Will I die if I don't change?

[hadntbeen]

I'm a 30 year old female. Full disclosure - my eating is out of control. Full of carbs, sugar and I drink a lot, and I mean a lot of semi skimmed milk which is just full of sugar. I am 5 foot 4 and weigh around 15 stone.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes around 2 years ago when I started to become very sleepy throughout the day.

My hba1c results in October were 8.0 so not too bad, however, I hadn't been taking the 2000 mg metformin that was prescribed to me. I was honest with my doctor about this and so she told me to just take 500 mg and we would do another test in January.

I didn't do that - I honestly don't have any other reason for it other than the tablets make me feel sick and I don't like swallowing them. I've noticed over the last month that I have been urinating a lot more. I just got my hba1c results back and they are now 9.6.

I'm quite worried by these results as my diet hasn't changed since my last results in October but still my sugar levels aren't even staying the same they are just rising.

I'm scared to talk to my doctor. My plan from today is to start taking my one tablet 500 mg of metformin and to cut out the milk. I literally drink about 2 litres a day.

Is it reversible still at this point? If I continue the way I am, what can I expect going forward?

Every part of my life is going so well, I just can't quite get a grip of this.

I guess I need some horror stories/cold, hard facts to shock me into action.

My father had T2 diabetes and is blind from it. His brother had both his feet amputated. After I had gestational diabetes thinking of that made me lose weight.

To put it plainly, yes. Your habits are damaging and you won't get away with it, your body will eventually send you the bill.
That doesn't mean that it's your fault - you clearly need therapy and MH treatment to get to the root of your unhealthy habits. Speak to your doctor, show that you are taking it seriously and get a referral.

What do you think is stopping you making some changes OP?

Kindly, OP, I don't think you need horror stories to shock you. I think you need a bloody big pat on the back for recognising you have an issue and beginning to do some things about it - even just admitting it on here is a start.
Take it one step at a time. Back to the GP, tell them you haven't taken the tablets because they make you feel bloody awful. Ask for an alternative, and a referral to a diabetic nurse. Also ask if there are NHS diabetic courses near you. In some areas they have them under a health prevention programme and they talk you through diabetes in very clear basic detail.
Keep a diary. Not just what you eat but when, what are your emotions. Do you eat through boredom? Stress? Finance a problem so eating cheap? Once you've identified those issues it's easier to resolve them.
Get down to your local library and take out some books on diabetes and insulin resistance. Recipe books as well if they have them. Stop punishing yourself by "cutting out," and start rewarding yourself by exchanging for better.
If you live alone don't keep problem foods in the house; you're less likely to have them if you have to go out to buy. If you don't, put the danger foods in one area and your rewarding foods in another if you can. Tell family and friends; they can support you in so many ways.
Make time for self-care. A nice bath, a good book, if you can afford it go for a spa or massage if you enjoy that kind of thing.
Make time for activity. Pick something you enjoy - you don't have to join a gym, you can go for a walk, bike ride, go to your local pool or horse riding stables. The more fun it is, the more likely you are to go! Have you got a friend who could go with you?
At this point I suspect - although without knowing you cannot be sure - that milk is the least of your worries and it does provide other good nutrients. Your diary will help you figure out those danger areas, and the course or books will help you understand food better.
There are worse fates than death OP. Without change, you are risking many of them including; arthritic joints, gout, kidney disease and failure, liver cirrhosis (obesity is overtaking alcohol on causing liver failure), peripheral neuropathy (loss of feeling initially in fingers and toes but can affect full limbs), blindness, incontinence, heart disease, fluid retention, lung disease and more. But you know all that. You wouldn't have asked if you didn't. Now go and live; for you and your loved ones x

The milk thing is quite unusual. Do you drink any water or just milk? Does it make you feel unwell?

I think changing a few things could make a difference. Swap milk for water, that's an easy one unless you're be dry fixated on milk.

I think 90% of dieting happens at the supermarket. Don't buy sugar and carbs so they're just not in the house.

Brush your teeth when you start to crave something sweet.

You're young, you can turn it around.

The other thing is that your skin will probably spring back at this age. People who lose a lot of weight later in life usually need surgery because their skin hangs off them.

Do it now, not later!

A common symptom of type 2 diabetes is frequent urination. Also, increased thirst. Water would be more sensible. But so would be taking the medication that controls blood sugar levels and helps prevent complications of diabetes, as prescribed.

I know how to eat healthy, I was 9 stone 5 years ago. I just keep saying, 'oh I'll start tomorrow' 'one more unhealthy meal won't kill me'. And then on the first few days of a 'diet' I always feel really weird and nauseous.

Another suggestion that therapy is the way to go - your relationship with food seems disordered to the point of self-abuse.

Aside from the diabetes, your story sounds very like mine. Similar height, approaching 15 stone and out of control with shitty eating habits.

I then read the Why We Eat (too much) threads on here in December and it was the push I needed to change.

I read the book Why we Eat (too much) by Andrew Jenkinson and it was a sobering read - I'd imagine even more so for a diabetic!

I'm 3 weeks in, have cut out almost all refined sugar, carbs and processed food and all of my cravings have gone. I've lost 10lbs and I feel so much healthier already.

Come and join us on the latest thread and read the book if you can! It's very interesting.

@hadntbeen alcoholics in remission use that psychology in the opposite sense to very good effect. Why not look at it the other way round and say to yourself ‘i just won’t eat that cake. dessert, whatever today’. One day at a time.

What diet are you trying?

Weird might be on every diet as you are making a change, but nauseous shouldn't be happening

How long can you stick it out for usually?

I think it probably is a little bit of self harm. To be absolutely honest, 3 years ago I was badly addicted to alcohol, I got support for this and stopped drinking but that is when I gained all my weight. I feel like I replaced one addiction for the other, food gives me pleasure. Milk I honestly just love the taste of and it's comforts me. I haven't told anyone in real life that as I find the amount I drink really embarrassing.

This you can do today and now while you figure the rest out. And if you’re already having a bad day, don’t wait to tomorrow - say to yourself ‘i won’t eat any more shote today’.

Shite !!

That's a good idea!

OP that's about 1000 calories a day just for the milk.

@hamstersarse literally a couple days, I'm really not very good. And I always go in with the mindset, 'well I'm not going to stick to this anyways' which is really negative but I can't seem to shut it off.

You need to be honest with your doctor and also seek therapy to deal with your overeating as it’s a psychological issue that will be difficult to fix alone. Uncontrolled Type 2 is no joke, as many previous posters have highlighted, but it is still possible for you to turn the situation around if you act NOW. Get the help you need and pull yourself together, you can take back control but you’ll need to fully commit yourself to changing your behaviours.

I know, it's a crazy amount. I feel constantly bloated, I know I need to stop drinking it but it's like a comfort for me, I get really overwhelming cravings for it m

Congrats on kicking alcohol!

The addiction element seems absolutely key. You need to search for support for the addictive behaviours and their root causes.

I have an easy suggestion. Switch to full fat milk, it will fill you up better and the fat will help you process the sugar. You can change that today.

Shockng the ignorance on here.

There are no carbs as such in milk
There is no sugar (as in refined sugar) in milk.

There is lactose in milk . This is not a sugar that makes you fat.

Did you drink through the day, before? I wonder if milk is replacing alcohol, as a slightly sugary, filling drink.

Have a listen to this series

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0017tcz?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile