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.

Wow, lots of painting then PaperMonster! Is the cat glad to be back? Sorry to hear about your arm still causing you bother. I hope you enjoyed the sunshine in the garden?
I've done the sum total of bugger all today BorderlineHappy. I hope you and your son enjoyed the toy store?
Hi WreckTangled. Good going on the gym. Are you going for anything drastic at the hairdressers? Enjoy the massage! Did you get any sun in the garden? We've had a bit of a cloudy day really.

We've had sun all day. One of my arms is a bit red

Yes re the hair. I'm all dark but going for blind balayage. I've done it before and love it so can't wait! It's perfect because you don't have to worry about maintaining it.

I got caught out with the sun at the begining of the week too. Only one arm (!) and the tops of my feet. Musty have been the only bits poking out from the shade!
Oh, exciting about the hair. Is it very long? I was debating colour but I have mousy brown hair with greying at the temples. I thought if I go blonde the mousy hair will show through, but if I go red/brunette the grey will show through! I have decided not to any colouring right now.

It's just below shoulder length. I've got quite fine hair and it looks straggly if I have it too long. I only have a few greys (5 last hair dressers appt!) thankfully so they're not very noticeable. My Nan started going grey at 14.

I have a good few grey hairs.
I'm thinking just get it cut short,let it go grey and dye it with those gorgeous pastel colours

Lucky with the grey hairs there then WreckTangled. I have quite a bit on my temples.
You know what BorderlineHappy? I keep saying/thinking I want my hair pink! Or, on Corronation Street (Mum watches it, I don't but saw a clip on This Morning.) there's a lady with shoulder length hair that's silver all over. Looks great. Like the look of that one too.

Weigh in day today. Was a bit disappointed, but suppose I shouldn't have been really (Wanted to get down to 11 st something.) I'm now 12st 1lb, having lost 6-7lbs. I have also lost 1 inch from my bust, 2 inches from my waist and 2 inches off my hips, which I am very happy about. Only 2 more inches to go off my hips to be within NHS guidelines. :)

Sorry, off my waist, to be within NHS guidelines.

@73kittycat73 thats brilliant going.

Well done @73kittycat73 that is brilliant going indeed!

Re the pink hair, I have highlights and during the lockdowns I bought some pink shampoo which took on the highlights! It was pinker this last time than when I did it last year, which made me wonder whether the sun faded it last year with it being summer and lovely weather, whereas this year’s was in winter.

Thank you both.
Your hair sounds lovely PaperMonster! I didn't realise you could get pink shampoo. I'll have to keep a look out.
Went back to yoga again today. Half way through I was a sweaty mess! I looked at the clock and saw I still had twenty minutes to go. I thought about giving up! But, I talked myself into staying and that it wasn't that bad and it was making me fitter. So I stayed 'till the end. Time to do it all again on Wednesday! lol

@73kittycat73 I used a brand called Bleach London that I bought online, but I believe that you can get a different brand in SuperDrug.

You’re doing well with the yoga - are you feeling any benefit from it afterwards? I’ve been advised not to do it because of my hyper mobility. Not that I can do anything with this flipping arm anyway!!

Thanks for that. I definitely feel bit stiff today! :D Not too bad really. I know I am getting a stronger core as I have been practicing a move I couldn't do before, and managed to do it last night (Kneeling lunge, then raise arms above head.). I definitely think it will help with my fitness. :)

Weighed myself and only lost a lb.
Bit gutted.
But I did have a barbeque and had a few drinks.
But I've lost inches and I have a little waist.Which I didn't notice but my dp did.

A pound off is still a pound off! Well done! Congrats on the inches lost too! It's nice when people notice isn't it? I was just saying this morning that I've now lost 3 stones and only one person has noticed! I do wear mainly baggy clothes though so maybe you can't yet see much of a difference. You've done well though, keep at it!

A pound off is a pound off! Better than it being a pound on! You sound like you’re doing well!

Ah thanks,I just expected to lose a bit more.
But as you say a lb down is good.
I've rejigged my calories as well.
I felt on 1600 was too much especially doing the 16/8.
So I'm down to 1450 and I'll give that a couple of weeks and take it from there.

How are you finding the 16:8? I've found it really helps me stop binging at night. I just think to myself it would have been a waste of all that plain water I had drunk if I give in. lol

Im enjoying it i dont mind waiting till 12 for my lunch.I have a dessert and a coffee as well.
Nicer way to use up my calories than breakfast.

I do take it day by day,if i got up and i was starving or feeling a bit iffy.Then i would have food ,otherwise i wait.

I think delaying breakfast is a great way to reduce calories without feeling like you're 'dieting' or missing out (as long as you don't wake up really hungry!). I can easily skip breakfast too but if I go to the gym I have a protein bar afterwards. I've been having babybel lights for a snack, low cals and carbs and decent protein.

I fell off the wagon last night. Think I ate a whole lbs worth. Doh!

It takes an additional 3500 calories to gain lb of fat so I'm sure you're just fine draw a line under it as today is a new (cloudy ) day!

@73kittycat73 we all have crap days and eat shite.
Don't worry about it
Tomorrow is a new day.

@73kittycat73 don’t worry. We all have lapses. As Borderline says, tomorrow is another day. I’m so tired with the pain I’ve not been walking enough. Must get back into it. Had lots to do this week with holiday washing etc - and finding out I’m going to be made redundant (am ok with this!!)

Thank you all. Happened again last night. I might take a week off. My mums Birthday cake is arriving tomorrow and we have a party for it in the garden next week. I don't know. I think I need a break from it. I will keep exercising though.
Sorry to hear your in pain and about the redundancy PaperMonster. I hope things work out in your favour.