In a bit of a mess...

[Avocado Sevenfold]

Hi Cait

When I read your posts, I was reminded of a thread I read recently on the subject of diabulimia. Sorry if I have got the wrong of the stick, but give it a search. If you have it, your medical team need to sit up and get you the best treatment you require. Take care.

 

[michaeldavid]

I am a slim, georgeous (and vain), 56-year-old man. The only time in my life that I put on weight was when I first became diabetic 30 years ago: suddenly, I was obsessed with eating.

Clearly, you are currently in a worse state than I was. But you've only been diabetic for 6 years. And if you put your mind to it, you can be right as rain very quickly indeed. (But you must be careful too, of course.)

In particular, I think it's very likely that your eyesight can be sorted out very quickly. High blood sugar makes vision blurry. Get your blood sugar down (with care), and your normal eyesight will promptly return.

What I eat, and when, is fairly unorthodox. But my control of my blood sugar is extraordinarily good.

You already recognise yourself to be unorthodox about eating - pathologically so. But you don't have to try to eat like a normal person, as DAFNE would have you do.

You could instead just make up your mind to become a bit more healthily unorthodox, like me.

In fact, as others on this forum will have noticed, I am constantly proclaiming that it's precisely my unorthodox insulin and dietary regimen - most especially the rye bread - that allows me to control my condition so well.

However in your case, I think it's clear that diabetes is not the real problem. It appears from what you first wrote that diabetes merely initiated your dietary problem.

Thirty years on from my brief weight gain, I've never eaten better in my llife. And that's thanks to diabetes!

I'm sure that you too could turn the tables.

 

[Scandichic]

If it's a fresh start you're after, is it not possible to change your doctor? Just a thought. I advocate LCHF to keep the weight off but don't know if this is suitable for t1- recommend diet doctor. Site is in 2 languages and you can email the doc who writes the site. I did and got a very quick response. I know tha douglas99 does a low GI diet and that worked really well for him. Well done for joining us and welcome! X

 

[Amy8668]

My partner has gone through kind of the same thing as you, he was diagnosed at 16 and is now 25, in all this time he has completely ignored it only doing insulin when he really really needs to and eating whatever the hell he likes, now after nearly 10 years he has managed to change his ways and get on top of everything, he feels so much better in himself, not so many mood swings, tiredness etc anymore and had realised although he has to test and inject it's such a better way of life than before!

Well done to you, you have done well


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[DiamondAsh]

and had realised although he has to test and inject it's such a better way of life than before!

So many have said that and it's true. It is the best way (of eating, at any rate). There are soon going to be thousands of Diabetics who are healthier than the non-Ds. There are umpteen number of people walking around, who are not diabetic, and yet have harmful levels of glucose surging around their bloodstream. I'm one of them that's why I'm eating accordingly and testing regularly. Diabetics are blessed in that they know for sure that they cannot tolerate sugar in their body and so can accommodate that. For some, insulin is their friend.

*I hope my words have come out correctly. I know what I'm trying to say, I just hope I've managed to convey it without causing anyone any offense. Non intended*

 

[woodstar65]

Hi sorry to hear your going through bad times. I can relate to what your going through as I'm the same. It's brought on severe depression to the point were I have been using the novo rapid to try and overdose. But when I go into a hypo state I can't get passed the hunger feelings and have to eat, which brings me out of them. Which then makes me put on weight. I don't have any support at home as I've told my wife about this, but she too has depression and is totally uninterested about it. I too get the lectures from the gp/dn. they tell me I need to do it for my daughter. I love my daughter to bits and want to love long and healthy for her. I just don't want to put loads of weight on and loose my sex drive again. As I feel worse when I'm taking it. I have told my specialist doc what I'm going through. They don't care as long as you get your levels under control.
If you need to talk to someone who is going through what you are at the mo I'm here. May be we can help each other.


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[Scandichic]

Hi sorry to hear your going through bad times. I can relate to what your going through as I'm the same. It's brought on severe depression to the point were I have been using the novo rapid to try and overdose. But when I go into a hypo state I can't get passed the hunger feelings and have to eat, which brings me out of them. Which then makes me put on weight. I don't have any support at home as I've told my wife about this, but she too has depression and is totally uninterested about it. I too get the lectures from the gp/dn. they tell me I need to do it for my daughter. I love my daughter to bits and want to love long and healthy for her. I just don't want to put loads of weight on and loose my sex drive again. As I feel worse when I'm taking it. I have told my specialist doc what I'm going through. They don't care as long as you get your levels under control.
If you need to talk to someone who is going through what you are at the mo I'm here. May be we can help each other.


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Notice that you are new member too! Welcome! I have found this forum to be a life line! Why not try LCHF? For more info go to diet doctor - might suit you!

 

[Auckland Canary]

This sounds like diabulimia which is becoming more prevalent and is starting to become classified as an eating disorder rather than a problem with diabetic control. Very little research has been done on this however the research that has been done is frankly horrifying. In almost every case someone who engages in this type of behaviour will either die or end up with serious complications after a few years (blindness, kidney failure strokes etc). Generally this happens in the mid twenties as the higher risk group is teenagers and young adults.
The only way to fix this is to for you to want to do it and it may be a better idea to try and see someone that specialises more in eating disorders rather than diabetes.
I hope you manage to get some kind of resolution to this quickly before it is too late.

