hopeless case

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M1k3

M1k3

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
hello everyone,
my diabetic review was yesterday and i asked the nurse for help and she suggested Diabetes uk.
I am really terrible at being a type 2 and have a sweet tooth and no will power. I am going to try again now and will look to joining the local diabetes group to see if i can sort myself out.
 
I was a sugar addict pre diagnosis and for me, as an all or nothing person, it had to stop completely. Initially it was the feelings of shame and guilt that I had brought this diagnosis upon myself which motivated me to change and then when it turned out I needed insulin, then having to inject for pretty much everything I put in my mouth helps to keep me from slipping back to my old ways which was probably slowly killing me, so in some respects I see my diabetes diagnosis as saving me from that addiction and enabling me to be much more healthy.

What surprised me is that following a low carb way of eating has stopped the cravings for sweet stuff and mostly I am not tempted. It has been important to find low carb treats (usually higher fat ones) and use those to ensure that I don't feel deprived. So on a morning I have real double cream in my coffee instead of sugar and despite always saying I would rather not drink coffee as drink it without sugar, my morning coffee with cream is a little daily luxury that I really enjoy! I also eat much more cheese now than I ever did, but I choose nice cheeses rather than just run of the mill stuff and I have it with half an apple or some olives. Pork scratchings became my go to snack although I am tryig to wean myself off them as they were happening far too regularly.... I have an addictive personality it seems. 🙄

Anyway, I just wanted to say that managing your sweet tooth can be done but you need to find the right motivation to help you overcome it and changing to a low carb way of eating can help not only your sweet tooth but your diabetes in general.
 
M1k3 said:
hello everyone,
my diabetic review was yesterday and i asked the nurse for help and she suggested Diabetes uk.
I am really terrible at being a type 2 and have a sweet tooth and no will power. I am going to try again now and will look to joining the local diabetes group to see if i can sort myself out.
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Welcome to the forum
No one is a hopeless case if they are willing to put a bit of effort in to looking after their condition and it is often because they have received no or bad advise that they fail to get to grips with making changes to their diet which is what is needed.
A sweet tooth can be a problem but only if you let it as there are alternatives to things you buy in the shop which can be just as satisfying.
The website sugarfreelondoner has recipes for cakes and biscuits as well as deserts which are all low carb.
Many find a low carbohydrate approach successful because meals are filling and based on real food so easier to sustain. Have a look at this link for a good explanation and some menu plans to suit various tastes and budget but you can just do your own thing following the low carb principals. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Low carb is suggested as being no more than 130g carbs per day, it is not NO carbs and is suitable if only metformin or no medication has been prescribed.
There are other regimes that people try, low calorie, shakes based but whatever you choose has to be enjoyable otherwise it will not be sustainable.
 
rebrascora said:
I was a sugar addict pre diagnosis and for me, as an all or nothing person, it had to stop completely.
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This!
I too was a sugar addict. I need to not have sweet items in the house over the course of a normal week.
I want to avoid type 2, so I just set about removing all the sweet stuff from the house that I'd reach for in an 'I want cake/biscuits/sweeties' moment.
It can be done, but it does need a real effort, which of course will be more difficult if you live with people who are eating those items.
 
I think it is important to understand yourself.
Some people benefit from going "cold turkey" on things like sugar whereas this may be too much for others who find it unmaintainable. There are other options such as reducing how much sugar you eat through techniques like reducing potion size, rationing, using sugar replacements (sweeteners), distracting yourself when you fancy something sweet, finding less carby alternatives (e.g. dark chocolate instead of milk chocolate), identify alternative "rewards" (so often cake and chocolate is used as self reward for achieving a target).
Whatever approach you adopt, remember you are human: don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon. Find a way to get back on which may mean using another technique.
 
Thanks for your replies folks i do believe i am a sugar addict so its going to be tough.
Todays my first day and i will log any things that help or are working for me and pass them on .
 
M1k3 said:
Thanks for your replies folks i do believe i am a sugar addict so its going to be tough.
Todays my first day and i will log any things that help or are working for me and pass them on .
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Good luck with your plan.

One thing you could try is the 5 day Phase 1 of the Harcombe Diet:
It's purpose is to put cravings behind you. At least it's written down so you know exactly what to do!

Zoe Harcombe describes Phase 2 in this article;
- What should we eat? https://www.zoeharcombe.com/2021/08/what-should-we-eat/
The section on weight loss has helped me maintain my weight after losing over 20 kg to get back to normal, instead of putting it all back on again and T2D returning with a vengeance.

As you can see from the reviews of the book describing the diet many have suceeded with it after trying other approaches. it's inherently low carb:
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harcombe-Diet-Counting-Calories-Losing/product-reviews/1907797114/
 
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Be kind to yourself @M1k3

And believe that you can do it. That’s a surprisingly large part of any self-care. Give yourself permission to succeed, and only talk to yourself in a way that you would to a close friend who was facing a challenge that you were trying to help and encourage.

Be realistic about how hard it can be to make and sustain positive changes (after all those thing we know we need to limit do often bring short term enjoyment/brain chemical reward). But also recognise that it can be done. And that you are not helpless in this situation. You do have the ability to make the change you seek.

There’s enough blame, negativity, and stigma surrounding diabetes without you heaping it on yourself 🙂
 
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