Motivation

[ellesangel]

I'd like to risk asking a stupid question here but for those of you who seem to stay on track what helps you keep motivated to keep going with lowering your blood sugar.

I would love to both lose weight and drop my Hbac1 but I do keep self sabotaging plus I'm the only one in my house with diabetes. One of the things I'm ok with is keeping fit though again I could be fitter.

Admittedly I fall into the camp of being tempted to go to Slimming World, which I've done before but the last time I went I was among the slimmer people and also the only one with diabetes (to the knowledge of the consultant).

I'd value any guidance you have please and thanks.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I'd like to risk asking a stupid question here but for those of you who seem to stay on track what helps you keep motivated to keep going with lowering your blood sugar.

I would love to both lose weight and drop my Hbac1 but I do keep self sabotaging plus I'm the only one in my house with diabetes. One of the things I'm ok with is keeping fit though again I could be fitter.

Admittedly I fall into the camp of being tempted to go to Slimming World, which I've done before but the last time I went I was among the slimmer people and also the only one with diabetes (to the knowledge of the consultant).

I'd value any guidance you have please and thanks.

Slimming world doesn't usually cater to people with a metabolic condition like diabetes, so maybe not the best way to go far as support goes, unless you feel comfortable not quite following the exact same plan far as carbs go... Or maybe something similar? Who knows what groups are around. A few years ago someone started walking groups for T2's here in the Netherlands, often a DN or GP walks along. Not quite the same, but it's a sort of support system, and there may be something similar available in your area.

And for the record, while a lot of us sound like we're staying on track, the bulk is, you know, human and all that. (Can't vouch for the rest. Robots? Aliens? Your guess is as good as mine. ) We stumble. The thing is to start over again right after.

What keeps me motivated? Well, two things: I saw what diabetes did to family members and friends, so I didn't want my husband to be even more of a carer for me than he already is, and not a widower well before he should be. And, these days, it makes a difference in my quality of life. Even with menopause and my thyroid mucking about with my weight and glucose levels, I just feel physically better if I keep my bloods as much under control as I can. If i don't, a lot starts to ache, and I'd rather not hurt any more than I have to. So, an external and an internal reason. One for my husband, one for me. Still not enough to keep me from buying that lovely lavender chocolate bar every few months, but at least I make it last a while.

Think: what impact would uncontrolled diabetes have on your life and the lives of your loved ones. See if you find a reason, or multiple reasons there, to take care of yourself better.
Good luck!
Jo

 

[lovinglife]

I think we all have different reasons for motivation, mine isn’t so much around myself but family circumstances, I have an adult son with 24/7 caring needs I’m his main carer and I need to be well & to be around as long as possible for him, that’s my main motivation but I also have the usual ones of wanting to be slimmer, healthier etc.

As regards to weight loss, I have lost a lot of weight since diagnosis (over 11st) and managed to keep most of it off for 14 years, I have a stone that comes and goes. I’m still overweight but I find each pound a real struggle now but keep going. I do keto but you can still over eat in keto so I do have to watch portion sizes & be aware of calories though I don’t count them religiously.

I find setting smaller goals rather than looking at the end weight keeps me motivated, for instance I have an event in July so my goal is to be 7lb lighter for that. (I make the goals very achievable if I’m good ) I then have another event in August so depending how I’ve done I’ll set a new goal for that. It really is a commitment and can be so difficult at times to keep it up, not the keto but certainly the portion size for me, throw in an eating disorder and yes it’s torture at times and managed by the minute on occasions

I also I never say I can’t eat that ever again, I say to myself I can’t eat that today, maybe next whenever but not today, this has kept me off pasta, rice, potatoes, pizza - all the stuff that’s bad for me personally for 14 years

My advice is set yourself small goals, don’t beat yourself up if you stumble, draw a line and start again right away.

 

[ellesangel]

Thanks this is already so helpful.

You're right about SW and I give myself a talking to from time to time reminding myself of the reasons for me not to go back plus the check ins here are helpful. I've also been using ChatGPT for some support too.

Thanks loads for the remindeabout other people who also might not be staying on track. I admire the people who are getting lower morning HBaC1 though I have given myself a mini goal to get my blood sugar down one point at a time.

