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.

Hmm first day of summer ? Got soaked on the school run and that was with taking the car after I couldn’t face the walk in the torrential rain . I’ve been craving comfort food so made a chicken curry and ate it with a small wholemeal pitta instead of rice. Was delicious. Chinese is always a treat I’ve been working out different lower carb options for various takeaways in the head already ready for when I want a treat 😁

Whoop! HBA1C is 45 (was 51 at Christmas) so all good there!

@Hermie12 - please don’t send the rain up here! Still managing to avoid it, although there was a downpour overnight Saturday.

I have two tattoos- always thinking of another but undecided as to what!

Rarely get a takeaway as we’re out in the sticks. We did have a chippy van come during lockdown but they seem to have given up!! I get chicken saag from Aldi and that’s my takeaway equivalent!!

@PaperMonster great news on the hba1c you should be feeling very pleased with yourself!

@Hermie12 thank you, I’m surprised!! I’ve been on one Metformin since Christmas but I think the biggest impact has been walking. I had an accident in Jan and have been off work and so have walked a lot!! I’ve been a bit more relaxed food-wise, although not every day and I really thought that would have a negative impact.

I've booked my hba1c for next week. Gulp.

Wasn't me with the redundancy @BorderlineHappy

Eugh. I'm pissed off. I booked the gym for this evening and I've cancelled it last minute because I'm in a bad mood and now I'm in an even worse mood especially as it's charged me for cancelling. Wankers.

I hear ya Hermie12, was peeing it down here all afternoon, we even had the heating on!
Congrats on the HBA1C PaperMonster! That's almost pre diabetic level isn't it (I'm thinking 42 in my head???), well done though!
Good luck for next week WreckTangled. Sorry to hear you are in a bad mood. I almost didn't go to yoga because of the cold and ran and that I didn't sleep well last night. I did go in the end but I realised afterwards I'm always second guessing myself and am really negative towards myself: 'I can't do this. It's to hard. I'm no good at this.' Must try and big myself up next time! Anyway, sorry, that wasn't much help for you there was it? What about a nice relaxing warm bath? Or a Youtube walking workout, get some of that anger out? Sometimes the only way out is through. I hope you manage to feel better soon. Post away if it helps.

@BorderlineHappy I’m the redundancy one!! Sorry to hear you’re peeed off @WreckTangled. Hope you’re happier soon and fingers crossed for your HBA1C!

@73kittycat73 pre-diabetes is 42-47, so hopefully by the next test I’ll be less than 42 if I keep the walking up - not to mention being away from the stress of work!!

My last one was 39. I do bet hypos though which evens it out a bit

Thanks. It's that time of the month and I'm just grouchy. Might just go to bed and do the gym in the morning. I think I'll regret it if I don't.

Loads of good wishes to you then for your next test PaperMonster. I wonder what they say/do when you become prediabetic? Are you no longer diabetic, do you have to stop medication? I recon you'll find out at your next HBA1C anyway.
Oh, just seen your reply WreckTangled. Do they still class you as a diabetic? You are type 1 though aren't you? It might be different then.
There's no shame in giving up and going to bed. Get the day over and hopefully have a better one tomorrow. Maybe you can work out your mood in the gym in the morning if you still feel bad? I hope you have a peaceful night.

Yes type one so will always be diabetic.

Hmm you can put type two into remission but I think you'll always have that diagnoses, you can certainly stop all medication but I think you'll remain a type two diabetic as far as your medical notes are concerned (I'm thinking of insurance purposes, getting annual monitoring and being called up for the flu vaccine!).

Oh, just realised, were almost full, when we hit forty pages I'll make another thread and link to it on here.

I see WreckTangled. I did wonder.
I'm off in a minute, more TV watching! I recorded a programme that was on Channel 5 this evening. Has Ruth Langsford in it, called something like 'Lose A Stone For Summer.' I've watched similar ones before but don't know if this is a new one or repeat. I hope it's new.
I really hope you wake in a better mood and feel a lot better.
Take care all, and see you tomorrow!
(If the thread is filling up and I'm not here please feel free to start a new thread. Just post a link on here if you can. Thanks. )

@WreckTangled Oops im blaming my fat fingers
Im sorry you are in a bad mood,nothing worse.
@PaperMonster thats fantastic news,well done

@73kittycat73 No not all my tattoos are Madonna related,mores the pity.
This one took about an hour and a half which wasnt to bad.
My longest one was about 5 or 6 hours.

Wow, 5-6 hours?! You don't mind the pain then, or do you not feel it anymore?
Stuck to my fast last night (16:8) and this morning. Getting all the junk out really helped.

Sorry, posted too soon.
WreckTangled I hope you woke up in a nicer mood?
PaperMonster I hope your arm is giving you some relief today?
Hi Hermie12 how are you today?

Morning everyone
Sticking to the 12 to 8 mostly.
Except today,back from my walk and I was starving.
So had some weetabix and blueberries.
And a lovely coffee.

Morning everyone. All good here. The rain has stopped that has made everything feel better plus I can walk the school runs again. It's still quite cold though and I think that's why I feel starving this morning. Thank goodness there are no goodies in the house!

I am in a better mood thank you didn't go to the gym though... going to do a home work out instead.

@WreckTangled thats good news.I hate when you get in a bad mood and nothing shifts it.

Go and enjoy your workout.

@73kittycat73 thanks - had a bad night with the arm, which is unusual but no throbbing pain today thankfully just the normal pain!!

I was diagnosed with HBA1C of 48 about two years ago, then I was down to 42/43 (can’t remember!) three months later. Didn’t have meds, just measured my bloods and avoided the food that raised them. Then with lockdown etc I was late getting my next one done - which was last Christmas and that had gone to 51 despite low carb and walking. That’s when I was put on one Metformin and I’ve not been as good with food (really since my accident in Jan and ongoing pain!) I read somewhere that to be classified medically as in remission you’ve to go two years with a normal HBA1C without meds - but I don’t know how true this is! I expect I’ll continue to go up and down!

We are genetically predisposed to T2D in our family and we have recently discovered we have a genetic condition that leads to T2D (although it looks like I’m not directly affected by this condition itself, this could be the reason for the T2D on my maternal side; my brother is quite poorly with the genetic condition at the mo but hasn’t got the T2D from it).

Sorry - that was an essay!!!

@WreckTangled good to hear you’re feeling brighter! @BorderlineHappy I’ve had Cheerios again - and immediately went for a two mile walk! Good to hear the rain’s gone @Hermie12, more sunshine here again, how long can this last???

Had this for dinner. Forgot how much I like it. 9.3g carbs per portion. So good when you can't be bothered to cook! No good if you're veggie though, sorry

Doesn't sound like that would do too much damage BorderlineHappy. I did read on the weight loss boards that it takes about 10 weeks of 16:8 to start showing. Someone was only doing them 4 days a week as well.
Hi Hermie12, yes, it was cold and rainy again here today too. Good idea about not having too many treats in!
Glad you woke up feeling better WreckTangled. I'm so glad I'm past the menopause! Now all I cope with are hot flushes...

Looks good WreckTangled. I always wonder why they don't make more veggie friendly ready meals. My mum gets a sausage chips and beans from Iceland. Bung a few veggie sausages in there and it would be grand. Ditto bangers and mash, etc. No, we have to have goats cheese, jackfruit, etc. Yuk!

@WreckedTangled that looks good.
I have had some fake chicken satay thing on a stick for my tea.600 calories for 4 but it was so tasty and filling.

Yes after my breakfast today i was starving so im just going to stick to 12 to 8 eating window.Works better for me