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.

@CaffeineInfusion I don’t know if they’d work with milk - give it a go! I guess the mixture would be a bit sloppier.

@PaperMonster

The H&B one is their own version on the SlimPasta, so would probably give you heartburn I bet! It’s about half the price though. I don’t find it particularly chewy - I don’t have it very often, and it does smell very fishy until you’ve rinsed it. But it’s a nice change I find. I didn’t like the no carb rice though, oddly! That was a texture thing. I do love Lo-Dough as well but only when made as pizzas, I don’t like them as wraps.

Hi, thanks for the advice. I have the no carb/cauliflower rice but I haven't tried it yet. The reviews said it comes out smelling bad and soggy from the microwave, but pan fry them off instead and they are much nicer. I've not heard of lo-Dough. Is that from H & B too?

@73kittycat73 no, Lo-Dough is online only. They’re expensive, but I do like them occasionally! Have a Google of them - they usually have a 10% offer from their Facebook page if you look via there.

[quote PaperMonster]@73kittycat73 no, Lo-Dough is online only. They’re expensive, but I do like them occasionally! Have a Google of them - they usually have a 10% offer from their Facebook page if you look via there.[/quote]
Thank you. Will have a Google.

Oh, I like the look of that brownie mix!

@73kittycat73 I tried it and wasn’t impressed, but I’ve joined a Lo-Dough recipe group on FB and people on there seem to have had more success by adding eggs I think. I have the southern fry coating - I do like that!

[quote PaperMonster]@73kittycat73 I tried it and wasn’t impressed, but I’ve joined a Lo-Dough recipe group on FB and people on there seem to have had more success by adding eggs I think. I have the southern fry coating - I do like that![/quote]
Southern Fried coating sounds delish! Thank you for the low down on the brownies.
My Easter Cream by The Skinny Food Co arrived today. It was foul. Had a really horrible aftertaste. I'm glad I bought the sample sashays to try before buying any more full (Price!) bottles.

Ooo that southern fried coating does look good!

Sorry the Easter cream wasn't nice, it's a shame when that happens as these things aren't cheap. Once shops are open TK Maxx and Homesense often have skinny syrups etc in.

I had 'Swoodles' with dinner last night and tonight. They're noodles made with swede from Tesco. Pretty tasty. Had with pasta sauce last night and made into a stir fry with chicken sausages tonight.

Hi WreckTangled Do you think TK Maxx would do them online, and are they any good?
I'm kicking myself a bit tonight. I decided to pass on the cookie but ended up eating peanuts and cashews and probably eating many more calories in the process! lol
Those Swoodles sound nice, I like swede. How do you cook them? I tried courghetti (Spl?) once and it was a watery mess! lol

Well last night I boiled them and tonight stir fried. I think stir fried was better but they weren't too watery boiled. Maybe next time I would use a sieve to drain and squeeze them out a bit more.

I don't think they have them online really. They're called skinny syrups but they're not syrups they're watery. Ds has them in ready brek I have them in total Greek yoghurt.

I saw the skinny syrups in B & M. I bought the maply syrup one, but wasn't really impressed. It tastes very artificial and chemically. I think I'd rather train my taste buds to live without.

Im also experimenting with my spiraliser and will probably have a go with butternut squash later.

I've not tried the actual syrup ones only the ones that are meant to go in your coffee. Having been diabetic for 21 years I'm used to the taste of sweeteners

Thank you for the advice.
I see where you are coming from CaffeineInfusion about training away from sweet food. I started out trying that, but have succumbed to a few sweet treats. Nothing like before though, just the odd diabetic biscuit. I find if I have something sweet, then I want more! lol
I don't mind sweeteners either WreckTangled. When I drank coffee I used to use them. Also of course the biscuits and Skinny Sauce. I'm working my way through the samples I ordered from The Skinny Food Co. I didn't like the chocolate sauce but the maple syrup was Ok, it would do in a fix. Shall report back on the others when I've tried them.

I must try the maple syrup one - the chocolate syrup is a bit weird. OH bought me the sweet chilli one and I really like that. I do have to be careful with sweeteners as they can bring me out in a rash! I occasionally make pancakes with arrowroot and I miss maple syrup on them!! Used to love it!!