I also sense a lot more kindred spirits here than at SW so that’s another good reminder for me. I love the blood sugar thread as well which helps as another motivator.

I have to think of my late dear Dad. He alone was a massive warning sign of what could happen. He had the complications of neuropathy, earlier goitre, dialysis through kidney failure and eventually Liver disease.

 

[KennyA]

I'd like to risk asking a stupid question here but for those of you who seem to stay on track what helps you keep motivated to keep going with lowering your blood sugar.

I would love to both lose weight and drop my Hbac1 but I do keep self sabotaging plus I'm the only one in my house with diabetes. One of the things I'm ok with is keeping fit though again I could be fitter.

Admittedly I fall into the camp of being tempted to go to Slimming World, which I've done before but the last time I went I was among the slimmer people and also the only one with diabetes (to the knowledge of the consultant).

I'd value any guidance you have please and thanks.

My motivation is simple. I don't want the range of unpleasant and painful symptoms I had while my BG was out of normal range. That makes it very easy for me. A choice between gout, kidney failure and neuropathy (and all the others) and eating carbs?

As a bonus I've lost 90lbs or so and have been feeling better than at any time since the previous century, I suppose.

 

[Tony337]

Hi Type 1 of 50 years here with hba1c 5.7 or 39.....

How do i do it?......i get a buzz off the hba1c, my GP thinks me a marvel, and recently i found out my hba1c was better than 2 people on a pump cam thing
so i beat an algorithm as i'm MDI.
I'm getting old and drive and work and take holidays in the Canaries and want to continue so having good results is vital.

I lost half a stone recently and often do when i go to the canaries as the spanish cannot cook potatoes so i don't eat any.
I find it easy cutting back the carbs which quite a few people struggle with.

I'm insulin resistant as we speak and rather than increasing my insulin i eat fewer carbs and have just one meal a day.
It works for me.

I wish you well

Tony

 

[ellesangel]

My motivation is simple. I don't want the range of unpleasant and painful symptoms I had while my BG was out of normal range. That makes it very easy for me. A choice between gout, kidney failure and neuropathy (and all the others) and eating carbs?

As a bonus I've lost 90lbs or so and have been feeling better than at any time since the previous century, I suppose.

Gosh you have the same symptoms that my darling late Dad had. This is admittedly one of my motiviating factors as well as my Mum who is now on Insulin.

 

[Rachox]

I worked in the NHS before retiring, once seen and smelt gangrene in an uncontrolled diabetic, you can’t forget it. So in addition to everything said above I do not want gangrene!

 

[KennyA]

Gosh you have the same symptoms that my darling late Dad had. This is admittedly one of my motiviating factors as well as my Mum who is now on Insulin.

Had, not have. All gone.

 

[Resurgam]

Like Rachox I witnessed the effects of uncontrolled diabetes - living with my grandmother in her final years. That was dreadful, and I suspect it could have been avoided which makes it worse.
Do allow yourself to be diabetic - make plans for your safety and comfort, buy things you can eat, make things you can eat - if someone in the house wants things you should not eat, have them look after them, out of the way.
Do cultivate habits you find helpful - once something becomes an entrenched habit it is quite difficult to break, (at least for me) even in the face of temptation, which I never believed would happen.

 

[ellesangel]

I worked in the NHS before retiring, once seen and smelt gangrene in an uncontrolled diabetic, you can’t forget it. So in addition to everything said above I do not want gangrene!

Hi Rachox, now this is another great reminder for my squeamish mind. I still can't get my head around how King Henry VIII last wife coped having had to smell that on a daily basis before he passed. Yup I'm fascinated with the Tudor period.

I'm going to make a list and keep it somewhere.

 

[ellesangel]

Like Rachox I witnessed the effects of uncontrolled diabetes - living with my grandmother in her final years. That was dreadful, and I suspect it could have been avoided which makes it worse.
Do allow yourself to be diabetic - make plans for your safety and comfort, buy things you can eat, make things you can eat - if someone in the house wants things you should not eat, have them look after them, out of the way.
Do cultivate habits you find helpful - once something becomes an entrenched habit it is quite difficult to break, (at least for me) even in the face of temptation, which I never believed would happen.

