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.

Hello! Good luck on the clearing up @73kittycat73!! Am back on with painting tomorrow I think.

We’re having a relaxed weekend. I’ve to rest for 48 hours. We went into a local town yesterday for a potter whilst OH had his jab, then I just lay in the sunshine reading! Had a bbq last night. Just more resting today for both of us - daughter claims to be looking after us but I’ve not seen much evidence of this yet!!

Thank you. All done now. Your weekend sounds lovely. How was your town? Busy? Has your daughter helped out yet?

Well, I've gone and done it, I've downloaded couch to 5k. I'm going to go on my first run tomorrow. Will report back on what happens!

Hello everyone. I hope you all had a lovely weekend?
I did the first run of C25K today... I did the warm up (5 minute brisk walk.) and seven round of running. Or something that looks like running. I'm pleased with that. Looking forward to Wednesday to do it again. I hope the winds not as cold though!
How are you feeling now Paper?
How did the results of the job interview go Wreck? All good I hope.

Hello! Sorry so busy at the moment. Well done in the C25k. I hate running, or any cardio, so don't really do it 13500 steps today.

Have got a feedback meeting tomorrow evening so will see what they say... they told me to make sure I had a pen and paper

The food industry is very complex I think. Remember years ago (60's?) when they decided fat was bad? Pretty sure it was all funded by Coca Cola the government won't do anything about it because it brings them in too much money, they don't care. Not that I can talk, I just had a pop tart. I've just ordered more of the low carb wraps from Carbzone they're my favourite and more than worth the money.

Woohoo, well done you @73kittycat73!! There’s some people in the village who started this and they’ve done brilliantly! I’ve not to do any high impact stuff sadly so didn’t join in!

Town was a little busy - it’s a little rural touristy town where motorcyclists like to stop and, with the lovely weather, there were plenty of them!!

Daughter hasn’t really helped much other than to give me lots of cuddles! And undo my bra!!!!! I can’t do that with the pain in my shoulder!! Hip’s feeling ok though.

Finished some painting today too!

16,633 steps today.
Isn't it terrible when food is disappointing.
I had soup earlier and it was rotten.
Then I bought hot smoked salmon flakes and I swear they must have put all the salt in the ocean on them.
I couldn't eat it.

Hey WreckTangled Good luck for tomorrow then. I'm sure it's got to be good news, they wouldn't want you to write anything down if it was a straight, 'No thanks.' I hope you can sleep OK tonight! Well done on the steps btw.
Hi PaperMonster Glad you hip at least is feeling OK. And well done daughter for helping you a bit. Well done on the painting. Do you have much more to finish? I've just got about 2-3 square meters to go tomorrow. When we took out the old cupboard (That was falling to pieces anyway.) we discovered it was painted around and not behind! Mum went out and got paint today, matched as best she could so I'm doing that tomorrow.
Wow, well done on all those steps BorderlineHappy. Shame about your food. Are you going to try something else instead or have you given up for the night?!

Great number of steps @BorderlineHappy.

That does sound disappointing (especially the salmon, I’d love that!!) Was it definitely the food or do you think you might be sickening for something?

@PaperMonster I made myself a lovely coffee and had 3 biscuits.Nothing else would have done.

@BorderlineHappy - sounds a fair swap!!

@73kittycat73 I’m going to tackle a door next! I’m doing the entrance to our house, which is just small. As you come in there’s a cupboard to your right which I’ve just finished, then a door immediately in front of you which needs doing. Then I”m going to sort out the little square bit of flooring. Just all needs brightening up!!

Oh, sounds lovely Paper. All one colour? How's your hip and arm today? Not too bad I hope?
Hi BorderlineHappy those biscuits sound nice. At least you had some nice food.
I hope everything went well today Wreck?
Does anybody here make their own muesli? I keep seeing home made muesli being mentioned on the boards. I never bought a shop one because even the 'low sugar' ones have tons in them! I do like cereals though, and to be honest, am looking for more fibre for my diet.

Hi @73kittycat73. Just painting them boring white! But they’re brown at the mo, so it’ll just brighten the hallway. I’m going to get some stickers for the bottom of the cupboard doors as they take a lot of kicking from kids running through and daughter dragging her scooter inside! I’ve seen sort of Reed stickers that might work, just for a bit of protection really!!

