I cant stop eating!

[Jenniw1990]

I need some motivation to stop mysely self sabotaging!! I am due my next checkup with my DN on 16th April, i have had a really bad few months and i even ended up writing a letter to my DN telling her that i am struggling big time and i need help! She got me an appointment to see her the next day and i am going through diabetic burn out! She has referred me to a diabetic psychologist which i am still waiting to hear from for an appointment. Has anyone else felt like this? I know everything i am doing is bad for me but i just can't stop myself !!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello Jenni,
Do you have a meter so you can test your blood sugars?
I'm wondering if you are running high as this can and does cause people to eat a lot more than normal.
Would it also help if this isn't the reason to stock up on meats and cheeses and perhaps sugar free jelly so at least you feel full without increasing your blood sugars to much more?

 

[Jenniw1990]

Hi Sue,
Thanks for coming back to me. I have been told by my DN to stop testing until my appointment as i was letting it take over my life, i was becoming obsessed with it, which has made my depression/anxiety much much worse, hence the diabetes psychologist being brought in. Nothing seems to satisfy me now, and i end up always going past that full stage, in fact i don't even recognise it until its too late and i feel so sick ! My mind is constantly thinking about eating, what food can i have, what food am i craving, i convince myself of things to eat even though i know i am now hungry!! Its so hard and i am struggling. I had my tea last night, then a bowl of cereal and then a sandwich!!! I didnt need all that but my head kept it in my mind until i got it!!

 

[Inka]

I agree with @Pumper_Sue in that high sugars (or rapidly fluctuating sugars) can make you feel hungry. That’s a physical cause.

But there can also be psychological causes like guilt, anxiety and trying to exert too much control. I’ve seen that last thing amongst my non-diabetic friends when they diet - they set themselves to strict a target or regime, then can’t stick to eat so go to the other extreme.

What evening meal did you have before the cereal and sandwich?

 

[Jenniw1990]

I agree with @Pumper_Sue in that high sugars (or rapidly fluctuating sugars) can make you feel hungry. That’s a physical cause.

But there can also be psychological causes like guilt, anxiety and trying to exert too much control. I’ve seen that last thing amongst my non-diabetic friends when they diet - they set themselves to strict a target or regime, then can’t stick to eat so go to the other extreme.

What evening meal did you have before the cereal and sandwich?

We had a chicken cesar salad and i had some hummas and 2 small wholemeal pitta breads, and it was so tasty, i really enjoyed it but within 10 mins of finishing it my brain was like whats next then!?
I feel all of the above and it really is getting me down. When i was first diagnosed 2 years ago i was on it, in total control, sugars were coming down (albeit slowly) and i didnt feel too doomed by it but now its like i have lost my own identity and its all about the diabetes

 

[Inka]

Oh *hugs for you* That’s so sad That sounds a perfectly reasonable evening meal (ie you didn’t eat a tiny amount then set yourself up to be starving later). This sounds a daft question, but do you think it’s the lettuce? Some foods make me hungrier than before I ate them - lettuce and apples being two examples. Could you try the same again but with a different salad or cooked/stir-fried veg as a side?

If it’s not anything like that and it’s coming from your brain, then could you have a suitable dessert or after-meal ‘treat’ so you feel you’ve had a proper two-course meal? When I was early in diagnosis, I went through a stage when I ‘had’ to have something after every evening meal. I dealt with that by having a small spoonful and chewing it slowly. You could also try having a nice coffee or one of those diet Hot Chocolates as ‘dessert’.

If the hunger is ‘in your mouth’, try cleaning your teeth after your meal. That can work. Or you can have a couple of Sugar Free Polos.

Finally, if it’s not actually any kind of hunger, and it’s more like binging, then the techniques above can still help a bit, as can distraction or changing your routine to avoid danger times. If it’s totally due to the stress of the diabetes, then I find a ‘strict talking to’ can help sometimes - ie I talk out loud to myself when I’m feeling miserable about the diabetes. Scarily I sound a bit like my mum but it does jolt me out of negative though patterns.

