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.

Drinks ideas, pop some grapes in the freezer and add them to any drink - they make great ice cubes and are fun to defrost and pop.

I drink a lot of Fevertree drinks. Their naturally light range is lovely and hurrah, great for us in managing our sugars. They do other flavours than just tonic. While its a mixer their mint thingy is lush.

Also realised the other day how partial I am to a bit of ginger beer.

I had the low calorie tonic water from Tesco the other day.It was gorgeous,made a lovely change from diet coke and pepsi.

Hello all, hoe you’re all ok! Still on hols here. Weather is generally ok but there’s this really rubbish mist that keeps coming off the sea so we don’t actually see much sun! My low carbing has gone a bit to pot too.

Hope you are enjoying your holiday. :) Anywhere nice? It's been raining here today but still warm. Can't complain as we had a few lovely days of sunshine. :)

We’re on the North Yorks coast. It was glorious this morning but the mist has come over this afternoon. And I’ve been in a pool for the first time since March last year! Which was bittersweet as I’m unable to swim at the mo because of my arm but I could do some resistance exercises!

We had a bit of a shower this afternoon, well a few spots really. I'm pleased as it was 28° and it cooled it down to 24° I'm loving this weather. Looks good for the long range forecast too which is good, we're busy every weekend in June so if any rain could come during the week please 🤞🏼

I had a cinnamon bun from Costa today and my sugar levels stayed in range which I'm pleased about. Good food day otherwise.

Oh, sounds nice. The pool sounds lovely. :) No need to worry about the carbs if you are doing exercise. I'd say it cancels it out. ;) :D
Good to hear about your BS stayed in range. :) 28 sounds really hot! 24 much more manageable. :)
I'm off to do my beginners yoga in a minute. (She does two classes and I signed up to the Monday one too which is a regular class. Obviously didn't happen this week because of it being a bank holiday.)
Will report back! Am not taking a fizzy drink with me this time though. :D

Enjoy the yoga! And good news about the cinnamon bun. I love a cinnamon bun!!

Am not taking a fizzy drink with me this time though😂
Lessons learned @73kittycat73

Sat down to have some crackers and cheese.And my cheese rolled off my cracker,and i dont know where its gone😂

Thanks. It went OK, balance was a little better this week. There were only 5 of us but it was OK. :)
Lol. Oh no, missing cheese! Was the cracker a little dry without it? I hope you manage to find it!

I think it's nice with fewer people, there wasn't many in the gym.

Looks like rain tonight but gone by the morning. We're going to see Peter rabbit tomorrow so I don't mind if it's cloudy.

Yes the acoustics aren't usually very good but I could hear the tutor a lot better last night. I don't know if it was because of fewer people? I did enjoy it though. Jeez my neck ached last night!
Have fun watching Peter Rabbit. My mum says it's funny, and PaperMonster said it's a good film too. I have Fantastic Beasts on tape, (Oh, hark at me, 'On tape.' Haven't had a vcr for donkeys years! ) I must watch it sometime. I'm too caught up in watching Australia's Biggest Loser at night.

De-lurking to placemark!

I had gestational diabetes in both of my pregnancies and am a high risk for T2 in future. I have massively changed how I eat and feel so much better for it although do still have 1.5 stones to lose.

This is such a lovely thread and i'm getting so many tips (hello low carb bakery) although it does feel like i'm eavesdropping on 4 friends chatting 😆

@JaneyGotAGun welcome and hello.

Hi JaneyGotAGun, you, and everyone else lurking are very welcome to join in anytime. It's nice of you to 'Delurk' and come and say hello. Congratulations on changing your diet, not easy I know. Good luck with the 1.5 stones, you can do it!
Hi BorderlineHappy, how are you today?

Hey @JaneyGotAGun!

Well, I have peaked today as I went for my 2nd jab and got a sticker. Wahoo! That was the whole point of all this, right? A sticker?

In other news, after my annual check in May (we do birthday month) I had my letter from nurse today. If we remember I was tested in March also as was given a 3 month sort it out warning.

Anyway, sorted it out I have. Bloods totally normal. Blood pressure normal for the first time ever. I asked about reducing my meds (quite high metformin, one other tab and a weekly jab thingy (I can never remember their names). She wants to see me again in 3 months but is happy to at that point if I have maintained weight loss (and lost a bit more).

its hard to maintain loss though when we keep sharing low carb baking tips, no. I have become a monster for cookies (basically taste like macaroons) sweetened with coconut flakes. I almost wish I didn't know they were ok, if you know what I mean?

Hi travailtotravel, the sticker is where it's at. I'm, so impressed by you, you have done so well! That such good news about your blood pressure. Congrats on maintaning the weight loss! You have done so well overall!

@travailtotravel A sticker ,im well jel

@73kittycat73 im great today,thank you.
I got some great news yesterday.
I got discharged from the Stroke Clinic ,they are really happy with the way everything is going.
So they discharged me,still under the care from teh GP.But its really brilliant news.

@BorderlineHappy great news on your discharge. A day for good news!!

Hello @JaneyGotAGun and welcome! Feel free to just join in the chat!

Hope everyone’s doing well! I’m back home from holiday hands out low sugar sticks of rock and there’s nothing to eat in the house, so will have to have cereal tonight cos I’m hungry! I thought I could get through it, but I can’t!!

Excellent news BorderlineHappy ! Well done!
Hi PaperMonster, glad you enjoyed your holiday. Thanks for the rock. Have you finished the painting yet?
It certainly is travailtotravel.

So whats everyones plan for today.
My sons birthday today so we are bringing him to toy store to spend his money.

@BorderlineHappy, that is good news re stroke clinic! Happy birthday to your son and I hope he enjoys picking some toys!

@73kittycat73 I’ll be painting for ever! Lots of doors to do, part of my kitchen and gloss work in the living room. All using just the one arm! The other one is no better and I’ve been referred for further investigations.

We’ve just been and collected the cat and now I’m sitting in the sunshine - I’ll be doing that and bits of tidying for the afternoon.

Happy birthday to your ds borderline

I went to the gym this morning and have done some washing. Dropping dd at a friends in a minute then I'll sit in the garden in the sun have also booked a hair appointment for three weeks time and a sports massage for Thursday as my shoulder is playing up.

Thanks @WreckTangled and @PaperMonster he picked out a game and some other stuff.So hes playing it now.

Went for a good walk this morning,i was awake so i got up and went.
Gorgous out it was.

Hopefully @WreckTangled that massage sorts you out.
Im thinking of getting my hair cut,im hmming and aahing though.
Its a decent length and i want to go for the chop.Im going to give myself another week and see which way i feel.I might just flick a coin.