-
Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »
lucylocket61
Expert
My brother- major depression/life events not of his making. His focus was on surviving the only way he could. Food was his comfort.
Now he is in insulin he feels so much better, because his sugars are finally under control, that he is able to deal with his depression, and in turn making healthier food choices himself.
Mental health issues can be a major factor in choices, as can trauma, or multiple overwhelming issues to deal with at the same time.
I control my diet because I feel so much better physically, mentally and emotionally when I eat as few carbs as my other health issues permit.
Yes you just reminded me of my initial motivation. When diagnosed, it was obvious to me that the low fat , 5 a day, eat lots of whole grains that my GP and the NHS advised hadn't done any good for me. While eating that way my weight had increased form lower end of normal BMI to slightly overweight, I'd had a 3x CAB and then Type 2. And all the GP and nurse said was to do more of the same!
So once I heard about low carb I was determined not to follow their dietary advice any more. But that satisfaction was short lived once my HbA1C, BMI and energy levels were back to how they should be.
The thing that still annoys me is that both GP and nurse say that what I have done is not something that other patients could do. - Well obviously since they don't bother to tell them its got about a 50% success rate and that without permanent weight loss or low carb medication alone is a one way street.
I'm sure it would cost less to provide a simple BG meter and enough test strips to find which foods to avoid rather than keep on with more and more meds like Glic and Insulin. Especially so since once on those a meter and test strips need to be provided in any case!
Last edited:
JoKalsbeek
Expert
Why diet rather than meds...?
I didn't want my husband to be a young widower, which was the way things were going. But I responded very badly to medication (first metformin, then gliclazide). So I had to find another way. Diet was one that stuck.
Once I'd make the choice to learn about low carbing, I also found that it was a better way to avoid complications/progression later on. I've seen people lose limbs and later lives in rather horrible ways due to their uncontrolled blood sugars. I want to spare myself that, and more than that, I want to spare my husband having to care for me through that. He's given up enough when he decided he wanted to marry me, after all.
Taking care of myself is the least I can do.
I didn't want my husband to be a young widower, which was the way things were going. But I responded very badly to medication (first metformin, then gliclazide). So I had to find another way. Diet was one that stuck.
Once I'd make the choice to learn about low carbing, I also found that it was a better way to avoid complications/progression later on. I've seen people lose limbs and later lives in rather horrible ways due to their uncontrolled blood sugars. I want to spare myself that, and more than that, I want to spare my husband having to care for me through that. He's given up enough when he decided he wanted to marry me, after all.
Taking care of myself is the least I can do.
Simply put, I don’t wish to become diabetic again. Once was enough.
Plus who in their right mind would swap steak & eggs for bread?
Hmmm.... only half way down the thread, but a steak and egg sandwich would float my boat.
Not eating bread is still a strong act of self denial.
ianpspurs
Oracle
I'm just competitive and see it as a challenge to eat LC which is mainly a chore. I just hate losing anything at any time be it limbs, eyes, games with grandchildren or managing T2 by diet. Nothing very noble, just want a W in the result column. Agree with @LittleGreyCat re bread - I'll swerve the steak and eggs without batting an eyelid.
I'm 13+ years in and on maximum Metformin dose of 2,000 mg.
I worked my way up to this over the years.
Not overweight and I was overweight but not obese on diagnosis.
My initial motivation to go diet and exercise was a fear of needles.
The thought of having to inject insulin terrified me so I looked at the other options.
Fear of needles has waned because of people sticking them in me from time to time, and finger pricking.
At the moment I am trying to avoid the next stage of medication because anything that is glucose lowering carries with it various dietary penalties and daily risks.
So fear initially, and now I have found something that works I am trying to stay motivated and put off the next stage of medication for as long as possible.
Libre 2 helps a lot.
I worked my way up to this over the years.
Not overweight and I was overweight but not obese on diagnosis.
My initial motivation to go diet and exercise was a fear of needles.
The thought of having to inject insulin terrified me so I looked at the other options.
Fear of needles has waned because of people sticking them in me from time to time, and finger pricking.
At the moment I am trying to avoid the next stage of medication because anything that is glucose lowering carries with it various dietary penalties and daily risks.
So fear initially, and now I have found something that works I am trying to stay motivated and put off the next stage of medication for as long as possible.
Libre 2 helps a lot.
SuBelcanto
Newbie
Like an earlier poster, I went cold turkey 4 weeks ago on diagnosis and cut out all sugar. Blurry vision and neuropathy is all the motivation I needed to start losing weight as I don't want to go down that route. It's hard to ignore the cakes at work but I don't trust myself to only eat a small portion. One day I may trust myself and I will probably find it too sickly sweet (hopefully!).
Yes I agree with you re steak and eggs. It would be wonderful to like them, but I just don't.
ianpspurs
Oracle
It never occurred to me to eat steak and eggs together. Like wearing pyjamas to bed, just overkill. From avoiding it at all costs I now eat fish about 6 days a week (in a salad, cooked LC largely
) and really, really like salmon - sashimi?. The change amazes my other half. Recent retinal scan all good and Specsavers gave me a glowing report but I find Elsie none too comely and bat poo crazy in so many ways. She has many admirers though so there must be something I've missed
Last edited:
garyclark82
Well-Known Member
The joy of being told that my levels were down after three months of hard work is enough to motivate me for 99% of the time. I want to be able to enjoy the rest of my life with my girlfriend, and our family. Losing weight steadily and being able to buy nice branded things that I would not have been able to do before have also given me the kick up the **** I've needed when I'm feeling blue about things.
bulkbiker
BANNED
Pretty likely you will and eventually you'll likely stop even thinking of that stuff as "food".