 

[DiamondAsh]

I was watching a YouTube Video and the doctor mentioned a new disorder called ... Non-compliance-with-treatment-disorder. Whether this is just another modern era labels or not it shows that is does exist in one shape or another.

 

[pavlosn]

This sounds like diabulimia which is becoming more prevalent and is starting to become classified as an eating disorder rather than a problem with diabetic control. Very little research has been done on this however the research that has been done is frankly horrifying. In almost every case someone who engages in this type of behaviour will either die or end up with serious complications after a few years (blindness, kidney failure strokes etc). Generally this happens in the mid twenties as the higher risk group is teenagers and young adults.
The only way to fix this is to for you to want to do it and it may be a better idea to try and see someone that specialises more in eating disorders rather than diabetes.
I hope you manage to get some kind of resolution to this quickly before it is too late.

Hi Caiti

Sorry to here of your troubles but well done for recognizing that you need help and reaching out to get it.

I agree that what you describe is more of an eating disorder/ psychological problem than a diabetic one, even if diabetes is involved.

Not taking insulin in order to slim down is in my mind not dissimilar to anorexia or bulimia. Please go back to your doctor discuss this with him and he may be able to refer you to someone specializing in this field.

You have taken the first and most important step, which is to accept that something is seriously wrong with the way you are carrying on. Now please be brave enough to seek help from those people that can help you to change.

No one is giving up on you so you should not give up on yourself either.

People on this forum can help with the diabetes and we are a kind, supportive and well intentioned lot, as well as good listeners and good fun to talk to. What we are not however and you should bear this in mind, is experts on eating disorders.

Please get yourself some specialist help and get yourself well. And do not forget to come back often and tell us how you are getting on.

Best wishes

Pavlos


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[phoenix]

Hi, You really aren't alone and it's something that is quite common, just not talked about too much. It's really good and brave of you to post about it. I'm sure that must be a big step towards altering things.
There is a very small charity that was set up to help diabetics who do this. It was set up by young women who have gone through this and are in recovery.
The site at the moment has quite a bit of info but no contact for immediate help (they used to) However, the facebook page and the facebook public support group linked to at the side are still active.
http://www.dwed.org.uk/about-us/explanation-t1-ed

(any one who has some spare cash, I think that this is a small, worthwhile charity run with a lot of enthusiasm and some professionals giving their support but not enough money)

 

[Mimastones]

I was exactly the same. Diagnosed at 13, now 21. I had lost so much weight pre diagnosis and was shocked at how quickly I piled it back on so I too made the connection between no insulin and weight loss. It worked a treat for the first few years. But I came to my senses when I left for Uni in 2011 aged 18 so started trying to inject and test. I failed. It was like a physical block in my head that jut thought I was going to gain a stone with every injection. But in the last year I have really turned it around. Mainly because I am scared. Those complications my diabetic nurse always warned me about but I chose to think 'it won't happen to me' have started happening. I have peripheral neuropathy in my thighs and the medication for it is killer. The good thing that has come out of it is that I take every injection I should (4 a day) and test at least 4 times a day, usually more. My last HBA1C was 7.9 which I am soooo pleased with as it is the first time I've been below 9 since I was 14.

Once you realise that life is so much better when you treat your diabetes as an Allie not an enemy, everything falls into place. And I don't even worry about weight anymore as cutting out sugary things I shouldn't have been eating and snacking less to avoid extra injections has meant that I have actually lost a stone in the last 4 months (now 11st @ 5"5) I'll take being chubby over loosing my feet and sight any day!

Good luck, I wish you all the best. Take control, you will never regret it
Xxxxxxx


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[michaeldavid]

An ally, not an enemy.

You should get a prize for those words alone.

 

[Mimastones]

Thank you, though I wish I had spelt it correctly!


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[DiamondAsh]

Once you realise that life is so much better when you treat your diabetes as an Allie not an enemy, everything falls into place.

very well put... I must remember that.

 

[coco44]

Hi Caity wishing you a warm welcome and in no way being judgemental, but what I would say is please take your insulin. I can tell you from frightening personal experience you would not want to experience Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Sending a big hug love Coco 44 xx

 

[Ambersilva]

... I find it frustrating as they don't fully understand.

...

I have come across your thread late and have not read all the responses but what you said about people not understanding is so true.

You can live with a Type One diabetic for years, watch them testing their blood suger and inject insulin but you have no way of knowing exactly what emotions they are going through or how they feel physically until you too join the club. Our non-diabetic health team may know what we need to do to control our blood glucose but they too do not know how we feel. I can never come to terms with not knowing how a close family member felt even though they coped with diabetes with amazing acceptance and control because it made them feel so much better than before they were able to administer the missing hormone aka insulin.

 

[curtis-joanne]

i yo-yo i take insulin then i don't. been in hospital a few times not being able to breathe. Ketoneacidosis. Are you scared to inject or just like the weight loss.

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