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.

I'm not diabetic so feel free to slap me if it's a bad recommendation
I really like these protein bars, they come in halves so you can eat just half the bar and they don't taste protein like. Sometimes cheaper on Amazon
https://battlebites.com/collections/all-products/products/battle-bites-starter-pack

[quote QueenPaw]I'm not diabetic so feel free to slap me if it's a bad recommendation
I really like these protein bars, they come in halves so you can eat just half the bar and they don't taste protein like. Sometimes cheaper on Amazon
https://battlebites.com/collections/all-products/products/battle-bites-starter-pack[/quote]
They actually look great, thanks for the recommendation

Hi Paper, sorry that you are still in pain. I hope your daughter is OK now too? Hopefully a goodnight sleep helped you both.
Thanks BorderlineHappy I was worried about feeling embarrassed but you are so concentrating on walking/running that you soon forget other people! Mind you, I do mine in the day when there is not so many people about anyway. I've had one comment, and I told them to eff off anyway.
They sound delicious QueenPaw Thanks for the suggestion.
Diud you go on your walk in the end WreckTangled? I hope yopyu had a nice time.
After yet another night of binging chocolate I have decided to ease up a bit on the weightloss. I hate my sticky out belly and wanted it gone asap (Still do!) but I think I was being a bit to strict. I was thinking the more I don't eat, the quicker it goes. However, I have realised even if I only lose a pound a week, by the end of September, that's 20lbs lost. So I'm going to try and go a bit easier on myself and my diet. Put some mini digestives in my shopping trolley. I know it's still sugar/carbs but I think I need it at the moment. I know it's giving in, but better than giving up?

@WreckTangled phew! They're chewy but soft and not dry either. Caramel pretzel is my fave then glazed donut but I haven't had a bad flavour from them

@73kittycat73 No matter what time i do exercise out and about,everyone has the same idea.

Its because there is no where else open.

73kitty yes I did thanks and it stayed dry. I think that's a good idea, it's easy to get into a binge/restrict cycle and then want to give up as you won't be seeing results. Slow and steady wins the race and all that

Aww, that's a shame BorderlineHappy. I see a few people on my route, most just smile as I go past. Or I look down/away. I'm usually to busy trying to run! lol
Hi WreckTangled Glad it stayed dry for you. Did you go far?
Does anyone have a FitBit? I had one but it broke so got a cheap fitness tracker from Amazon. It's supposed to have bells and whisltes but rarely connects to the app so it literally just counts steps, and not very accurately. I've been looking at getting another FitBit, do you think they are worth it, if you've got one? I wonder if I'll just end up using it for the step count anyway.

We went just under two miles which is about 4000 steps. I have a Fitbit and I love it. I like all the features and it emails me every week like this

Haven’t been too great for a few days. Not ill, just off. Just catching up with the thread.

Sounds like several of you are doing great with exercise. I did some stretching earlier to ease back into it.

I bought some mackeral fillets for breakfast.Im bored of cereal,advocados and eggs.
Hope they are nice/

Thank you for that WreckTangled, I will have a good think about it. Well done on the 4000 steps!
Hi PleaseStopExplaining, so you feel a bit out of sorts? I hope you feel like your normal self soon. Well done on the stretching!
Sounds very healthy *BorderlineHappy8. I usually have a plain Oats So Simple with Skinny sauce.

Hope you’re ok @PleaseStopExplaining. X

Daughter’s fine today thanks @73kittycat73 - but she passed her headache on to me and I’ve felt yuk all day. Tomorrow will be a better day!! Not managed a walk either today.

Hope your head is better today! If so, are you going to try for a walk today? I'm trying C25K again later. Sunny one minute, cloudy the next. Never mind, I shall go anyway.

Good for you 73kitty. It's hard finding the enthusiasm to do anything isn't it? I was reading one personal trainers post and she said she isn't always enthusiastic but she is always committed which I though was a good way of looking at it.

Thanks. I usually hate all forms of exercise but I don't mind this one for some reason? I just wish it was a bit warmer! lol

This popped up on my youtube,its very interesting.And its not preachy.

Update from here - I had my blood done in April. My last blood in December triggered the lecture about insulin being on the horizon (I was 79 I think, eek - just not looking after myself). I read the Life After Diabetes book I keep preaching about (ha!), and started low carb and around 800-1000 cals per day. My goal was 3 stone by Easter. Anyway, I am 2.5 stone, but my blood show as being 39. That's a prediabetic range I think. So, ladies, hardcore has worked to get things started and motivate me to change. It has worked in terms of bloods changing and overall feeling healthier. It's hard work and I have slipped since those bloods were done (oh, this won't hurt, yes it will ) but that's the self-sabotage coming in we all know about. My goal is now to drop a further 2 stones by Christmas. I had 6 to lose overall ... Anyway, I thought I'd update as you are all so supportive - thanks for your help :-)

Well Done @travailtotravel!

Travail that's brilliant! That hba1c isn't pre diabetic range it's NORMAL 🙌🏼 (5.7% in old numbers)

Congratulations travailtotravel, that's amazing, and very inspirational! You must feel so proud. Well done you!
I went on my run, managed 7 runs today.

Aaaaw, @travailtotravel, that is fantastic news! Bloomin well done you!

@73kittycat73 feeling much better today other than the usual arm nonsense! Walked 7-8 miles today which makes up for yesterday!!

Hope everyone enjoys a lovely BH weekend! X

Wow, well done on that walk PaperMonster! Glad at least your headache is gone. I hoe your arm and hip feels better soon.
@WreckTangled Sorry to be annoying, I have a couple of questions about the FitBit, if you don't mind? I still haven't made my mind up yet! It says on the description that you can track calories and water. If your does that, how do you do it? Do you scan barcodes or somehow input your calories on the actual fitness tracker? I hope you don't mind me asking, thank you.

This thread is quite a reality check.

I woke up early this morning and done my walk along the canal.It was beautiful.
I have 11,423 steps done.
And i treated myself to a bacon,mushroom and tomato breakfast this morning.

@73kittycat73 I don't add water or nutrition to mine as I use MyFitnessPal for food and it links up with it. For water you just add it into the app. I've just had a quick look and the Fitbit app does indeed allow you to scan the barcode and search food BUT it is American and therefore they add fibre into their carbs whereas in the uk it is deducted. Worth noting when you want to check carbs. So yes, you do it all on the app.

Wow Borderline so many steps already!