Suffering with my arm today, sadly, thanks. Had to take pain relief which I hate doing during the day as it makes me a bit wobbly! So have done bugger all today other than some ironing and a short walk. Hip’s a bit pained on and off - hopefully that will subside by the end of the week as I think it’s the side effect of it being jabbed!!

Sorry, can’t help with the muesli - never really liked it. And now I’ve gone off breakfasts!!

Hallway sounds ace. Sorry to hear about your arm. Glad though that your hip is a bit better. Ironing is hard work!
Doing my second run tomorrow, weather forecast is rain!

I've got a low carb porridge I sometimes have. It's pretty tasty. I don't like nuts so the granola etc you can buy is no good for me but I know lots of people love the Paleo Food Co granolas.

Thanks 73kitty it went ok. I just scraped through and now have to apply to the uni and have another interview with them 😭 really just want to give up but I've come this far. My written statement was apparently really good, I'm good at writing but awful face to face.

Well done @WreckTangled!
On cereal, oatbran has more fibre and less carbs. I find it doesn't spike me as much as normal oats either.

Well done @WreckTangled!

Has anyone have any trouble with their feet cause of diabetes.
My feet are achy and my toes are sore.
So im not sure whether its old age and all the creaks that go with it.Or iis it something more serious,

I have a neuromuscular condition which effects my feet but I also see podiatry twice a year for a general tidy and check. It's definitely worth getting advice.

Good on you wreck! Huge well done for getting through. I hope you feel very proud of yourself (And so you should! ) Sending positive vibes for the Uni interview, you got this!
BorderlineHappy I had a test on my feet where I had to close my eyes and say whenever I felt a sensation on my feet (Was the nurse doing it.). I had lost a bit of sensation in my toe. My feet don't ache though. Maybe best to get them checked out by your diabetes nurse or Dr.? Just to put your mind at rest.
Thanks for the recommendation travailtotravel. I shall check that out on my next shop.
How are you today Paper? Up to your arms in painting?! Good luck with it, I hope it comes out lovely.

Aren’t you entitled to a foot appointment if you’re Diabetic? Never been offered one myself mind you. I do have scabby feet - but they’ve mostly been like that since I was born!!

@73kittycat73 - at a standstill with the painting. Thought I could get what I needed today when I went into a nearby town for my physio, but I couldn’t. So I’ll try Homebase this evening on the way back from my parents’ house and hopefully back to it tomorrow!

Yes they should do a foot check with your annual review at the doctors surgery. Like 73kitty said they will poke it and ask if you can feel it without watching. I can't feel anything until they get to my ankles, I always decline those checks as I'm much more complex than an HCA can deal with

Thanks 73kitty I feel like a did really badly. I had to sit there for forty minutes whilst they told me all the things I should and shouldn't have done. I know it's constructive criticism but still makes you feel like crap.

Anyway I went to the gym at 6am so am feeling all smug today. It's raining here but dh said he will go on a walk with me after work.

I'm due my bloods next week,so I'll mention it then.

Oh, hope you managed to get the paint PaperMonster? It's so irritating isn't it? You get half the job done...Still, hopefully you have managed to get the right paint and be on it tomorrow. How did physio go today?
Aww, WreckTangled, that does sound rough. Forty minutes of it too?! Wow. I would have told them to stuff it by then, but then, you want the opportunity, so maybe not?! I'm sorry you went through that. Well done on the workout though, and I hope you manage to get your walk in.
How are you today BorderlineHappy? How's your feet today? I must admit, I nicked my toes with the razor last week and they bled for ages. I was surprised as I usually heal quite well. I suppose that's diabetes though.
Went on my second C25K today. Did one less, six rounds of walking and running. I felt OK about it though as it felt 'better.' There was more flow. I tried to pace myself better too. Was cold and started to rain though! Should go again on Friday but the weather forecast is the same as today. I will go though. I am quite enjoying it in a weird way!

@73kittycat73 - nah, didn’t go to Homebase in the end. I struggle so much with driving as it’s so painful that I just wanted to get home and take my pain relief! Will get it at weekend when OH can drive. Physio wasn’t too bad thanks - more movement in my arm, but still a lot of pain. Daughter’s not feeling so good tonight bless her, so I think we’ll both be having an early night!!

@73kittycat73 that's brilliant going

I'd love to do couch to 5 k but I'm so easily embarrassed.
Might just throw caution to the wind.