Managing binge eating and mental health

[Katie033]

I was diagnosed T2 a year ago and initially worked really hard to change my lifestyle and eating habits. To start with I went a bit too extreme but then found a balance that felt do-able for me. I went on medication and started losing weight.

Then the last 7 months have been very stressful, with moving house, my car breaking down, various accidents and works stressors - I just gave up with my exercise and healthier eating.

I have long term mental health conditions that I fight hard to manage and not let control my life, but as a result comfort eating became my coping method (after years of working to stop using more dangerous coping methods). I'm now finding myself binge eating again and feeling out of control.

My family try to be supportive but they are feeders and don't have the healthiest relationship with food either. They will buy takeaways or bake cakes, but then berate me for eating them. I just don't have that level of self control to not eat what's in the house, but I don't believe it is fair on them to have to stop enjoying food because of me.

At the moment I feel my health is not great, I have a blood test booked this month but have not heard from my GP about any health checks (do I have to book in my own checks with a nurse?). My mental and physical health are very linked and I feel I have lost any motivation to care about my sugars and eating. I suppose I am feeling very isolated right now.

Does anyone else struggle with binge or comfort eating and T2? How do others manage?

(Sorry, this is my first time reaching out to others)

 

[Inka]

Welcome @Katie033 🙂 Sorry to hear about your stressful time. Food can be very much linked to emotions. You’re not alone in emotional eating (or its opposite). One thing that struck me is that you say your family are ‘feeders’. Temptation like that can’t make things easy. Do you live with them? Could you move out, if so? Not having binge items in the house is a good strategy.

 

[Leadinglights]

There are recipes on this website sugarfreelondoner for low carb cakes and biscuits which might be a good substitute for the whole family. But even so portion control is needed.
There are recipes in this link which would help with meals and would be suitable for everyone. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

At the moment I feel my health is not great, I have a blood test booked this month but have not heard from my GP about any health checks (do I have to book in my own checks with a nurse?). My mental and physical health are very linked and I feel I have lost any motivation to care about my sugars and eating. I suppose I am feeling very isolated right now.

Does anyone else struggle with binge or comfort eating and T2? How do others manage?

So sorry to hear about your struggles with binge eating @Katie033

It feels like the extra stresses you have been going through recently have spilled over, and triggered stress responses

Have you ever had help with your relationship with food? There is a national charity that offers advice and support for people struggling with disordered eating which may have some resources, and suggestions about how to seek help.

The UK's Eating Disorder Charity - Beat

Struggling with an eating disorder? Caring for someone who is? Beat is here to support you.

www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk

It’s not diabetes-specific help, but there might be some things there which might give you some pointers?

 

[saffron15]

@Katie033 welcome to the forum. Well done for making such good progress and recognising you need to reengage with that great start. I do sympathise. I have always loved food but at times it has been too bigger part eat because happy eat to celebrate eat to cheer myself up. Recognising I was overweight but not doing anything about it. I piled on weight after an early menopause but didn't shift it when diagnosed with high blood pressure. However the shock of diabetes made me drop lots of bad food choices and I lost a stone before I went on medication. I try to make sure I have good food choices in the house. I have occasionally bought some dark chocolate and nut biscuits (10 carb) 8 biscuits to a packet but I leave them in my car so I have to make a conscious decision to get one. My sister was entered in a study of those perpetually thin. She can have a busy day where she forgets to eat! If I go to see her she will offer me pasta or pizza. I've had a day of grazing because I had food in the house and worst still eating both slices of a biscoff cheesecake I bought on impulse when I went to buy milk. I checked the carbs 38 per slice and that would stop me buying.

Coincidentally I've seen a post by @maximus about Prof Taylors book which refers to disordered eating. I think i have to recognise i can easily sink back into it. I'm going to buy the book.

M

Thread 'T2D Remission Help'

Yesterday at 5:06 PM

I put T2D in remission 2 years ago by following the advice of Professor Roy Taylor who discovered the cause and way to reverse T2D. I recommend his book "Life without Diabetes" to anyone suffering T2D. It was quite an eye-opener.

