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Denial phase finally over

purplekat

Well-Known Member
Messages
118
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
football, X Factor (and all similar shows), soaps (corrie, east enders etc), hot weather
I was diagnosed Type 2 back in April 2011, and after some time spent on here trying to understand everything I ended up in a denial spiral (as I was feeling fine), so I've not made nearly as much effort as I should to get things under control. I also have a lot of distractions at home as partner ill, and was using him as an excuse "I'll make more effort to cook healthy once he's getting better", and so on.

It was confirmed this year that his is a chronic condition, and it's also made worse by what he eats, so now I've got 2 good reasons to get a grip on healthy eating. So I'm back and focused more on what I'm doing especially with regards to diet. He struggles with carbs (as they cause him more pain to digest), so we can both do a lower carb diet together and encourage each other to stick to it.

My aim for the remainder of this year is to get into the habit of cooking healthy every evening (even if it's just a reheat of a previous healthy meal), and reduce carb quantities by quite a bit. I won't start weighing/counting carbs yet, as that'll sound like more effort to me, and discourage me from the cooking. However, if I aim to cook healthy and reduce carbs on the side, that should make some difference. I'd love to have m metformin amount reduced after my next diabetic appointment.

I'm pleased to be moving into the acceptance phase, as it means I'll find it easier to take care of myself, and be less inclined to rebel whenever anyone waves cakes or sweets in front of me! Just wish it hadn't taken so long to reach here.
 

Hi Purplekat

It is alright to start slow because that is a step in the right direction. Once you see a bit of weight coming off that should encourage to reduce carbs a bit further with all the benefits that will bring you both.
The hardest bit is starting along this route but you have already done that so well done.

jim
 
Your denial didn't last as long as mine, I was diagnosed as borderline diabetic 5 or 6 years ago but only decided to really do something about it a month ago. Hopefully it is never to late to start.

I haven't started really counting the carbs yet, but just cutting down on the obvious bad snacks and limiting potatoes, pasta etc at meal times. Small changes but after a quick calculation it worked out to have reduced my carb intake by about half. Small steps and a glucose meter to tell me if a meal has had too many carbs in I find better than trying to count every one.

Half a dozen new pearl potatoes with meat and veg last night only increased my sugar levels 1.5 points, and I can have lashing of butter with them and not feel guilty.

Take small steps and find out what works for you and your partner and good luck to you both.
 
I sort of agree with your weighing comment, but that does help by providing a sense check on portion sizes - to both ensure you are eating enough, or not too much.
 
Mm, new potatoes and butter, not had that in ages!

I'll probably weigh carbs to get a comparison ie before I had Xg of potatoes/rice pasta, now I have Yg, so I have a rough idea. Then when the weight loss starts and encouragement grows, I'll start to count/weigh more. I figure if I reduce my bread intake by half, and similar for rice/pasta/potatoes, that's a good starting point, as I already know I consume too much of these.
 
I would suggest you consider getting a blood glucose meter, like many others I have bought an SD Codefree meter from Amazon and it has been an eye opener. Some things I thought wouldn't be a problem are (weight watches hot chocolate has been the big surprise, I thought as it contained artificial sweetener it would be alright but it rocketed my glucose levels) and others, like the potatoes have proved to be alright. The only way I can be certain what I can and can't manage is to compare the before and after reading.
 

That's why I found the Desmond course so useful. They lay out a table of regular foodstuffs and then go over what is good and what is not - very informative and has certainly provided me with a list of 'not under any circumstances' and 'occasionally' categories.
 
While I haven't been on a course I was given information on what to eat and what not to eat when first diagnosed along side the balanced plate approach. Unfortunately all the food I like was on the avoid side and all the food I disliked was on the eat side, it is one of the reasons I went into denial I couldn't face the change dictated.

I have now learnt that the best way is to try something and see if it effects me and if it does can I limit the quantity enough so that I can have it or I start looking for alternatives, hot chocolate made with coco powder, Canderel spoonful and cream isn't a problem and hardly touches my BS levels so that's a success (shame about the 2 new pots of drinking chocolate sat on the shelf I had just restocked before I realised it was one of the culprits)
 
I was thinking of getting a meter, even though my nurse says I don't need one...my DAPHNE course never materialised, however after reading around on here I don't think I'm missing too much. I got Gretchen (Barker?)'s book about her first year with type 2, and it did tell me a lot
 

Have you considered batch cooking more than you need, then freezing single portions for the days and times when you are too busy to cook from scratch?
 
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