 

[Leadinglights]

Maybe as Inka suggests you have a desert as part of your meal. You could try Full fat Greek yoghurt with some berries. I have found the protein yoghurts or quark based deserts are low carb, high protein but also low fat but are very filling, you can add berries or seeds to them to give a bit of texture or sugar free jelly with cream. You could finish your meal with some cheese and celery or a few nuts. A nice cup of coffee with cream may stave off the still hungry feeling.

 

[EllsBells]

It is a struggle and all the feels and so glad you are getting some professional support. I've had weeks recently where I have been crawling the walls for food, any food because I have physically felt so hungry (lower stomach - nothing could touch it) - and thoughts constantly revolved around the next meal. A few times, I made myself go for a walk as a displacement activity and that helped - concentrating on pace, surroundings, weather instead.

I also started to have desserts after meals of a handful of berries (partly to increase fruit intake responsibly) with full fat natural greek yoghurt (about 70g) so that chimes with what @Inka said.

I too have been self-sabotaging by rationalising eating carby food and so on, as I was doing a lot of 'activity'. It's messed with my readings over several days after and I realised that some of it is just not worth the effort of eating it. Not buying them in the first place is still a work in progress!

The key thing for your sugars is trying to keep what excess you are eating low carb - so you could dodge the cereal trap by having an egg with mayonnaise or something like that. If you know that any excess snacking isn't going to spike you, it may help curb the anxiety and guilt.

Luckily the extreme hunger phase passed for me (part of it was a stress response), and I hope yours does too.

You can totally do this, just take it one day at a time and keep posting - good, bad or indifferent - we're all or have all been on this particular journey.

 

[Cherrelle DUK]

Hi Jenni,

Sorry to hear that you're having a tough time of late. Ironically, April is stress awareness month and I think it's important to realise that hunger isn't only physiological but can also be driven by our emotions.

I'm glad you're speaking with a psychologist as our bodies are incredibly smart and will use the resources available to get our needs met. Food is one of the most easily available things we have access to that can change our mood, occupy our time and give us a sense of comfort when we're anxious.

The good thing is that, with the right support, things can change. It sounds as though you've been doing the right things but have just got a bit off track.

Maybe for now, whilst you await your appointment with the psychologist, you can have some healthy foods on hand that can satisfy your hunger so maybe making up some salads, I love Ryvita crispbreads with tuna or the high fibre version of crackers.

Another thing that can be really useful is to keep a food and mood 'diary'. No judgement, just noting what you've eaten and how you're feeling. It can be really helpful to see if there are any correlations between how we feel and the foods we choose.

We're here to support you along your journey so please do let us know how you're getting on and whether we can help in any way.

 

[Lesleym]

I need some motivation to stop mysely self sabotaging!! I am due my next checkup with my DN on 16th April, i have had a really bad few months and i even ended up writing a letter to my DN telling her that i am struggling big time and i need help! She got me an appointment to see her the next day and i am going through diabetic burn out! She has referred me to a diabetic psychologist which i am still waiting to hear from for an appointment. Has anyone else felt like this? I know everything i am doing is bad for me but i just can't stop myself !!

Hi I’m completely with you on this .. having lots of anxiety and high readings making me feel bad. Please pm me if we can help each other

 

[rebrascora]

I went through a phase like this just after Christmas (when I was very controlled and it wasn't difficult at all). Suddenly it was almost constant gnawing hunger and obsession with food. I managed to stick to my low carb way of eating but I ate way too many packets of pork scratchings and cheese and nuts and olives and boiled eggs with mayonnaise and meat to get me through it and I am embarrassed to say that on more than one occasion I ate half a jar of peanut butter with a spoon. I did wonder if it was hormonal as despite being on HRT, I have noticed my boobs getting bigger and tender, which has happened twice before whilst I have been on HRT and lasts a few months and then I am back to normal again. Thankfully the hunger has now subsided and I am back in control and not feeling hungry anymore but it was quite a scary period for a couple of months.

