Encouragement Needed (or a kick up the butt)

[trolleydolley]

I'm a bit of a lurker on the forum and haven't posted much at all. I'm just feeling a bit desperate at the moment and need encouragement (or a kick up the butt)

I was diagnosed as being Type 2 about 5 years ago and have mostly been in denial for that time. I know, very stupid.....my hba1c went up to 10 in old money (86) and my nurse had a real go, but through low carbing and making an effort I got it down to 6 (42). My last reading was 8 (64) and my diabetic nurse wants me to get it down to 6 again. I take 2 Metformin in the morning and 2 in the evening.

I'm really struggling with the low carbing although when I do it properly it works well.
I'm starting a new job in five weeks and we're buying a house as well as we need to move for the job.
It's all exciting but it's also really stressful and when I get stressed I comfort eat. Biscuits and Danish pastries......!

I know a new job and a new house are fantastic opportunities and I should be celebrating. Instead I am just overeating, it feels like a low level version of compulsive eating.

I can't seem to give myself the kick up the backside I need - to low carb all the time. I eat Livlife bread and sugar-free things and try to stay as low-carb as possible but I fall off the wagon all the time. It feels so difficult. I sound like I'm whining and I probably am. I need a real kick up the backside to take this seriously and I am scared of the long term implications but it doesn't seem to translate into discipline in my eating habits.

What strategies do you use to keep yourself on the straight and narrow? (or the wide and healthy???)

Thanks

Trolleydolley (not an air hostess in case you were wondering)

 

[mo1905]

Hi Trolleydolley, sad to read you're having a hard time. What you certainly don't need is a lecture. You know what needs to be done and when the time is right you'll start taking small steps to get back on the wagon. What motivates me ? Fear of going blind and losing my feet ! Harsh, but certainly works for me. Hopefully, once your house move is out the way you can get back into a routine and start to see those BG levels getting lower. Good luck ! Mo

 

[mo1905]

I did wonder if you were an air hostess BTW

 

[trolleydolley]

LOL! Thanks! More supermarket trolley than airline trolley....

 

[Andy12345]

hi, it is very hard we all have the same battles, some im sure find it easier, some not so, i try to look for successes in the smallest things, 2 days ago my daughters birthday, first i was confronted by a giant jaffa cake cake and then had to go and collect the chinese takeaway (her birthday meal choice) and smell it all the way home, i had the right hump for a few hours until i caved in at about 9pm when i saw the cake in the fridge and decided i was gonna have a lump, i walked away from the fridge and sat back down even more ****** off, but i didnt have it, the next day i felt great for not having it, i consider this silly little thing as a huge success, and think to myself if i can not have that then while spoil that effort by having ..... therefore telling myself ive suffered and dont want to waste the huge effort of will, im not sure if that makes any sense, what im trying to say is, dont eat it once, then build on it, once youve not eaten the biscuit the second time, it would be a shame to let it go now and so on

im sorry if this sounds daft, it works for me is all

 

[trolleydolley]

Thank you for that Andy. Well done for the willpower. I've been reading round a few threads and I've just decided to download the MYFITNESSPAL app to my phone to start a food diary. I saw that some other people on here were using it. Maybe if I write down everything I eat that will help...

 

[mo1905]

That's a great start. It can also record exercise and gives great nutritional information. Good luck

 

[Opalshards]

Hi Dolly, I can sympathize with you. I was diagnosed Type 2. 6years ago and have always struggled with my weight. But 2 weeks ago they wanted to put me on Metformin, and the thought of going on medication gave me a big wake up call. I replace one meal with fresh fruit nuts and pumpkin seeds. Yoghurt. I am lucky not having such a sweet tooth. But you know when you are eating cakes etc You are killing yourself. Try snacking on carrots and apples for the sweetness. Join a Qigong class or look up videos on Youtube. I have also started a food diary then its down in black and white when you are being naughty. Lol,

 

[andcol]

Hi Trolleydolley, sad to read you're having a hard time. What you certainly don't need is a lecture. You know what needs to be done and when the time is right you'll start taking small steps to get back on the wagon. What motivates me ? Fear of going blind and losing my feet ! Harsh, but certainly works for me. Hopefully, once your house move is out the way you can get back into a routine and start to see those BG levels getting lower. Good luck ! Mo

I second those sentiments Mo. It is sad that you were in denial for so long but it is good you are here and wish to turn it around. I have the same fears as Mo - I definitely do not wish to go blind or even lose some of my vision - that is just such a scary thought. Just think having to learn to read again, no computer games, no driving, cycling, just looking at the countryside and being out and about.

 

[pavlosn]

Hi trolleydolley

Do you self test/ monitor your blood glucose levels?

I find that by doing so, one gets immediate feedback on the consequences of one's action, making it is easier not to repeat the same mistakes. Relying on the next HbA1c to act as a deterrent in a similar way does not usually work for me as it is too infrequent.

