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Trying to change my self-destruct attitude

RosieLKH

Well-Known Member
Messages
735
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,

I'm 52 and very overweight. I was diagnosed with type 2 several years ago. I was put on Metformin, but didn't really do much else, so my blood sugar levels continued to rise. I then had Gliclazide added to my meds, but still didn't alter my diet or lose weight, so my blood sugars continued to rise.

I know I have to alter my self-destructive attitude and lose weight, otherwise the next step is injecting insulin. I would liken my attitude to food to being addicted to carbs and sugar like an alcoholic is addicted to drink.

In most ways I'm a positive person, but not in my attitude to food. I have to change this, which is why I've joined this forum. Hopefully I can educate myself about how to eat a low carb diet and also about what will happen if I don't, but mostly I need to stop hiding from this as I need to have a knee operation and that will not happen while my diabetes is out of control.

So, my first steps have been - to start taking testing my blood seriously (I went for 3 years without bothering to do this), to use the website My Fitness Pal to record what I'm eating and keep my carbs as low as I can, to cut out the bread I adore, along with potatoes (I might have bread at the weekend, but earn it by walking the dog for longer), to stop binge eating, buying cakes, ice-cream, pies - I find myself reaching for anything and everything a diabetic shouldn't have - and learn some self-control when shopping.

It doesn't sound good, does it?

I so hope i can change.
R x
 
You can and you will - one meal at a time. Seriously you know you can do it, just don't throw yourself headlong into it. Don't go overboard either.
Good luck.
 
Hello and welcome, well, you have got off to a good start by trying to change habits of a lifetime and by coming on this forum, as I'm sure other type 2's will be along with some good practical advice, encouragement and support. Best wishes
 
Hi, Welcome

Sounds like you already know what you have to do, eating bread at the weekend would be like giving a recovering alcoholic a small drink at the weekend and expecting them to be back on the wagon on monday morning, bread is sugar = don't eat bread, its just a state of mind, you have to make the choice to stop and just stop, is it tough? yes, can you do it? yes

best of luck, ask questions and keep us posted
 
Jack - I think I'm going to need to take the cold turkey approach.
Andy - Yes, you're right - no bread at all then

Today has been a good day - so far - still has dinner to contend with.

I plan to eat the 'good' things I love to compensate for not having bread. I hardly eat potatoes anyway, so they are no problem. I love celery, cucumber, spinach, all green veg - so will try to fill up on these. I will treat myself to gorgeous fish and good quality meat. I will browse the diet pages on here and get ideas.

R x
 
Yes, I think the cold turkey approach is best too. I need to be a bit more adventurous with food, I tend to stick to the same things.
 
I've opted for the cold turkey approach until I get my weight down and then I may have the odd baked potato which is probably the only thing I really miss. Tonight I served my chilli steak con carne on a bed of very finely shredded iceberg and it actually was far nicer than the plateful of brown rice I was wading through. It's all about finding a balance between eating well for the disease and using food as a treat for when you are down, happy, tired etc. I know now I have a very unhealthy relationship with food using it as a way of coping with my anxiety and other life issues and part of dealing with diabetes for me is going to be finding other ways to self=medicate other than with a crusty baguette and a hunk of cheese. Good luck with it all. I just keep telling myself no carb tastes as good as I am going to feel when the DN says I am at a healthy BMI.
 
My experience was that carbs made me hungry for more carbs. When I first started cutting carbs I was still having 2 burgen bread toast for breakfast, but it spiked my blood sugar, so I cut back to one, then gave it up, replacing it with full fat Greek yoghurt, a few raspberries or blueberries and a teaspoon of flaxmeal. After a while I didn't miss the bread at all.
 
Hi Rosie. You are a lot braver than me. When diagnosed I went online read about the complications and virtually stopped eating for a month (Not a good idea.)
 


I work for Warburtons. i bake little hedgehog loaves with children in school, or take along lots of different types of bread and get them to make healthy sandwiches. I HAVE managed to cut bread out but facing all the delicious daily reminders is a ******!!! Especially the fruit loaves
 
It's about being kind and just to yourself really. Sometimes our health problems have been made worse by not looking after ourselves as well as we could. It's clear from what you say that you know what to do, and very soon you will get a real buzz out of treating yourself properly. There will be rewards because you will start to feel so much better! Then you will want to stay that way. Best of luck as you start out! We're with you so keep us posted!
 
Brilliant! Well done for going public in revealing your intentions. I did that recently, so having made a public pledge cannot renege.

Always feel better when I am doing low carb.

Best of luck

Pipp
 
Always feel better when I am doing low carb.
Click to expand...

I'd agree with that completely and add that there's nothing like trying to get to sleep with even a touch of a touch of neuropathy to concentrate the mind about what losing control feels like.
 
Pipp - That's what's in my mind - the positive effect of going public and having support on this forum.

Cold ethyl - yes, I come from a long line of people with food issues. It's not like I'm stupid. I know about healthy eating. I know about exercise. I don't know why I feel urges to abandon the good stuff and buy a couple of chocolate eclairs, or a pork pie, or a bag of hula hoops, or a tub of ice-cream - or even, at the worst times, all of that - and eat it all. No more!

Karbstruck - I think that might be what happens to me. Eating carbs does seem to make me want more, but not as much as eating sugary things makes me crave for more sugar.

Shelly - poor you. I bake my own bread at home - so does my husband - usually rye bread, sour dough, lots of seeds. My husband works away from home during the week, so I have popped the loaf I made yesterday in the freezer. I will not eat it.

R x
 
I found a recipe for flaxseed bread, made it and heaved at every mouthful. Even the birds wont eat it!!!
 
flax is definitely an acquired taste and it's something I haven't acquired either
I'm doing a soy/desiccated coconut/almond meal that I find ok
 
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