I hope it passes soon for you and the professional help you have sought are able to suggest techniques to get you through it more easily. Do remember though that it is a phase and it will pass so just hang in there whilst you ride it out!

 

[Drummer]

Maybe try having a roast chicken in the fridge, bags of salad stuff, stir fry in different flavours (I get it frozen from Lidl), a load of sugar free jellies - I beef them up with gelatine for extra solidity and whisk in cream, or yoghurt, sometimes have frozen berries added in too. I have eggs, cheese, nuts - things I could go on eating until I was stuffed, if I needed them.
I have recipes for egg and cheese pancakes, various breads or cake like things, so I could go on to making those, but so far, except for the pancakes, have not needed to - but I think that this last year or so has been altogether too much as I know I am fragile and find myself in tears at things in the news or even on TV - or on the internet - I have been watching Chinese soap opera and Sumo and getting emotional over them even as I am telling myself it is ridiculous. I do find that I can forget to eat now - which I have done this morning. I'd better go and warm it up. Beef stew for breakfast might seem strange, but I must be well nourished or I would be starving now - and I'm not - I did not even pour out a mug of coffee before wandering out of the kitchen.

 

[Stitch147]

I'm budging up and making room on my step for you @Jenniw1990 . I was diagnosed in 2015 with a hba1c of 127. I have been struggling a lot lately. My hba1c is currently at 65, the lowest its been was 42. My medication keeps on increasing and I am struggling to get back on the eating sensible bandwagon. I start out with good intentions then it just goes to pot and I end up eating a whole pack of biscuits or a large sharing packet of crisps. Its definitely a struggle some days. I haven't spoken to anyone about my struggles apart from on here. The help and advice on here is fantastic. Hope you don't have to wait long for your appointment to come through.

 

[Jenniw1990]

Oh *hugs for you* That’s so sad That sounds a perfectly reasonable evening meal (ie you didn’t eat a tiny amount then set yourself up to be starving later). This sounds a daft question, but do you think it’s the lettuce? Some foods make me hungrier than before I ate them - lettuce and apples being two examples. Could you try the same again but with a different salad or cooked/stir-fried veg as a side?

If it’s not anything like that and it’s coming from your brain, then could you have a suitable dessert or after-meal ‘treat’ so you feel you’ve had a proper two-course meal? When I was early in diagnosis, I went through a stage when I ‘had’ to have something after every evening meal. I dealt with that by having a small spoonful and chewing it slowly. You could also try having a nice coffee or one of those diet Hot Chocolates as ‘dessert’.

If the hunger is ‘in your mouth’, try cleaning your teeth after your meal. That can work. Or you can have a couple of Sugar Free Polos.

Finally, if it’s not actually any kind of hunger, and it’s more like binging, then the techniques above can still help a bit, as can distraction or changing your routine to avoid danger times. If it’s totally due to the stress of the diabetes, then I find a ‘strict talking to’ can help sometimes - ie I talk out loud to myself when I’m feeling miserable about the diabetes. Scarily I sound a bit like my mum but it does jolt me out of negative though patterns.

Thank you that really does help 🙂 yes its not the usual lettuce, i normally have just rocket but this was iceberg stuff ! not my favourite i must admit haha! yes maybe a hot chocolate might help with it, or just going to bed super early haha ! it doesnt help that its easter time and my 2 year old has got sooo much treats and chocolate around the house!!! i do also find that when i have a chat with my DN and i feel much more positive which is why i wrote her a letter telling her everything as i wouldnt have been able to do it over the phone without crying or actually being able to get a telephone appointment which would last longer enough to let everything out! i do seriously need to stop these negative thoughts but the most frustrating thing for me i think is trying to get non diabetics to understand just how exhausting it is. mentally, physically and emotionally i really do sound like i am feeling sorry for myself but i just need some help 🙂

 

[Jenniw1990]

Maybe as Inka suggests you have a desert as part of your meal. You could try Full fat Greek yoghurt with some berries. I have found the protein yoghurts or quark based deserts are low carb, high protein but also low fat but are very filling, you can add berries or seeds to them to give a bit of texture or sugar free jelly with cream. You could finish your meal with some cheese and celery or a few nuts. A nice cup of coffee with cream may stave off the still hungry feeling.

i havent tried the quark based desserts so that sounds good. i am not a fan of jelly, the texture freaks me out haha! what sort of seeds do you have or would nuts be okay? i have seen those skinny syrups would a little bit of that be okay do you think? they are no carb and no sugar??

