’t eaten a biscuit since January and that is a miracle but also haven’t craved them either.
I have been having omelettes for breakfast 2/3 eggs a bit of feta and cherry tomatoes and that has been keeping me full until lunch before I would be snacking at 10 then 11,
It is hard and hope you find something that works for you

Hi, Idontgiveagriffindamn I hear you about the chocolate! Congrats on going over a month without it! I also agree with you about brown rice and pasta. Bleh. lol I was updating my online food shop today and was agonizing over carbs in bread. I was looking at Nimble, and it had less carbs, and those that sugars, than their low carb bread. But having had Nimble before, I know how small and delicate the slices were so decided I would probably eat three slices which is almost what two slices of 50/50 (Preferred loaf) would be! Choices, choices. I went for the 50/50.
I didn't realise The Hairy Bikers did a diabetes book. I shall have to look into that. To be honest I'm not much of a cook. If it goes from freezer to oven or hob, I'm grand! lol
Hi, Goldensunnydays81 Congrats to you too on no biscuits! I really understand what your saying about the blood sugar highs and lows. I was eating sweet food for the energy boost, the feeling like utter crap (I honestly didn't realise it was the high blood sugar doing this.) so eating for an energy boost....Your omelette sounds nice.
I have been craving and finding it boring without eating, but haven't caved in. I keep telling myself to wait 'till tomorrow then I can snack on nuts.
Hope you all have a good Saturday night. See you tomorrow.

I eat livlife bread but the slices are small. Worth it for only 3.8g a slice. Means I can have four slices

Ooh, {Sorry, just one last look before I log off...honestly. ) where do you buy that from then? Is it nice?

Waitrose/Ocado. I like it, it's seeded but not that different in texture to nimble I don't think. I think hovis do a low carb bread but it's more like 10g carbs per slice.

Just checked Sainsburys and they have a 'Hi Lo' bread. The reviews were mixed. Some said very tiny though. I did check Amazon too, just in case but the cost of low carb food on there! I know you said Waitrose/Ocado, I am an online member of Ocado so might try shopping from them instead sometime. Thanks for the tip off anyway.
Right, I really am going now...

I buy Vogel seeded bread, it's not as low carb as the livlife one but far tastier, and I have that with crunchy peanut butter on in the morning for breakfast before I walk the dogs. Keeps me going until midday easily.

I then try to eat less starchy food for the rest of the day.

The Hovis bread really upset my stomach. I have Nimble now - just two slices for breakfast. Although I’m finding I’m off breakfast at the mo.

Good morning all. :) I have a few questions, I wonder if anybody knows what were are supposed to look for on labels, Carbohydrate or 'of which sugars', and how much?
Hope everyone is doing OK today?
I couldn't sleep then remembered the chocolate stash left over from Christmas... But, I haven't eaten anything yet today and my BS is down to 9.7. I'm very pleased with that. Just need it to come down a bit more and I'll be very happy.

Always count the total carbohydrates. How much is up to you, depends how low carb you want to go. I tend to try and stick to 30-40g a day but for someone who doesn't want to go very low carb (understandable it's not always necessary) I would say no more than 50g a meal and for snacks stick to very low carbs this such a meats, cheese, olives, nuts and veg/salad items.