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Struggling to get back on the diabetes 2 wagon

L

ljdub

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I was diagnosed with Type 2 in October 2021 with a Hb1ac level of 77. This came as a bit of a shock and with the help of this forum and the initial worry of losing toes and my eyesight i managed to lose over 3 stone in 6 months by cutting out carbs massively to what i was previously used too, this reduced my level to around 45 so classed as pre-dibetic. Never looked and felt better.

From this point over the summer I felt confident and went on an all-inclusive holiday and over indulged and since ive been back ive struggled to get back to my healthier ways although my levels have now droppped to 41 as per my last blood test in November. I have put a stone on and feel if i carry on i will be back to my old ways.

I assume this is part of being diabetic and shaving to understand that this is a life change and we all have good days and bad says but i seem to be having good days and bad weeks (if that makes sense).

What motiviation do people have to get them back on track, i feel i need someone to tell me off.

Thanks for listening and any advice gratefully received.
 
I think I'm heading the same way., even though I haven't actively increased carbs they seem to creep in and weight creeps on.!
Doctor David Unwins wife Jen is a psychologist who does a lot of work helping people with the mind side of eating.
Her book and Web site Fork in the Road is a good place to start
forkintheroad.co.uk

Home | Fork in the Road | Guide to Low Carb Eating

Welcome to Fork in the Road! A website dedicated to sharing resources and tips on low carb eating. Helping people recover from Sugar Addiction
forkintheroad.co.uk forkintheroad.co.uk
Links from there will take you off on all sorts of threads from addiction to how to say no.
I also get motivation, or at least accountability by reporting my food daily on this thread. It's non judgemental, just helps me focus. Might help you too.

What have you eaten today?

Today’s food so far. Fathead pizza with pepperoni and Polish sausage. About to have a 25g of Aldi Moser Roth chocolate - their 85% seems to have been replaced by 90%. Then that’ll likely be it as I have a hospital appointment later and it’ll probably be a bit late for eating once that’s done.
www.diabetes.co.uk www.diabetes.co.uk

I'll also be very interested to see what others reply
 
I find this forum incredibly motivating. I learn useful things every day.

My other motivations are looking down and seeing my feet (because I've lost weight) my new and taken-in clothes, including being able to wear belts!!! And that bringing my BG down by diet alone, being off medication, feeling better than I have in years, are all raised fingers in the Agincourt style to the medics who gave me rubbish advice and tried to force unsuitable drugs on me. Frankly, for me no food item comes near the joy it gives me to have brought my diabetes under control.

I thoroughly enjoy the food I can eat, and that I never have to feel hungry.
 
I keep a photograph of me taken just after diagnosis as I started low-carb. I look at it every so often. Not going back to that, thanks.

In addition, there is nothing to compare with the absence of nasty symptoms and the feeling good and energetic all the time. I wouldn't swop that for chips or pasta.
 
Me too. 4yrs of prediabetic and normal levels and 20k weight loss have all returned to square one. Covid/steroids is part of it but I can’t blame it all on that as the backwards slide had already begun before that. I know extremely well what to do. Motivation to do it seems to frequently hide despite trying all my usual tactics to stir it up. This demotivation extends beyond diabetes care unfortunately but perhaps reading the links @MrsA2 has kindly provided will help. I’ve always relied on practical efforts and maybe it’s time to try a more mental approach.
 
I find the process of finger pricking and recording blood glucose every day keeps me focused day to day. If more than a couple of high numbers appear back to back then it is like being "told off" by the data and I adjust (maybe skip a meal, for example). I have thought about relaxing on the recording daily but it has become habitual and the alternative would be to rely on my HBA1C results - but that would only be one measured every several months and I think a more regular prompt is a better carrot/stick.
 
Good points from everyone.

I loved going into a shop today and being able to buy small sizes off the shelf and know they would fit and look good.
I love being able to wear layers of clothes - that used to make me look like the Michelin man
I loved not being hungry or tempted while I did the supermarket shop.
I like that I'm able to hold medication at bay

When I read Jen Unwins book it encouraged the reader to list their goals. Back in September 2021 mine were:
• Keep bg under 8.5 and in range. Hba1c last week was 39, so think I can tick that one
• get weight to under 10st and stay there. Hmm, crept up a few pounds. Something to work on
• keep off medication. Tick
•avoid eyesight loss , neuropathy and amputation. TICK

Perhaps I should look at them more often, but writing them and following her other steps helped me.
 
KennyA said:
I keep a photograph of me taken just after diagnosis as I started low-carb. I look at it every so often. Not going back to that, thanks.

In addition, there is nothing to compare with the absence of nasty symptoms and the feeling good and energetic all the time. I wouldn't swop that for chips or pasta.
Click to expand...
I have a photo of me just before diagnosis also. The photo is stuck to the handle bars of my spin bike and another on the wall directly in front of the treadmill. It helps me to have the motivation to get off my backside when the spirit is weak! It works for me
 
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