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 am supposed to be on medication but keep forgetting to take it. I have a copy of a letter from the diabetic eye people to say there are definite changes to my eyes, so be careful all those "getting away with it".

I have problems because my mouth gets very dry and after a while, water just makes me sick! I try not to drink Diet Pepsi but sometimes that is the only thing to quench my thirst. I also get terrible cramps in my legs/groin as well.

I am going to have to put the day's pills in my handbag so I know where the medication is and take it!

@deathraystare I could never remember to tale multivitamins, so now I am on medication, I've had to make a conscious effort which basically was to buy a weekly pill box and put it by the kettle. I can't forget now.

Regarding water, I drink loads of the stuff, always have but I also like it cold from the fridge and use the soda steam then add a slice of lemon.

Your post worried me. Time for you to love yourself I reckon.

Very recently diagnosed (this month) with type 2. Had the paramedics to get me off the floor after a fall late last year and their check of my blood sugar suggested an issue.

I’ve had my hba1c checked twice since then and I managed to reduce it by 5 in between but still got diagnosed after the second one. Spoke to the diabetes nurse for the first time yesterday and she’s pleased with what I’ve achieved but really pushing low carb. Much more than I expected which feels a bit disheartening.

I drink 2lts of PepsiMax a day. Well, you've got to have something right? I find, like you, that water doesn't cut it, it doesn't wet my mouth. I also bout a pill box. It's a right pain in the bum filling it up though. (I take 8 tablets in the morning, including vitamins and not all diabetic, and 8 at night.) I have a 7 day one with am and pm slots.

*Bought not bout! lol

Personally I don't see anything wrong with drinking diet fizzy drinks. You could do a lot worse.

I'm really tired today so just want to eat. I'm doing just that but ensuring it's all low carb so although I'm eating way more than usually I'm avoiding poor sugar levels at least.

I’m a water woman - don’t touch fizzy anymore, other than gin with fuzzy water!!

I ordered some Cheesies and they arrived today. Sometimes I do just miss something crunchy!! Had a packet and they are fabulous!!

I drink a lot of black tea - hot and wet and water. I am not drinking booze at the moment as I try and cut down carbs and do my hardcore diet bit but like @PaperMonster when I do the fizz is in the G&T, but it has to be Fevertree Naturally Light as its low cal and low carb. Their whole range is nice for "treat" drinks too.

My food intake has crept up a bit - I was managing 800-1000 cals a day but it's hovering between 1000 and 1200. I am losing on average 2lb per week at the moment (after that fabulous quick start you get where you drop a load all at once).

I am down 25lb so far (and nothing fits, the other natural gauge) but still need to lose about another 50-55 lb all in. It's good to be 1/3 way in but 2lb a week won't see me at my goal till the Autumn (and I am bound to fall off the wagon for Easter, my birthday, etc).

I was reading about calorie intake when you lose weight and now realise that when I hit my goal my daily recommended calorie intake will be just 1300 to maintain weight loss. Eek!

On the daily sugar readings, my nurse (interesting how we all get slightly different advice) was not to worry about daily readings but to see the big picture at 6 monthly checks. I am broadly now low carb as in no starchy carbs like rice, pasta, bread or potatoes (but not really carb counting veggies and pulses etc) so this must be making a difference but I have a daily small bowl of porridge which given other comments concerns me. Maybe I ought to buy a monitor.

This thread is so helpful. Am also type 2 and have been mostly vegan for the last year - my HBAC went right up as I was eating potatoes and bread without really thinking about it. This year I’m still off dairy and meat but having fish. It is so hard being low carb and vegan. I have Greek oatly yoghurt for breakfast with nuts and seeds and blueberries which is nice. I need to test more. Thank you so much for starting this, OP.

Mmm I love cheesies. I've got some low carb tortilla chips in the cupboard for emergencies (because they're so expensive). They're amazing.

I think when you're not on insulting the hba1c can give a good picture but if you are then you could actually be producing a good level by having loads of highs and lows which make the average good even though it's poorly controlled, so I can see why the nurse would say that.