Dollylolly
Well-Known Member
Being scared witless of going on insulin as my levels went to 116 as that’s what they wanted me on. I refused and asked for 3 months grace to try and bring them down. I got a month and I did lower it but they offered dapagliflozin to see if that would help further. I asked to be on it for a year only and went low carb into the bargain, much to the horror of the older nurse as she freaked at the fat intake, younger nurse was fine with it and gobsmacked at my weight loss in 12/13 weeks.
My year is up in November and we’ll see what they say. I’ll most likely have to say I do not consent again.
I discovered I could go down to 50g of carbs a day without a hypo. I can fast as long as I don’t take it or i hypo. I reported all of my findings to the GP and the yellow card.
Oh and I’ve no gallbladder either, removed 5/6 weeks ago and I’m still low carbing mostly under 75g a day.
I don’t mind needles per say but injecting daily is a no. Plus I saw what it did to my late mother. Her insulin was increased because she still ate from the eat well plate as it was called then. She never lost weight but gained snd it was the insulin that was doing it and all they did was increase it along with her other meds she took. She eventually died because of a diabetic coma that brought on a stroke. She was only 69.
My year is up in November and we’ll see what they say. I’ll most likely have to say I do not consent again.
I discovered I could go down to 50g of carbs a day without a hypo. I can fast as long as I don’t take it or i hypo. I reported all of my findings to the GP and the yellow card.
Oh and I’ve no gallbladder either, removed 5/6 weeks ago and I’m still low carbing mostly under 75g a day.
I don’t mind needles per say but injecting daily is a no. Plus I saw what it did to my late mother. Her insulin was increased because she still ate from the eat well plate as it was called then. She never lost weight but gained snd it was the insulin that was doing it and all they did was increase it along with her other meds she took. She eventually died because of a diabetic coma that brought on a stroke. She was only 69.
Onlinecaroline
Well-Known Member
Watching my father lose toe after toe, eventually both of his legs, his eyesight and a kidney and eventually passing at the age of 55. Being diagnosed at 33 and knowing if I don’t follow the diet I would likely end up like him. Although I enjoy eating this way, I do fear that the restrictive nature/ compulsion to do so isn’t good for my own mental health.
McHelen
Well-Known Member
Food relationships are complicated and everybody has their own triggers. Different periods in life also have an impact - In 2012 I started treatment for high blood pressure and decided to ‘get a grip’, joined slimming world, lost 5st and took up running. Roll on to 2016 and I was diagnosed with an eating disorder, my BMI had dropped to 18 and I was controlling my life through a very harsh regime of exercise and restrictive eating. Roll on to 2021, my BMI is 33 and I have a diagnosis of T2. To be honest, after having a few weeks of T2 tantrums (why me, not doing it etc), I am now set for low card, monitoring blood sugar levels and positive attitude for control. BUT I know that, at the moment, my will power against carbs (not just sugar) is low, so hubby is all set to be the voice of reason and support to keep me going. Fingers crossed this strategy will work for me.
Widgets
Well-Known Member
A number in the pre-diabetic range was enough to motivate me. I watched my granddad suffer various diabetic complications through the 1970s, eventually dying without his legs when I was about 18.
Currently a friend (a few years younger than me) is in hospital, pretty immobile, minus most of their toes on one foot, and still talking about 'being naughty' and 'favourite treats' of the sugary/cakey/fast food type. I do not want that for me.
Also, regular medication and Dr wrangling is a faff I'd rather avoid as much as I can.
Currently a friend (a few years younger than me) is in hospital, pretty immobile, minus most of their toes on one foot, and still talking about 'being naughty' and 'favourite treats' of the sugary/cakey/fast food type. I do not want that for me.
Also, regular medication and Dr wrangling is a faff I'd rather avoid as much as I can.
The thought of loss of toes, eyes etc scares the holy c**p out of me plus getting to the size I was before diagnosis and the way I was feeling physically also.
andromache
Well-Known Member
Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it, Ian.It never occurred to me to eat steak and eggs together. Like wearing pyjamas to bed, just overkill. From avoiding it at all costs I now eat fish about 6 days a week (in a salad, cooked LC largely
ianpspurs
Oracle
True but I'm never going to try it (steak and eggs). Those that enjoy it, or wearing PJs, good on ya. Me and Elsie stay together for the sake of the limbs, eyes etc, etc - loveless relationship. Grandpa was right about putting lipstick on pigs (and so much else) Chac'un .......Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it, Ian.
Last edited:
pinkfoot
Well-Known Member
A couple of things motivated me , getting rid of my constantly bad stomach and wanting to be able to see for a lot longer. Lately, my best mate having a massive heart attack aged 47, we buried him a week ago. As I'm getting older the simple things really mean a lot to me, good friends, travel and pursuing my passions, sea fishing and amateur radio.
I was once a taxi driver and I had a lovely older couple in one night, the gent couldn't talk due to a stroke, but his wife explained they loved to travel and couldn't do so now due to her husband's failing health, for some reason this resonated with me and I can never forget it.
I was once a taxi driver and I had a lovely older couple in one night, the gent couldn't talk due to a stroke, but his wife explained they loved to travel and couldn't do so now due to her husband's failing health, for some reason this resonated with me and I can never forget it.
