Glucose Reading Going UP!

[foxy]

I had my Db check yesterday and have been told that my blood glucose is slowly going up each year. As I suffer from bad depression I do tend to resort to binges for comfort and especially chocolate binges which I know is very bad but very difficult to break.

My readings were .. Bp 152/90 Cholesterol 6.5 Db Control 54
My weight is 92kg and I am 4' 11"

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I do tend to resort to binges for comfort and especially chocolate binges
Any advice would be appreciated.

It looks like you probably just need to fix the binges or at least some of them. They don't seem to be doing you much good.

 

[Resurgam]

Sometimes binging is due to a need for some micro nutrient, a vitamin or mineral which is lacking in your normal diet. You might try taking a good multi vitamin and mineral each day and see if that helps - and maybe try having better options in the fridge, I find that a roast chicken is always a cheering sight - so is bacon.

 

[Bluetit1802]

You could binge on something low carb if you feel you must binge. My go-to comfort food is coffee with double cream. It is warming, comforting, and hits the spot.

Would it help if, on a good day, you clear the house of all chocolate and don't buy any more?

Binge eating and depression are both outside my personal experience, so I can't be of much help I'm afraid.

 

[foxy]

Thanks for the replies .. I know I should keep clear of the chocolate but anyone who has suffered with depression knows just how difficult it is to keep them at bay so it's between the devil and the deep blue sea.. as they say!

Glad you mentioned the cream Bluetit.. I'm presuming that a fry-up wouldn't be out of the question?!
(Using olive oil )

I do have some multivitamins which I keep forgetting to take so I'll start them and see whether it makes a difference.

 

[bulkbiker]

Thanks for the replies .. I know I should keep clear of the chocolate but anyone who has suffered with depression knows just how difficult it is to keep them at bay so it's between the devil and the deep blue sea.. as they say!

Glad you mentioned the cream Bluetit.. I'm presuming that a fry-up wouldn't be out of the question?!
(Using olive oil )

I do have some multivitamins which I keep forgetting to take so I'll start them and see whether it makes a difference.

fry up with butter or just use the fat from the bacon to cook everything else..!

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks for the replies .. I know I should keep clear of the chocolate but anyone who has suffered with depression knows just how difficult it is to keep them at bay so it's between the devil and the deep blue sea.. as they say!

Glad you mentioned the cream Bluetit.. I'm presuming that a fry-up wouldn't be out of the question?!
(Using olive oil )

I do have some multivitamins which I keep forgetting to take so I'll start them and see whether it makes a difference.

Yes, fry up with butter. Eggs, bacon, very high meat content sausage, mushrooms, tomato. Personally I grill my bacon, tomato and sausage but fry the eggs and mushrooms in butter. HOWEVER, if you are going to add more fat to your diet you will need to reduce your carbs accordingly or you may gain weight.

 

[Resurgam]

I boil my bacon - it is usually frozen so I put it into the frying pan and pour water from the kettle over it, heat it until the bacon is melted and has separated into slices - this reduces the salt and preserving stuff in it. I then pour the whole lot through a sieve, put the bacon back and cook it until there are crispy bits, remove back to the sieve and then cook the mushrooms or tomato, then the eggs in the pan - there is no need to add fat. I put the spatula across the pan and rest the sieve on it to keep the bacon mushrooms etc. warm until the eggs are done. Watch the carb content of sausages - some can be up to 20 percent carbs, some as low as 3.

 

[foxy]

Thankyou.. I did fry with the olive oil as tbh I think butter seems a bit sickly .. maybe it's an acquired taste.
I bake my bacon .. grilling makes so much mess.

Love the idea of boiling it .. def will be trying that!

 

[DeejayR]

I fry in steamed coconut oil and/or butter. Olive oil has a low flash point and anyway I don't like the taste of food fried in it. I like the idea of "cleansing" bacon before cooking it, thanks for that.

 

[Indy51]

No need to give up chocolate - just make sure it's the dark kind with as high a % of cacao as possilbe - I find just a couple of squares of Lindt 90% satisifies the craving without the need for binging. Or make a hot chocolate with a no-sugar cacoa powder with lots of cream.

 

[Maggie/Magpie]

I had my Db check yesterday and have been told that my blood glucose is slowly going up each year. As I suffer from bad depression I do tend to resort to binges for comfort and especially chocolate binges which I know is very bad but very difficult to break.

My readings were .. Bp 152/90 Cholesterol 6.5 Db Control 54
My weight is 92kg and I am 4' 11"