Thank you for this thread! Please, let’s keep it going. I am recently diagnosed T2 and have been disappointed with the slowness of the Diabetes forum.
I’ve been low-carbing and my numbers are good. Due for more blood work before a doctor visit in March and I’m actually looking forward to it/hopeful of seeing an improvement in my hba1c.

And for those who despair of a good-long life with T2 - my T2 mother is 93 and still going!

I agree about the chocolate syrup PaperMonster ! Sorry to hear about your rash problems. Is it any sweetener in particular, or do they all have this possible side effect? I didn't try the chili one, my tongue is a big wuss. Anything spicy and it gets to hot for me! I do manage Sainsbury's tinned veg curry (Nicer than it sounds! lol), but Asdas' version is delicious, but it's to hot for me! They also do a Katsu curry burger thing, again absolutely delicious but I can't handle the heat!
Hi Hushpuppy1 welcome aboard. It sounds like you've got things pretty under control. Here's to your improved hba1c. Fantastic to hear about your mum!
I'm nursing a swollen ankle. My foot went under me earlier and I not only fell, but fell forward onto my computer desk and stuff went flying everywhere! I knocked a cup of water over. Luckily it wasn't too full but I switched everything off just in case and had to do a big mop up job. Still, all seems to be working at the moment, apart from my poor ankle!

Oh no! Hope your ankle gets better quickly. I've been wanting to eat lots today and tomorrow I'm planning a few lots gins so will have the evening and then Saturday off low carb. Need carbs with alcohol or it makes me sick. And hangovers require pot noodles and chocolate

@WreckTangled

Oh no! Hope your ankle gets better quickly. I've been wanting to eat lots today and tomorrow I'm planning a few lots gins so will have the evening and then Saturday off low carb. Need carbs with alcohol or it makes me sick. And hangovers require pot noodles and chocolate

Thanks. I wanted to eat loads yesterday. I really hope you enjoy your gins and carbs! Pot noodles and chocolate sound amazing.

@73kittycat73 I know aspartame brings me out in a rash, but I’ve not checked what’s in the Skinny syrups but, to be fair, you only have a splodge of them! I once had an operation where I had to have children’s liquid pain relief a number of times a day - it contained aspartame and I came out in the rash. Consultant knew immediately why I’d come out in the rash, so it mustn’t be uncommon. Had effervescent grown up pain relief after that (which was flipping disgusting!!).

Oh, and it was after that op that my HBA1C started increasing each year!

I try to allow myself the odd day every few months otherwise I will just end up resenting the way I eat and not stick to it I think. I've been pretty good the last few weeks (less than 30g most days) so I'm going to enjoy 24 hours off then back to it.

I think you do right there. I will be indulging in cake in a few days’ time as I shall be having a birthday. Although I have been craving scones with jam and cream of late!!

*scones with jam and cream8 Yum.
Is aspartame widely used? I'm sure it's in orange juice? I hope it doesn't limit you to much? Is it your birthday you'll be having the cake for?
less than 30g most days Is that carbs? Blimey! Well done for managing to go so low! I understand about having to have the odd 'cheat.' I hope you really enjoy it.

Had a bit of a pig out last night. I was desperate for some cake or chocolate! I remembered I had a snack pot of Ambrosia Rice Pudding in the cupboard and had it with a small bit of jam. Then I had some yogurts, then two chocolate snack pots, and finally peanuts and cashews. For me, that wasn't too bad, and I completely forgot about my emergency stash downstairs and the Cadbury's Cream Egg Ice creams in the chest freezer too! I have to be careful with the chocolate snack pots. I got them from The Skinny Food Co. They were selling them off at £6.00 a box so I bought them to try them-They don't give me leg cramp! Yay, but not yay. Yay because I can get a chocolate fix, nay because I will scoff them all! They don't have any more on their website so I should try and make them last really (Yeah right! ).
How is everyone else's weekend going? I've been nursing my mum, she feels very nauseated today. I hope you are enjoying the booze and cake WreckTangled!

No I have not. I forgot that low carb and alcohol do not mix. Vom fest here. Remembered why I don't really drink.