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.

Oh I hate the eye screening, such a hassle, my hospital is 20 miles away so dh always has to take time off work to take me too.

The weather has been miserable hasn't it? So cold. This morning was lovely here but a cold wind this afternoon. Tomorrow we're forecast heavy rain.

Yes i had them tested because of diabetes.

But i had a lovey nurse and we had a laugh.

Actually it was lovely here and i did my exercise this morning cause i knew i wouldnt be doing it later.

Don't know about going for my walk today, really blowy out there. I can't see it clearing up by the afternoon.
Hope all your plans are going ok.

It's miserable here! Wet and windy but my phone reckons it'll stop raining soon and be sunny by dinner time.

Yes, very windy here. I hope we do get some sun! Can't see it myself yet...Did you vote yesterday? I did by post, our results haven't come through yet.

Yes but it didn't make much difference. Strong blue area here. There's a house round the corner, small three bedroom detached. £2750 a month to rent, it's ridiculous.

At least you voted. I hear ya about the rent! I remember my first time voting, didn't really have a clue but wanted to vote because of the suffragettes. Went green. Still very, very windy out...

Sorry, that 'very, very windy,' bit should have been a new paragraph, doesn't make much sense there with the voting talk! lol

Hello all, it’s absolutely chucked it down here today. There’s a bit of a break in the rain just now but really can’t be bothered to go for a walk. My daughter is fascinated by suffragettes @73kittycat73. When she was tiny she would grab hold of railings and shout ‘votes for women’ - have taken her with me every time I’ve voted except for yesterday. Feeling tired today as my arm is so painful that now even the skin hurts.

Your daughter sounds fantastic! Good for her. And you too, for taking her with you to vote.
Sorry to hear about your arm. Hopefully not long to go now to see someone? I know it doesn't help now though. Does a good soak in the bath help at all?
Didn't go for my walk today, it's been blowing a gale! Weather forecast says it's supposed to be about 16 tomorrow so hopefully go then. :)

I went for a walk, against the wind at times, I meant to only go a couple of miles but went over four miles and have done 15000 steps!

Well done WreckTangled! You're braver than me...Good going on four miles!

I really didn't mean to! I was going to turn back but I was worried that I would slip in the mud as it had been a bit hairy on the way up so I just kept going and it came out much further away than I had anticipated 🙈 my legs hurt a bit now too. Tomorrow looks better doesn't it? I don't mind it being cloudy if it's warmish and dry.

Aww, I hope after a nice rest your legs feel better. It is supposed to be better tomorrow yes. If it is, are you going on another walk (Mud permitting!)?
I'm up at gone 3am again as I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I did take my measurements though, as I haven't since last year. I'm pleased with my waist measurement, 41" (Only 4" off what the NHS says acceptable.) as Last time I remember my waist was about 47". Same for my hips but they are now 44" (Bust 38"). Pleased with those measurements though.

Wow 4" off is great! Well done

I've got the gym this morning then this afternoon we're going to Wakehurst so will be walking around there. It's a fair drive so we're getting McDonald's on the way home, I've already planned what I'm having (nuggets and cheese melts no chips!). I actually tend to input all of my food into MyFitnessPal the day before so I know what I'm eating and what spare calories I have for any treats I fancy. It works well for me.

Just finished my workout.
Going to have some breakfast.

I actually bought the powered peanut butter and i have to say i prefer it.
Its not as claggy as you can make it a bit looser.

Hi. I'd like to join the thread please. I was diagnosed as diabetic 2 years ago, hbac1 was 89, and I felt really rough but had been putting off going to the doctor because I was too busy.

My last bloods were done in December, and I'd got them down to 48, through low carb and Metformin. Then Christmas happened, then lockdown, and now I'm back at work with a really stressful half term. All of that meant I've fallen off the low carb wagon big time. And because I'm busy and stressed I also forget to take my tablets. So I've currently got the double whammy of eating far too much sugar/carbs AND not taking my medication regularly. My next bloods are due very soon and I'm dreading what they're going to say. I'm feeling rough again, and think I might be way up in the 70s/80s again.

I've got another 3 weeks of stress at work, but I'm going to make sure I take my tablets all the time. And I'm going to cut out the chocolate/crisps I've been binging on in the car on my commute.

Thanks WreckTangled, and enjoy you day out, and the McDonalds, nice! Well done for factoring it in. Have a great time.
Well done on the early Sunday workout BorderlineHappy! Good going!
Hi MsAwesomeDragon, and welcome. I know it probably sounds 'old,' but I bought a 7 day pill box (Take lots of vitamins and some other medication along side my diabetes medication.) for my tablets. It's a pain to fill up every Friday but takes away the worry of doing it everyday. Just open and there's your dose.
Well done on getting your results to 48, that's awesome! I know you imply its probably gone up again, but if you've done it once, you can do it again. Very good luck with cutting out all the chocolate and crisps. I know it's hard, but you can do it!

@MsAwesomeDragon I have done that,forgetting my tablets.So now i have a set time.
And i have them separated so i can just grab the right bag and i know i have the tablets there.
Also found myself slipping eating the wrong things,not eating enough.
So im starting with a clean slate.

@73kittycat73 Also went for a walk,must be feeling sick 😂😂

Thanks for the welcome kittycat and borderline. I won't be cutting out chocolate and cake just yet apparently. It's my birthday, and I have been given a large box of chocolates and a rather large chocolate cake. So for the next few days I'll just focus on taking my tablets every day. I have a box of tablets in the dining room, and another in my workbag now. I'm supposed to take them breakfast and dinner, but I don't tend to eat breakfast when I'm busy/stressed, so they're the ones I've been forgetting. Now I've got some in my work bag I can have them with lunch instead.

Welcome @MsAwesomeDragon -I started Metformin at Christmas and since then I’ve not felt hungry at breakfast time, and I’m supposed to take it then. Am just hoping that two milky coffees are sufficient to take them with!!

Well done on the four miles @WreckTangled - even if your legs are hurting! And enjoy those chicken nuggets - I get them as they don’t increase my levels!

After a very lethargic day yesterday we’ve been off over the fields today and done about six miles, so that was good. So lovely to get fresh air into my lungs! Feeling quite energised now!! I’ve also had some Skips and really enjoyed them!!

Does anyones urine smell really sweet.I was told the metformin does that and to watch out for thrush.

@BorderlineHappy

Does anyones urine smell really sweet.I was told the metformin does that and to watch out for thrush.

Yes!!! Although I thought it was more because I had stopped taking the Metformin so regularly.

I’ve not experienced that. I’m only on the one though.

@73kittycat73 - hot bath helps a lot! Helps my hip too!!