Finding it tough to eat and exercise as I should

[AppleADay2010]

I found out I had diabetes 3 weeks ago. The first week I ate well and I found my blood sugars went down. For some reason I seemed to take that as permission to go off the rails. I remember when I used to smoke and it was a similar feeling - knowing it was bad for me but still doing it. I am so unhappy being like this but finding it hard to do better. I feel very foolish when I know how bad I am eating. Is this normal for someone knew to this? I would have expected me to be super scared and behaving myself.

 

[Drummer]

I had a few weeks on Metformin and Atorvastatin - it is my secret superpower, I would do anything rather than be told I should be taking them again for valid reasons.
Being told I should lower my cholesterol because we like diabetics to be under 5 is not a valid reason - in my opinion.
First though - now that your name tag has finally registered - I hope that you are not eating an apple a day without checking you can cope with it.
It really helped me sort out just how sensitive to carbs I was/am to have a testing meter, so I could see how my blood glucose reacted to meals.
I really like the foods I have been eating and would not find higher carbs at all tempting. I only eat twice a day but have two real meals - perhaps if you make a shopping list of things you can eat and plan your meals - getting yourself back on track - though it might be an idea to check what you propose to eat by posting it here first as sometimes people start off with the wrong idea of what a diet to control diabetes should be like.

 

[adrian1der]

I found out I had diabetes 3 weeks ago. The first week I ate well and I found my blood sugars went down. For some reason I seemed to take that as permission to go off the rails. I remember when I used to smoke and it was a similar feeling - knowing it was bad for me but still doing it. I am so unhappy being like this but finding it hard to do better. I feel very foolish when I know how bad I am eating. Is this normal for someone knew to this? I would have expected me to be super scared and behaving myself.

It is also easy to go to far the other way and become super paranoid. Remember that your new way of eating has to be something you can maintain in the long run so a balance is needed and you have to find an approach which is right for you.

 

[grovesy]

There is no normal at how to react we all react to things differently. Think of it as a marathon not a sprint.

 

[aparsonsmoore]

Don't think you should feel scared to do or not do something, but need to feel motivated to do so. Very difficult in a pandemic. Try setting yourself a short and mid-term goal, it could be to run 5 miles comfortably, but recognising that a run of a mile would be an achievement at this moment in time. You could then put this alongside eating goals, such as reducing consumption of sugary food. Everything else then follows - lowering carbs etc...

 

[AppleADay2010]

Sorry to hear that you're struggling. We all know how hard it is at the beginning. If you need help with your diet there's no shortage of advice on the Forum. What have you been told by your GP or Nurse about diet?

Thanks Anitram they suggested the normal NHS healthy eating diet but from reading here it seems the best diet is low carb. Maybe I went to extreme in the first week I tried.

 

[AppleADay2010]

I had a few weeks on Metformin and Atorvastatin - it is my secret superpower, I would do anything rather than be told I should be taking them again for valid reasons.
Being told I should lower my cholesterol because we like diabetics to be under 5 is not a valid reason - in my opinion.
First though - now that your name tag has finally registered - I hope that you are not eating an apple a day without checking you can cope with it.
It really helped me sort out just how sensitive to carbs I was/am to have a testing meter, so I could see how my blood glucose reacted to meals.
I really like the foods I have been eating and would not find higher carbs at all tempting. I only eat twice a day but have two real meals - perhaps if you make a shopping list of things you can eat and plan your meals - getting yourself back on track - though it might be an idea to check what you propose to eat by posting it here first as sometimes people start off with the wrong idea of what a diet to control diabetes should be like.

Thanks for your advice. Yeah I think I thought apples were ok. I will keep reading on here.

 

[AppleADay2010]

It is also easy to go to far the other way and become super paranoid. Remember that your new way of eating has to be something you can maintain in the long run so a balance is needed and you have to find an approach which is right for you.

Thanks. This sounds sensible. I appreciate your advice.

 

[AppleADay2010]

Don't think you should feel scared to do or not do something, but need to feel motivated to do so. Very difficult in a pandemic. Try setting yourself a short and mid-term goal, it could be to run 5 miles comfortably, but recognising that a run of a mile would be an achievement at this moment in time. You could then put this alongside eating goals, such as reducing consumption of sugary food. Everything else then follows - lowering carbs etc...

Thanks. That does sound more motivating then looking at it the way I have been doing which has been more like a loss. I really have wanted to be healthier for some time so this is a good time to do it!

 

[AppleADay2010]

There is no normal at how to react we all react to things differently. Think of it as a marathon not a sprint.

Thanks for this. That makes sense.

 

[Ditto]

I found out I had diabetes 3 weeks ago. The first week I ate well and I found my blood sugars went down. For some reason I seemed to take that as permission to go off the rails. I remember when I used to smoke and it was a similar feeling - knowing it was bad for me but still doing it. I am so unhappy being like this but finding it hard to do better. I feel very foolish when I know how bad I am eating. Is this normal for someone knew to this? I would have expected me to be super scared and behaving myself.

Could be me typing that! You'll soon get the hang of it I'm sure, but hope it doesn't take you as long as it's taken me, I'm week 2 of low carb... 🙂