Hi all. This is my first post. I am newly diagnosed type 1 and I'm now controlling my own insulin. But I am feeling really down about eating. I have an app and a book and some good digital scales but family had a take away and I couldn't measure what carbs are in it so ended up not having it. Just all the weighing testing my blood working my insulin out before I can even have anything to eat is just seeming like a big chore and getting me down more that I first thought. Am I being ott and over dramatic or did anyone else feel like this? I know it's supposed to get easier but right now it isn't. X
I'm sorry you're feeling this way. I was diagnosed in March and so can understand the emotions you go through. What I can say is that you will go through the whole spectrum of emotions anger, frustration, jealousy (of people who dont have it), guilt, wondering if you could have avoided it, depression. All of these are perfectly normally and I went through them too, still do in the back of my head and that's the key. Really really feel the emotion, don't ignore it but then when you've indulged you must pick yourself up and get on with life. Try to think of something that keeps you going. If you don't find life a motivator then think of someone who would be absolutely gutted if anything happened to you and do it for them. Then start very very slow, small steps. What helped me was to look at my favourite foods and try to come up with something similar with lower fat and calories. For instance swap crisps for plain popcorn. Introduce fruit into your diet. Start with an apple. I have an apple in mid morning, a banana with my lunch and an orange in the evening. Some say that it has sugars that might spike your blood but I say better that than the usual chocolate and sweets I would normal eat. Then look at your bread. If you're going to have bread daily just have it once. I stopped having toast in the morning and instead have porridge or wheatabix, muesli if I'm about to do running. And I now have my bread as a sandwich at lunch. Burgen bread is good for diabetics I've heard. Then look at your dinners. Change your spaghetti for whole wheat and your rice for brown or caulirice (cauliflower made into rice). Try to have two fish meals a week (I had no idea how easy it is and quick to cook!), have less meat and more lentils. Limit your milk, I tend to do 50% water 50% milk but that's coz I drink a pint a day. Then finally when you've got your food sorted (and you could write a 4 weeks meal plan which helps me no end) then you can work on exercise. I used to walk but now I do 5K once a week (look up your local parkrun, it's not just for good runners but the likes of me who takes twice as long), walk to work every day which is 2 miles a day mon-fri. Sundays I swim and soon I'll be getting a bike for short journeys. Use the stairs instead of lifts. It seems like my whole life has changed but now I am fitter and happier. I still have a long way to go but I'm trying and thats all that matters is that you try. It's taken me 6 months to get to where I am now. Just keep at it and keep strong! You can do it!