Hi

[Theresa14]

Hi everyone newbie here I have t2 diabetes have been for a year and a half .I haven't been looking after myself and my blood sugar level has rocketed I'm not proud of myself lock down and stress has not helped but I really do need to get on track.Any tips for staying on track would be much appreciated

 

[aparsonsmoore]

Staying on track is not easy - I live in a house of non-diabetics and have temptation everywhere. I guess it comes down to setting yourself a goal that is significant but can be accomplished. For example, it could be to walk 10,000 steps a day, or to have no sugar in your tea/coffee. If this can be accomplished, then move on to something else. However, remember that you are a fallible human being and slips will occur unless you are the most disciplined person in the world.

 

[Drummer]

Plan what you are going to eat.
Do you cook for other people or only for yourself?

 

[SB2015]

Hi everyone newbie here I have t2 diabetes have been for a year and a half .I haven't been looking after myself and my blood sugar level has rocketed I'm not proud of myself lock down and stress has not helped but I really do need to get on track.Any tips for staying on track would be much appreciated

Welcome to the forum Theresa. It has not been an easy time for managing Diabetes with things being so strange this past year, but for some it can be a chance to focus on what they are doing without distractions.

To help you stay on track you need to find a diet and level of exercise that you can maintain. Since Diabetes impacts on our ability to process carbohydrates a good place to start is to become familiar with the amount of carbs you are eating each day. I was surprised when I was diagnosed and had to start counting these just how many I was getting through. We then did some swaps and/or reduced our portion size to get to a manageable amount. This will be different for everyone, but if you know what you are eating now you can then work down from there.

For activity a tip I picked up was simply not to sit down for 15 minutes after I have eaten. This led to us going for a short walk after each meal, getting outside, or even just standing up to do the ironing before slumping. It is now a habit (although I am sat forumising now straight after breakfast so I don’t always do what I know is good for me!! Just like everyone)

Set small easily achievable targets. Let them become a habit. Then set another.
Take things step by step, and celebrate your successes.

 

[Inka]

Hi everyone newbie here I have t2 diabetes have been for a year and a half .I haven't been looking after myself and my blood sugar level has rocketed I'm not proud of myself lock down and stress has not helped but I really do need to get on track.Any tips for staying on track would be much appreciated

I think Lockdown and pandemic stress and uncertainty has affected lots of people @Theresa14 Youre not alone.

Planning meals is a good idea as mentioned. Also, depending on your circumstances, having a daily routine can help anchor you.

As far as food goes, try to identify what the main issues are and make a plan to avoid them eg don’t buy certain foods, substitute a hot drink for snacks, make time for a walk, etc.

Don’t try and do everything at once. Small changes that you keep up can have a good effect.

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum @Theresa14 🙂

 

[Leadinglights]

It is only when you start to reduce the carbohydrates that you realise how much you had previously been eating. I regarded what I had as being healthy with lots of veg and fruit but it was the bread and potatoes that were the killer. I didn't have sugar in drinks, had diet coke, only the occasional chocolate, not many takeaways or meals out so just a gradual sliding by having a slice of cake with the afternoon cuppa. Carbs and Cals book a real eye opener as to the carb content of a jacket potato or a bread roll or bowl of cereal.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you have been struggling with the stress of lockdown @Theresa14

But it’s really great that you have joined the forum, and you clearly want to start making some positive changes to get your diabetes back on track 🙂 That’s a really important step. Be kind to yourself. You can do this!

Lockdown seems to have divided folks - some have found it much much harder, because their routine is broken, it‘s a stressful and worrying time, and there are nibbly things on hand all the time... while others have found it has given them a chance to take a real reset, and control their menu, and rediscover the joy of good BG friendly meals, without the need to ‘grab quick things on the go’.

Keeping a food diary can be a real help - be brutally honest! Sometimes when the food is just ‘there’ it’s all too easy tomsnack fairly mindlessly. Writing stuff down and actually seeing what you are eating can help you identify some really easy wins.

Good luck and let us know how you get on 🙂