Seeing your numbers go down can act as positive reinforcement as well, motivating you to stay on the straight and narrow. As Andy suggested, once you have a winning streak going, you will not want to spoil it for the sake of a piece of cake. You will still be tested but it will be easier to resist.

By combining testing and a food diary such as myfittnesspal you can really teach yourself about how different food affects your levels.

Having said that you already know that biscuits and cake are not a good idea.

Is there really anything more inappropriately named than comfort eating. It usually results in so much guilt, the last thing it makes you feel is comforted.

I believe what you need to do is make sure that there are healthier alternatives, such as nuts, vegetables, even fruit( but do not overdo it) readily available for when the munchies strike.

You also need to find a healthier way to reduce stress levels. I find walking to be really good stress relief. Why not give it a dry? Even if you find that it does not reduce your stress, you will still have other health benefits.




Pavlos
Type 2 - Diagnosed 2009; Latest HbA1c 5,8%; Diabetes Medication: metformin 2x850mg; Other medication: Aspirin 75mg, Valsartan 80mg, Rosuvostatin 20mg, Ezetimibe 10mg; Exercise: One hour walk daily, tennis weekly, swimming when warm enough

 

[trolleydolley]

Hi again everyone, thanks for your encouragement

Pavlosn, I have a monitor and test strips but tend to only monitor in the morning (which is probably not the best time anyway) - but I have been getting emails from this site about signing up for a test strips/monitoring programme for Type 2s.

Is it worth doing, do people think?

 

[runner2009]

I agree with Pavlosn about testing, testing and more testing to give instant feedback to make adjustments.

When I was first diagnosed -A1C 13.6 - I was put on a consistent carbohydrate diet in hospital with only 2-servings per meal and twice daily insulin shots. Basically I was able to eat everything I wanted except in portions and 6-servings a day of carbs.

I read Dr. Bernstein's book - http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0316182699 - and basically threw it down as rubbish.

Part of the book stuck and one day I decided that I needed to take this disease as seriously as a heart attack.

I started to look at my behavior around carbs as if I was an addict and that high blood glucose was my blackouts.

Basically I had to stop pretending that I could have a societal normal relationship with carbs.

For the last 7- months I've followed Bernstein's diet except eating little meats and dairy and lots and lots of low density veggies.

I also started exercising after meals - jumping jacks , wall push ups and deep knee bends.

Now, I don't miss carbs at all - well almost have to constantly watch the nut intake - and I exercise everyday. I'm still on insulin but a very low dose and my last A1C was 4.9 and fasting was 84ml/dls

I experimented and stop the insulin and drank 100gm of Glucose and measured and 2 and 3 hours was over 250ml/dls
I wish it was easy, but I'm always fighting a continued war against calorie creep.

As for my relationship with carbs, like breads, pasta, cereals, sweet fruits, cakes, etc I have to take it one day at a time to borrow a 12-step expression.

The nice thing about testing and this diet is I'm not constantly hungry, I'm in away in more control, I'm more mindful, and if I decided to have a higher A1C i know what I could do.

I agree too with Pavlosn that mynetdiary and a food scale is important. Now I don't use it as much except every 6-weeks or so to help fight the calorie creep.

I'm a little OCD, but I feel good and the pain in my feet is slowly getting better.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Mazzer]

Hi again everyone, thanks for your encouragement

Pavlosn, I have a monitor and test strips but tend to only monitor in the morning (which is probably not the best time anyway) - but I have been getting emails from this site about signing up for a test strips/monitoring programme for Type 2s.

Is it worth doing, do people think?

Hi Trollydolly, I have recently been diagnosed with T2, so fairly new to the forum as well and also missing my Chocolate, cakes, biscuits and especially my big bag of Peanut M&Ms

If you are referring to the Type2Testing.com I recently took up their offer which I thought was as good deal at £99 for a free Nexus Gluco RS meter, 400 test strips and 400 lancets. I have got a One Touch Ultra meter, but the strips are quite expensive at between £19 & £21 depending where I bought them. I have looked online and the Nexus strips are around £15 vat free.

They are supposed to be a years supply, but will probably only last 6 month, but then I was buying 100 strips a month @ £40.00 a time for the one touch ultra and over 6 months that works out at £240 so I decided to stock up with the Nexus.

I know some of the other Members of the Forum have found cheaper meters and strips on ebay and Amazon, so before you decide I should have a look round and see if you can get a better deal.

Good luck with getting back on track, and there are some very nice low carb biscuit and cake recipes on this site, so try a few, you might find you enjoy them.

Marilyn

 

[Mothership]

I have been a member of the forum for only a week but I feel so lucky to live in Wales. The doctor gave me brand new meter and my strips and lancets are free. I wish everyone was as lucky as me it is only what we all deserve.