Help I'm out of control

@jan1311 - Hi . First thing Monday Morning I would make an appointment to see your GP and/or the Practise Diabetes Nurse.
Are you still taking the Metformin?

jan1311 said:

Hi forum members. I was diagnosed T2 in 2008. I managed to keep a semblance of control with diet and metformin until my sister died then 3 months later my husband died. I gradually slipped off my low carb diet diet, found it difficult as I'm not a great fat or protein lover. Still managed until about 1 year ago when I totally lost control. I now eat all day every day. I eat rubbish constantly and really don't know how to get out of this spiral. My blood glucose levels are horrendous. I need cataract operations but can't because bg levels are too high. I really would appreciate any help or advice anyone could give me. I'm scared because I'm doing exactly what my mother did with her diabetes before she died.

Click to expand...

Oh boy. You've had a lot to contend with, but as you say, you're not in a good place for your surgery.

If you are experienced in LC, but just can't get back there, would something like the Diet Doctor 2-week Challenge? It provides menus, shopping lists and all sorts, so take the thinking out of it.

https://www.dietdoctor.com/how-to-get-started-on-low-carb-take-our-brand-new-2-week-free-challenge

I do hope you find a way forward.

jan1311 said:

Hi forum members. I was diagnosed T2 in 2008. I managed to keep a semblance of control with diet and metformin until my sister died then 3 months later my husband died. I gradually slipped off my low carb diet diet, found it difficult as I'm not a great fat or protein lover. Still managed until about 1 year ago when I totally lost control. I now eat all day every day. I eat rubbish constantly and really don't know how to get out of this spiral. My blood glucose levels are horrendous. I need cataract operations but can't because bg levels are too high. I really would appreciate any help or advice anyone could give me. I'm scared because I'm doing exactly what my mother did with her diabetes before she died.

Click to expand...

get yourself to you diabetics clinic now if not you will go downhill fast maybe just maybe somebody can take of your health but it no good me tell you what to
now get out on walk do not care were you go ten min 20 min 2 hours for now the for thats is upsetting you food to sweet put in the rubbish bin ok ???
do take 4/6 blood test , on one day to see were the heck you are going wrong alway before a meal and do not worry about the cost because if you loose you eyes you will up the creak with your main senses
so sorry about your loss of family members ,, just go to diabetics club maybe in your area or ask you local doctors if there is one
but no one get them sugars down and fast i been on insulin 59 years
maybe up your tablets but get to the docs spring is on the way new life for new thing good luck vic

jan1311 said:

Hi forum members. I was diagnosed T2 in 2008. I managed to keep a semblance of control with diet and metformin until my sister died then 3 months later my husband died. I gradually slipped off my low carb diet diet, found it difficult as I'm not a great fat or protein lover. Still managed until about 1 year ago when I totally lost control. I now eat all day every day. I eat rubbish constantly and really don't know how to get out of this spiral. My blood glucose levels are horrendous. I need cataract operations but can't because bg levels are too high. I really would appreciate any help or advice anyone could give me. I'm scared because I'm doing exactly what my mother did with her diabetes before she died.

Click to expand...

Hi, welcome to the site.
I understand the despair that comes with losing control, thinking nothing matters any more and drowning in self dislike.
This is a great place to find information on how to control your diabetes, particularly if you choose a low carb option.
However, the control can only come from you. You must find the resolve to sort this out before it becomes too late (as it will). Once you decide on a course of action, you must stick to it as it's a very slippery slope you're on. But it can be done, and you will feel better straight away, just having a plan and seeing a glimmer of hope. Let us know how you're getting on and ask whatever advice you need.

I reckon you have taken the first step, by saying openly you accept you have a problem. It sounds like you have gone through a really hard time, but I reckon accepting you have a problem is the start of accepting you know only you can get that control back. There is no easy answer, there never is.

@jan1311 - You might want to take a look at:
http://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/60-seconds
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf

A lot of forum members follow the LCHF Diet (Low Carb High Fat) it helps to lower Blood Sugars and weight loss.

Hi @jan1311. Not really sure I can offer anything helpful or constructive but what I've read in your post is not entirely diabetes related. Apologies if I'm wrong but you seem to be in a dark place which is extremely understandable. I think your first priority should be to seek a way out from where you are, I'm not sure a DSN is what you need at the moment. Your GP may be able to point you in the direction of specialist help. I'm no expert but I just feel you need to talk to someone and off load problems. I think once you get a bit of light back in your life diabetes control will be far easier.
Again apologies if I've spoken out of turn as it were, hoping you get sorted.
Good luck.

jan1311 said:

Thank you Liam. I will definitely look at these. I think I'm ready to make a change.

Click to expand...

What really struck me is while I am a long way from perfect, I thought I was by and large eating OK. What really got me was being advised to change to low fat spread (which I've used for 20+ years) eat pasta rice and bread (which I've done for 30+ years) and so on. For me, eating LCHF means I can have food that I really enjoy and not only no longer feel guilty, but actually feel happy to eat meat, cheese and so on while my BG has plummeted. I just wish beer was low carb, which it most certainly isn't.

jan1311 said:

Hi forum members. I was diagnosed T2 in 2008. I managed to keep a semblance of control with diet and metformin until my sister died then 3 months later my husband died. I gradually slipped off my low carb diet diet, found it difficult as I'm not a great fat or protein lover. Still managed until about 1 year ago when I totally lost control. I now eat all day every day. I eat rubbish constantly and really don't know how to get out of this spiral. My blood glucose levels are horrendous. I need cataract operations but can't because bg levels are too high. I really would appreciate any help or advice anyone could give me. I'm scared because I'm doing exactly what my mother did with her diabetes before she died.