His book covers the physiology of T2D - the body functions that cause it. But there is also a psychological aspect - the mind functions - that prevent many from gaining remission because of disordered eating. The most recent research into this is by Oxford University's CREDO team. They are making available online courses to help recover from disordered eating...

• Maximus99
• Replies: 2
• Forum: Newbies say hello here!

• 

The bonus for me is I have lost 3 stone and my bmi is now healthy, I've also found an aqua fit class I enjoy. I must now tackle moving more.



What was your original hba1c? Are you on medication? I'm on a statin, dapaglifozin and one metformin.



Most surgery's review conditions annually. Usually you need to make an appointment for a blood test then an appointment between 5 and 10 days later. I had my annual review 5 months after diagnosis because it was my birthday month. I have had two further appointments with a nurse. One when she dropped 1 metformin then a blood test and appointment 3 months later. I'm assuming my next appointment will be a review at end of the year.

If I were you I'd get an appointment as soon as possible to discuss you mental health struggles as it is impacting your physical health.



Good luck

 

[goodybags]

Hi @Katie033 welcome to the forum, firstly congratulations on what you’ve already achieved … I fully respect for your honesty in admitting (because as I read your post) thinking your saying stress / your poor relationship with food, might now be affecting more than just your control of your blood sugars ?

as someone who has undergone an immense amount of stress over the last 18 months, plus anxiety that cumulated in me being in poor MH earlier this year
I can honestly say sometimes things aren’t easy, however I find posting regarding my troubles and reading of other peoples success stories but equally people’s struggles a great help to me

Probably never admitted it, but but I did have a poor relationship with food for many years)
I was quite surprised to see to see the very useful suggestion regarding BEAT eating orders charity mentioned by @everydayupsanddowns

 

[trophywench]

Hope you mean 'surprised and pleased' ?

 

[JimmyBlue]

Hi @Katie033, sorry to hear you are struggling after such a great start to addressing your T2. I have never suffered binge eating but I have in times gone by happily gone through a whole bar of Tony Chocaloney chocolate or eaten a four pack of something like a Mars bars or Snickers so I can understand the issues you are having. My problems arise from being bored in the house on my own, but since my diagnosis last October I have worked really hard to overcome this behaviour. The first step was to substitute something more healthy so there are lots of Costco dry roasted almonds in the house and I have tended to hit these or plain almonds when I get triggered to snack. They are healthier and much lower carb but in reality I needed to address the snacking issue as a whole.
For me the big change is drinking the recommended two to three litres of water that I saw somewhere should be the target for T2D sufferers. I also try to make sure I have something on that can prevent me being tempted to snack, a trip to the gym for some weight training, nine holes of golf or even just a walk. These things distract me from the idea of snacking.
I also try and make sure that at the end of every meal I am feeling full. Breakfast and dinner are straightforward but lunch can be an issue. I use red lentil pasta or noodles made with edamame or black beans mixed with things like chopped tomatoes and mackerel. That really helps me feed satiated. Also making sure I eat my meals at regular times also helps.
While I have in the main addressed my snacking issues, I know that there is always a weakness there and that I need to make sure that I recognise this and implement the strategies above. In addition, I have now learned to make low carb bread and biscuits which means I can like my wife and daughters have a nice snack with a cup of tea from time to time or have toast that won't send my BG through the roof in the morning with breakfast. The actual activity of baking really helps to keep my mind busy, not least as I have a habit of missing out the odd important ingredient.
The risk you face is that changing everything at once is difficult and dangerous but perhaps small steps one at a time may help you. Take up having a small walk each day for a few weeks, maybe at the end of the month try and find time to do some baking. Don't rush and importantly don't come down hard on yourself if you miss a day or struggle with the activity, just make sure that you are focused on the next time.
With regards to the checks, the official DSN does my bloods once per year which is notified to me as an appointment. She also does things like check my feet, weight and height when I go to do the bloods. The Retinology team from the local hospital also message me when I need to see them.
If you go more than 12 months without one of the regular checks, hassle the surgery. Also ask them if they have a wellbeing team that you can engage with as my local surgery has this as does the local trust. I am not sure all health trusts are doing this but if they do, the team can really help support you in changes that you want to make.