Addiction

[Sugar Fiend]

I have always had a sweet tooth but since I found out I was type 2 diabetic 13yrs ago I got on top of controlling what I ate. Just before Christmas 2021 I split up with my wife and kids. I suffer with depression but things went downhill fast with regards to my diet and I am struggling to stop eating Mars bars every day I eat at least 2 a day I wake up every morning with a headache and feeling hungover I always drink enough to flush my system out but I am finding it hard to stop eating sweet stuff I need to stop but I am losing the battle.

 

[catinahat]

Addiction to sugar is often trivialised by calling it a sweet tooth, but the truth is it is just as harmful to your health as any other addiction.
For me getting rid of my sugar /carb craving was equally as difficult as giving up smoking and more recently alcohol.
The way I tackled it was one day at a time, the thought of never again was guaranteed to have me reaching for a cigarette. But just not smoking/drinking/eating rubbish for just one day seems far less scary, and easily achievable.
So every morning I would make a firm commitment to myself, not to smoke. No promises for tomorrow, just today I will not smoke. After all if you think about it, yesterday's gone, it only exists in your head, tomorrow hasn't happened yet, so the only time you really have to make meaningful promises to yourself is now, today.
The other important thing for me was when I gave in to the cravings, which happened quite a lot in the first few weeks. Was to try and understand why? How was I feeling, what was the situation that triggered the craving, could I have avoided that situation maybe distracted myself by doing something else. One thing I did not do was consider myself a failure, I just saw it as an opportunity learn.
The only time we really fail is when we stop trying

 

[Deleted member 475901]

I have a chocolate addition, but manage to keep it down most of the time since becoming T2. I only buy dark chocolate now (85%) which I find harder to binge on, 2 squares at night is fine. I also allow myself a mug of cocoa made with hot water, double cream and a little sweetener (erythritol works for me) - included in my carb count for the day.

I was eating more chocolate during the first lockdowns, and put on some of the weight I'd lost, but now try to be more conscious of the triggers - usually stress before difficult meetings! I either distract myself when I realise why my brain wants chocolate or allow myself one piece that I eat slowly.