You're right though sorry to read about you and your Grandmother. I never thought I'd go off doughnuts and sticky toffee pudding but I have. It's certainly an ongoing marathon rather than a sprint.

I also have to remind myself not to have the biscuits that will be at the meeting I'm going to later.

 

[AloeSvea]

Hi @ellesangel.

Yes, as above, I think about the worst for motivation, to try and keep on top of the dysregulated blood glucose and insulin in the present. Ditto nutrition and weight and heart health.

I did that by educating myself in how we get fat, and how to get normal weighted.

With regards type two diabetes, this Forum has been incredibly helpful in keeping me current with studies and others' experiences. Invaluable, absolutely.

I also tried to keep on top of it by weaning myself off sugar, as best I could, straight away after diagnosis. And for me, once I understood the effect wheat had on my belly and weight, I did the same with wheat products. Over time in the first year after diagnosis, from here and wider study, I came to understand that lowering my carb intake took priority, and when I was fully physically able, being physically active (re heart health).

I can't lay claim to 'keeping on top of it' regarding my blood glucose, but I have been able to self monitor well with my weight (ie the fat cells), and track my vitals re heart health.

Keeping in mind the worst that can happen for me, and my desire to live as long as I can, absolutely keeps me motivated.

 

[MrsA2]

Several things motivate me (but I still need to remind myself frequently!)
1. Having lost 3 stone, I love being slimmer and never, ever want to get back there again
2. I'm already poorly sighted in one eye (not diabetes related) and do not want to risk losing the sight in my good eye.
3. I love not having to pee as much as I used to! Car journeys are now a pleasure not a dread.
4. To avoid other diabetes complications as long as possible
5. I love feeling fitter and healthier and medication free.

It does get easier as most things are now habit, it's no longer unusual.
Family wise we keep separate tins and shelves. Woebetide anyone who sneaks any of my lc treats or ingredients. They are also expensive. Plus if their sugary stuff is out of my sight I don't even think about sneaking any. Meals are based around low carb. If they want to add carbs to their then they do. Eg I'll cook chilli, they cook their rice.

 

[NewbieHelp]

When I was first diagnosed back in 2018, my reason to lower my Hba1c was pure embarrassment. I was embarrassed I’d let my self get overweight, never exercised and ate unhealthy foods ….

I know that’s not the same for everyone but I would say how I treated my body over the years was definitely a contributing factor to my diagnosis

To this day only my partner knows I’m diabetic … I have never once told friends family or work colleagues etc

Then I ended up having a serious operation after which I couldn’t eat healthy foods so broke all my good habits… put my head in the sand and ended up with a high Hba1c of 75 in October

Over the next few months I made a half hearted attempt to lower it, ended up in a&e twice with unrelated issues and each time my BS levels were scary…. A few honest words from my GP who told me my BS levels were my biggest issue in terms of my overall health made me rethink what I was doing.

In the last 3 months I’ve researched myself and asked loads of questions on here and my motivation now is simply my long term health and the risk of so many health complications …. It’s just not worth the risk…

Yes I might fall off the wagon on the odd meal but I’m due to get my bloods taken next week so actually dying to see what my Hba1c is … hoping I’m not disappointed!

Good luck in your journey… this forum is a wealth of knowledge thanks to all the members in terms of understanding our condition and low carb ideas, motivation etc

 

[Antje77]

For me, the 'negative' reasons mentioned above do play a part. Of course I don't want to lose my eyesight, feet, or kidney function.
More short term, I never again want to feel like I did during the time before diagnosis, 9 years ago, with high BG worsening my depression, giving me this horrible thirst, and most of all I never want to have a yeast infection ever again!

But on a day to day basis, my motivation is a positive one, coming from closely watching my BG, and mostly getting it right, it gives me a kick.
I love crisps, bread, fruits, chips, a fresh hot croissant. But knowing eating those things will earn me a frustrating fight with diabetes for hours afterwards makes those things far less appetising, I really don't like being frustrated with my numbers. So I usually choose more sensible foods.
And every once in a while I choose the treat over sensible foods, very consciously and accepting my numbers will likely not be where I usually like them to be.