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Help before I go off the rails

M

Maggie75

Well-Known Member
Messages
150
Hi everyone,

I've been doing ok with my T2 diabetes since being diagnosed last November, brought HBA1C down from 66 to 36 and lost 40 pounds in that time. Now I'm really struggling, I had a very bad breast cancer scare last year which thankfully turned out to be benign, I've now found another lump in my breast and have been referred urgently back to breast clinic, appointment is next Tuesday. Last year due to all the stress I put on loads of weight through drinking wine and eating junk food and naturally given this news I want to do exactly the same again. I know now things are different because of the diabetes but part of me is shouting who cares, what's the point!? Can anyone give me advice on how to shut these inner demons up, or reassure me that a few days of not so great eating won't sabotage me completely. Don't mean to sound like a pity party, it's just I was so happy when I got this under some semblance of control and now I've been hit another blow.

Maggie
 
Hi @Maggie75

Very sorry to hear that you’re going through another cancer scare. Must be very frightening and concerning.

It’s quite natural and a very common reaction to turn to comfort foods. All I’d say - and it’s far, far easier to say than to do - is to think about what you really want.

On the face of it, in the grand scheme of things, a few days ‘off the rails’ won’t do a lot of harm. However, my own experience is that it can do a lot of harm mentally - self criticism, feeling a bit down on yourself for not ‘being strong’, which creates a vicious circle that’s difficult to get out of.

If, on the other hand you can stick to your healthier plan, then that’ll make you feel better emotionally and help to create a more positive cycle of action.

Add to that that better control of your blood sugars will likely mean a more positive impact on any other illnesses your body needs to deal with.

It is easier to say this than to do it, but I think the fact you’re posting here shows that you don’t really want to go down the route of self sabotage. That’s a great first step.

Do keep checking in here and good luck with all of this.
 
I had a BC scare last year too, I was recalled after a routine mammogram. I didn’t fall off the wagon, but nor did I do any testing at all - if stress was sending up my BG levels then there was absolutely nothing I could do about it, and no need to compound things by worrying about that too.

I managed to keep eating my normal low carb diet - I was completely convinced that I would have cancer, in which case I would need excellent BG control to get me through treatment and recovery, and carbs are inflammatory all by themselves and could only worsen my situation.

In fact it turned out to be benign, for which I am very grateful, and I hope your results will be good too. However if the news is not good, remember that most BC is very treatable these days but you will need to keep on top of your BG to give yourself the best chance.

Wishing you the best of luck and a speedy diagnosis, whatever it is - I found the not knowing absolutely the worst thing and was useless for the 3 weeks it took to get it resolved. It took me a good couple of months to get my head back to normal afterwards, so be kind to yourself - but just not with rubbishy food!
 
Hi @Maggie75

I am so sorry that you are having to try to deal with that- out must feel so stressful.

As a fellow comfort eater I understand the temptation. what helps me is to make sure I have low carb options available- I have diet jelly with cream for example. That helps me. In summer I sometimes freeze the jelly and then eat it. (happened accidentally once when I was trying to get it to set quickly). That means it takes me ages to eat it and that helps me. There are a couple of other things I have which feel comforty.

It is always a balancing act but I agree with the previous posters that keeping your blood sugar levels as controlled as possible helps your body be in as good a state as possible to fight other battles.

but be kind to yourself. Don't judge yourself too harshly if you can't always make the choices you wish you could.

Feel free to vent here- this is a safe space and is full of people all trying their best.

Take care and let us know how it goes.
 
Hi,

9 years 9 months ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. 4 months later I had a recall on a routine mammogram, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then after an operation and radiotherapy I have been clear of cancer so far.....but I am still dealing with diabetes. At the time I felt the cancer was the biggest issue and worry........but with hindsight it wasn’t.

So my advice would be to try your best to focus on the long term future. Yes, the unknown is really tough. The fear of cancer is real, and tough. Cut yourself some slack, but try and do it in a way which doesn’t cause harm. If you need to treat yourself think about what treats you can have within the bounds of acceptable control. Strawberries and cream? Smoked salmon? Dark chocolate? A lovely scented candle? Nice bubble bath? Maybe aim for 90% perfect for blood sugar with some wriggle room for now. But remember diabetes is long term, cancer can be dealt with.

this forum will help with the diabetes. Macmillan has a fantastic forum for cancer, and the worry in advance of cancer.
 