Hi all, hope everyone is doing OK?
I had an 'Uh-oh,' moment earlier. I have been eating Soreen bars in the evenings to satisfy my sweet cravings. Was cooking earlier and decided to look at the pack for some reason, 17g carbs per bar!!! I was having 2 a night! So I went on Amazon and found some low carb and sugar choc bars. The jury was out in the comments about the sweetener used (Does it spike insulin?) but it was half and half. I Googled and most articles seemed to say it was ok. If anybody wants to look them up (As I don't want to link incase my account shows up. ) they are:
Atkins Chocolate Bar Keto Snacks, Low Carb, Low Sugar Chocolate Crispy Snack Bar, Multipack of 15
Can't wait for them to turn up. Chocolate...yum.

Download the 'Carbs and cals' app on your phone. Keep an eye on carbs in general in foods, it will surprise you with things you didn't realise.

Ok Atkins bars. I've had these, I love them as a treat. They are a massive no to those on a keto diet but that's not us. The worst sweetener you can have is maltodextrin, it causes the same insulin response as sugar. Malitol (which is in these particular bars) has about half the effect on your insulin response. These sweeteners are called sugar alcohols (polyols) and certain ones can be deducted from the carb count which is why Atkins say 2.6g net carbs yet ok the label it says total carbs 14g. In this instance, if I was giving myself insulin I would dose for about 7g of carbs (I'd also dose for the protein but that's complex and I won't go into it as it's unnecessary here).

The bottom line here, I think, is that this chocolate bar is going to be pretty tasty and should be much better on your blood sugars than a Mars bar, or two soreen bars and I hope I haven't confused you.

Lol, thank you WreckTangled it doesn't take much to confuse me! Glad to know it's better than two Soreen bars anyway. Thank you for the explanation.
Hi coldnwindy I'll have a look for the app. I share a mobile with my mum though and she has it more than me usually. (Makes her feel safer at night as she takes it to bed with her.) I was surprised with apples though, about 20g of carbs a go! I wanted to see how many eggs had, so it could have been good for that...Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Eggs are negligible amounts. Good low carb fruits are any berries which is great in the summer, not so much in the winter.

I'm going to attempt that nigella chocolate cake today.

Did you say nigella chocolate cake??? Pass some over here! Good luck with it, I hope it turns out wonderful. Eaten with a cup of coffee or wine ? My chocolate has turned up today and I've had one. It was delish. I also seem to have ordered no added, and no sugar biscuits...Ban me from Amazon please! lol

I overcooked it. Also I only had stevia to use which has the most disgusting after taste. The recipe has potential if I don't burn it and use a different sweetener in future

Aww, sorry to hear it didn't work out. passes over a choc bar in solidarity
Anyway, practice makes perfect. Can you get some other sweetener quickly, or are you going to give it a while before you try again?

Oh I'll still eat it waste not want want and all that. I've cut it up and chucked it in the freezer, will microwave for 50 seconds when I'm craving something sweet.

Nice. I was wondering what you were going to do with it but thought it a bit rude to ask if you were still going to eat it. Do you have any cream to go with it?

I don't like cream! Wish I did as it would help I'm sure. Maybe some raspberries will do the trick.

Oh I love cream. Hope the raspberries taste nice with it, I'm sure they will.
I'm currently ploughing my way through Werthers original sugar free sweets. I've had three but am stopping now because I learnt my lesson last time. I have 8 and was up all night in the loo!

I had 8

@WreckTangled - I normally cover it with tin foil for the last bit of baking. And yes, stevia is not my favourite. Monkfruit & erythritol is best for baking I think.

I am finding everything so confusing so hopefully will get some help here.
Not been diagnosed as diabetic , but I know I am heading in that direction.And weight gain is a problem , could do with losing at least 3 stone.
Definitely an emotional eater at the moment and was bingeing on chocolate. My biggest downfall is a cup of tea and something sweet . I really crave sweet . And then feeling hungry all the time. Really need to get a grip with myself.
I have the Dr. Moseley diet books . Need to focus on trying to follow it.

So , are we trying to avoid carbs completely? More protein and/or fat ? And porridge not good? That leaves a breakfast problem as I just want something quick . And aren't fruits high in sugar ?