Click to expand...

so sad you have such hard times .... if you do eat nuts , then I would suggest you "go Nuts" for a while maybe only for a week as almonds brazil-nuts and macadamia-nuts hardly contain any carbs and in that way you can get your blood glucose Down really fast..
avocadoes with shrimps , lidl protein rolls, lots of cheese, bacon and eggs and mushrooms for breakfast , or 10 % Greek yoghurt. with only a Little handful of blueberries or rasberries, or fresh strawberries only a Little handful
Greek salat without side bread or half a lidl roll (because a lidl roll only contain about 12 grams of carbs, and tastes like bread)

here are som desserts you can make that do not contain loads an loads of carbs..
https://draxe.com/low-carb-desserts/

Hello Jan1311 I would second what both @Liam1955 and @therower have said, you need to get some specialist help. Make an appointment with your GP and make sure you see him/her Monday do not get fobbed off with an appointment weeks away. Tell you GP everything and that you need their help.

Take care I hope you'll feel you are in a better place real soon and i'm sure you'll get BG down in no time at all.

Something which might work is taking five minutes to imagine your day - do it first thing, plan what you are going to do, whilst you are doing nothing else. Map out your day, as best you can. Visualise good decisions, see yourself having meals which you might have to plan for - go through your day several times if necessary, so you know that you have to take food out of the freezer to defrost, or pick up a bag of salad or grab a cauliflower whilst you are out. Above all though visualise yourself doing and achieving - it might take a week before you actually have a day as visualised, but once you know you can do it, then you can do it again. Sportsmen use something similar when planning a match or event - and I am told that it is effective for them.
I have done it to stave off stagefright before I sing.

Hi Jan, I want to chime in a bit by saying I suffer from chronic depression and anxiety, and from what you shared I highly encourage you to see a psychologist (your GP might refer you to one, but if not I recommend you bring it up with them yourself). What you went through is a lot for one person to handle, and therapists are good at helping you by giving you tools to recognize what's going on and how to stop or just deal with it. While a lot of the posts on this thread have excellent suggestions that come up in therapy often, professional help goes deeper and works with your personal situation directly.

Also remember that a therapist should make you feel comfortable and that you can trust them. Please don't be afraid to 'shop around' for one. I burned through 3 different therapists before I found my current one I've been seeing for several years now.

On a final note, I believe you have the ability to get through this and get control over your life again. You seem like a strong person because you're reaching out for help and that counts more than anything else. I'm very proud to see you taking steps to take this on and I wish you all the best.

Hi there jan1311, going through bereavements as you have recently hurts and knocks your whole body and lifestyle. As many viewers have mentioned you have already acknowledged the there is a problem and to try and tackle all these problems together is not possible. Go with the worst problem you have first. Your health! Try the STEP method when you are planning your diet. STOP- Step back from what you are doing and do not do things off the hoof. THINK- Think realistically about what is going to be good in reducing your blood sugar but will fill you so stopping you eating more than you need. EVALUATE- Will this really work to help me keep my blood sugar within my normal parameters. So that I continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If it is then START- Begin with your diabetic diet note book. What works for you or has worked for you in the past to control your blood sugar.
Once you have started to control your blood sugar the possibility that your mood will change from being low to a more amenable level that you can work on. Small steps that you can change to make yourself feel better and increase your belief in yourself. Depression that comes with bereavement is called Reactive depression. Things that happen in and around our person and life. Things that you cannot control, things like divorce, loss of a job and lack of financial support. Understanding that everyone has to pass away at some point in their life and remembering the good times in your mind and in your heart. Set some time away for yourself in the day when it is quiet and talk to the person that has passed. After a few sessions the ache in your heart will slowly disappear and eventually the happiness returns. You still grieve but in a different way. The person that you lost is gone but all the memories are there for ever.
If you are still struggling then some of the Forum members mentioned Counselling. That may however take some time to set up. There is a website setup by a psychologist from Glasgow University and its called (www.livinglifetothefull) It is a 5 step plan for you to help yourself to understand your feelings. Once you can understand how you are feeling you can really change the way you are thinking. Just give it a try and good luck Oldman1952

@jan1311 - Grief affects us all differently - maybe you turned to food for comfort? I did, I threw in the towel 6 years ago when my Mother died (I cared for her for 9 years - she had Alzheimer's) and I just ate what I wanted and shot up to over 15 stone. It's been a hard struggle to get where I am now, but my weight is down to 13 stone 6 lbs = still another stone to loose though.
So, I do know how you must feel . But, We are a friendly and supportive bunch on here and with each little bit that we all give to help you, you will be back on your feet and feeling more yourself.
Remember, no question is daft or silly! Just ask and someone will be along to answer. Or just have a good old rant and get things of your chest!