Thanks so much for the replies and advice, I'm really going to try hard to stick to my low carb eating as much as I can, the 90/10 idea sounds good, even 80/20 I'd do just now. I've worked too hard to undo everything now, I know that, and no matter what the outcome is next week I'll still have to deal with diabetes and keeping it under good control. DN had taken me off the metformin, I'm definitely going to go back onto it for now, at least I know it's a backup for me. Here's hoping for good news next week and thanks again to everyone for your replies, sometimes you just need to hear a bit of common sense.

Maggie
 
Hi Maggie,

Hope all goes well for tuesday all the best.


Sparklebright62.
 
Stopping Metformin is often done to prepare in case a surgical procedure is needed. Metformin and long periods of bedtime can lead to lactic acid buildup.
 
One thing that may help motivate you to stay Low Carb is that Fructose is known to be the preferred energy source for cancer cells.
Gary Fettke (an Australian doctor who is @FructoseNo on twitter) put his own brain cancer into remission by not only going Low Carb but ditching fruit (because of the fructose). He has given several talks about Low Carb at various conferences over the last few years.
 
Hi again everyone,

So a progress update, attended breast clinic on Tuesday, had 4 biopsies taken from breast as ultrasound showed something suspicious, I kinda knew I would probably have to have it biopsied after experience last year but it was still terrifying, and now I have the 2+ weeks wait for results. As I feared, my go to mechanism has been unhealthy food (and white wine!). I'm really trying to pull it back but that horrible voice at the back of my mind just tells me have whatever you want, you might be facing way worse than high blood sugars very soon. Stupid I know but food and wine has always been my answer to stressful situations, probably why I ended up with diabetes in the first place! I've gone back onto metformin to try and limit the damage and my weight hasn't really gone up (yet), but I know I need to get a handle on this soon. Why am I self sabotaging like this, what is wrong with me? As well as being really scared about my biopsy results I also just feel disappointed in myself, this is a time when I should be watching my health as much as possible and instead I feel I'm going backwards.

Maggie
 
Sorry for the bad news Maggie; I once had a breast examination which was a "House" like scene with the top doctor and resident doctor arguing about the scanned "spot". Repeat of exam resolved with a negative. Phew.
In cases of high anxiety, I would take it easy on myself and do what makes you feel best at the high points as they will not last.
 
Hi Maggie
Good for you and I hope your BC check goes well; its reassuring to hear that you're being seen quickly.
You are presenting this fairly dramatically as 'going off the rails' but you could take a deep breath and take it one choice at a time. The rational part of you knows that bingeing won't make you feel better other than in the moment and if you have a cancer then that sugary junk will feed it, but you need a strategy that isn't all or nothing! If you end up eating cake and having a glass of wine try and ask yourself how you are feeling after the first slice. Followed up planning a better or best choice of food/drink after that. You may find that it isn't quick the kick it used to be and isn't doing the things that you fantasise about in reality.
Dr Jen Unwin (married to low carb GP David Unwin) has written a really good book on dealing with food addiction in this culture of ours which constantly shows women soothing themselves with junk (that Cadbury's Flake girl, Bridget Jones, anyone with PMT or anyone who has just had a bad day - this is our prescribed way of looking after ourselves !).
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fork-Road-Hopeful-Guide-Freedom/dp/B08XX4ZH3F/ref=asc_df_B08XX4ZH3F/?
tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=500798696358&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6110137938448497849&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006702&hvtargid=pla-1186724270136&psc=1&th=1&psc=1
Just reading it now for a client and my husband (big time comfort stress eater)!
ps Metformin is a great idea and best of luck next week
 
Sorry to be a party pooper, but please read this regarding Metformin and booze. I have myself experienced this on quite a low intake.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317311
 
Oldvatr said:
Sorry to be a party pooper, but please read this regarding Metformin and booze. I have myself experienced this on quite a low intake.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317311
Click to expand...
Interesting that there doesn't seem to be any such product warnings for the relevant slow release metformin brands.
Drinking excessively as a diabetic is a bad idea as the article points out given the tendency for diabetics to have fatty liver. Probably worth checking in with the GP/DSN to see what kind of metformin she's taking!
 
The active ingredient in both forms of Metformin is identical. It is the coating that differs and provides the time delay release mechanism. Metformin builds up in the blood over time in both cases, it is only while the matrix is dissolving in the stomach that helps the digestion. Otherwise, both are essentially the same once in the blood.
 
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