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hi Foxy,
I can emphasize with you, I'm also a binge eater with depression and only recently diagnosed with diabetes. Its really hard not to binge, especially when depressed but its probably why your blood sugars are rising but I guess you already know that. How to stop that's the hard one. Around six months ago I was pre-diabetic, but the depression got in the way, I was put on Olanzapine as I wasn't coping, worse drug going, couldn't stop eating anything and everything, the Binges were totally out of control, unlike you I don't just binge on chocolate, it's anything sweet ice cream, sweets, chocolate, desserts, sweet pastries and so on. This went on for 12 weeks, three stone heavier, even more depressed I had to beg the consultant to take me off the medication, two weeks and one blood test later I was diagnosed with diabetes. Which in many ways was a shock, but not in others. All through those twelve weeks I knew I was putting my health at risk with the prospect of becoming diabetic but my depression meant I didn't care, at the time knowing it didn't mean anything, that's probably hard for people here to understand but that's the nature of depression, I simply didn't have the energy or motivation to care, there were times when I was so low I even wished it would happen, as I was in self destruct mode by then. Depression is such a horrible condition.
The diabetes diagnosis has made me look up and take notice; for a while anyway; I'm finding it really hard but I've not binged in 6 weeks; a record for me; I'm on a new psyc medication and been managing better, but I'm now beginning to slip back into depression mode so who knows what will happen.
My advise to you is to try and be strong, if possible avoid the binges, I'd tell you not to buy chocolate but I know that won't work your do it anyway if your like me. Be kind to yourself and if you can try and refocus on a low carb diet. I still have to have a sweet fix every day but I'm relying on fruit for that; I know that can be controversial as many find it spikes their blood sugars; but for me its the least of a bad thing I could be eating.
Good luck with it all.
Maggie

 

[serenity648]

I have found that, as i have been reducing my general daily intake of carbs, I have felt less like bingeing, have binged less often and when I have binged, it has been for a shorter time with less calories than before.

So I suspect there is an element of carb addiction in with binges, for some of us.

Depression sucks. Have a hug. You are doing well.

 

[foxy]

I can go for ages without eating any chocolate at all but when I get a disappointment I immediately want a bit and then I'm off!
bingeing isn't the word for it I'm afraid!
I've been ever so good over the Christmas period and haven't even eaten lots of food per se.. so I've amazed myself tbh!
Long may my resolve continue .. Yay!!

 

[carty]

Debbie and Andrews sausages are less than 1% I buy them at Asda They taste good too

CAROL

 

[Canadian]

I boil my bacon - it is usually frozen so I put it into the frying pan and pour water from the kettle over it, heat it until the bacon is melted and has separated into slices - this reduces the salt and preserving stuff in it. I then pour the whole lot through a sieve, put the bacon back and cook it until there are crispy bits, remove back to the sieve and then cook the mushrooms or tomato, then the eggs in the pan - there is no need to add fat. I put the spatula across the pan and rest the sieve on it to keep the bacon mushrooms etc. warm until the eggs are done. Watch the carb content of sausages - some can be up to 20 percent carbs, some as low as 3.

Great tip on cooking the bacon when it is frozen. Never heard of that. I buy bulk and keep it in the freezer so this step will really help.

 

[Canadian]

I have found that, as i have been reducing my general daily intake of carbs, I have felt less like bingeing, have binged less often and when I have binged, it has been for a shorter time with less calories than before.

So I suspect there is an element of carb addiction in with binges, for some of us.

Depression sucks. Have a hug. You are doing well.

I do think you are right on about the addiction. Before I was diagnosed I was totally addicted to popcorn with a ton of butter and salt and ripple chips or fish and chips covered with vinegar. Lol. Now I still make a bit of popcorn once a week for a home movie but I have to be extra vigilant on the amount I eat.
On the sweet side, I can tolerate one square of dark chocolate with some walnuts. Any more than one piece makes me feel sick. I really do not care for sweet tasting food anymore. Thankfully!

 

[ickihun]

I had my Db check yesterday and have been told that my blood glucose is slowly going up each year. As I suffer from bad depression I do tend to resort to binges for comfort and especially chocolate binges which I know is very bad but very difficult to break.

My readings were .. Bp 152/90 Cholesterol 6.5 Db Control 54
My weight is 92kg and I am 4' 11"

Any advice would be appreciated.

Indulge in 90% chocolate and melt with double cream to make a luxurious chocolate sauce.
Keep this chocolate in your fridge, at all times. Switch to loe carb, your sweet cravings will disappear.

 

[Robbity]

No need to give up chocolate - just make sure it's the dark kind with as high a % of cacao as possilbe - I find just a couple of squares of Lindt 90% satisifies the craving without the need for binging. Or make a hot chocolate with a no-sugar cacoa powder with lots of cream.

As Indy says there's no need to totally give up chocolate - as long as you can stick with the high percentage cocoa versions (I can tolerate the 85% Lindt but the 90% is too bitter for me!) If you must have sweet chocolate, you could try a mixture of coconut oil, cocoa powder and erythritol and/or stevia sweetener - with the addition of peppermint or orange extract if you fancy a different flavour. Melt the coconut oil, mix everything together to taste, pour into a shallow silicone mould and cool in the fridge. You can also make various lovely low carb chocolate cheesecakes and mousses, and I also make chocolate hazelnut "fat bombs" - all of which are great if I'm in need of a bit of sweet comfort food.

And dark chocolate has the benefit of being good for you (just don't over-do it!) and research has apparently shown that it can also help deal with insulin resistance - so you can have completely guilt free healthy low carb treats to help you with those bad patches!

Robbity

 

[Energize]

I boil my bacon - it is usually frozen .

Before I freeze my bacon, I put just two rashers on a plastic bag (off a cheap roll), then another two rashers, and then another two etc, until all is piled, separated by plastic bag. Put all in a plastic bag and freeze.

Then, when I want a couple of rashers of bacon out, they separate easily, thaw under grill (as I grill bacon) but you could still thaw the rashers in the pan in the way you prefer

I also do this will slices of ham, from the Deli, so I can take out just one slice at a time, if that's all I need at the time

It certainly beats having to use up a whole packet !!! Although, maybe that isn't such a bad idea, eh?