 

[rebrascora]

Don't feel bad about saying how you feel. It is real and we all understand here and we are happy that you have come here to talk about it because that is part of the process of getting over it. It is one of the main functions of the forum to pour out our feelings and frustrations because it is important to acknowledge them. It is not easy to live with diabetes and we all have struggle days but sometimes it goes beyond that and it is important to reach out for help as you have done.
You are doing all the right things so be kind to yourself. Maybe go to bed early with a good book to distract you after dinner for a few nights if that is the problem time to try to break the cycle.

 

[Jenniw1990]

It is a struggle and all the feels and so glad you are getting some professional support. I've had weeks recently where I have been crawling the walls for food, any food because I have physically felt so hungry (lower stomach - nothing could touch it) - and thoughts constantly revolved around the next meal. A few times, I made myself go for a walk as a displacement activity and that helped - concentrating on pace, surroundings, weather instead.

I also started to have desserts after meals of a handful of berries (partly to increase fruit intake responsibly) with full fat natural greek yoghurt (about 70g) so that chimes with what @Inka said.

I too have been self-sabotaging by rationalising eating carby food and so on, as I was doing a lot of 'activity'. It's messed with my readings over several days after and I realised that some of it is just not worth the effort of eating it. Not buying them in the first place is still a work in progress!

The key thing for your sugars is trying to keep what excess you are eating low carb - so you could dodge the cereal trap by having an egg with mayonnaise or something like that. If you know that any excess snacking isn't going to spike you, it may help curb the anxiety and guilt.

Luckily the extreme hunger phase passed for me (part of it was a stress response), and I hope yours does too.

You can totally do this, just take it one day at a time and keep posting - good, bad or indifferent - we're all or have all been on this particular journey.

Thank you so much, i am glad its not just me feeling this way. i have found that talking out loud about this is good and does make me feel a little better but its just with fellow diabetics as the response i get from others is just okay well stop eating sugar, cut out your carbs, you will soon get used to it. or the worst one is "well its only you that can take control of this!" and i am like well yes i know this, and this is why i am getting myself worked up about it because i cant do this on my own ! its not my fault i have this, i got this through gestational diabetes and its stuck with me. sometimes people think they are being helpful but their really not

 

[Leadinglights]

I have found the quark deserts in Asda they are called Kvarg, raspberry and white chocolate, or protein yoghurt from Aldi are also good. I have pumpkin and sunflower seeds but nuts are good as well.

 

[Jenniw1990]

Hi Jenni,

Sorry to hear that you're having a tough time of late. Ironically, April is stress awareness month and I think it's important to realise that hunger isn't only physiological but can also be driven by our emotions.

I'm glad you're speaking with a psychologist as our bodies are incredibly smart and will use the resources available to get our needs met. Food is one of the most easily available things we have access to that can change our mood, occupy our time and give us a sense of comfort when we're anxious.

The good thing is that, with the right support, things can change. It sounds as though you've been doing the right things but have just got a bit off track.

Maybe for now, whilst you await your appointment with the psychologist, you can have some healthy foods on hand that can satisfy your hunger so maybe making up some salads, I love Ryvita crispbreads with tuna or the high fibre version of crackers.

Another thing that can be really useful is to keep a food and mood 'diary'. No judgement, just noting what you've eaten and how you're feeling. It can be really helpful to see if there are any correlations between how we feel and the foods we choose.

We're here to support you along your journey so please do let us know how you're getting on and whether we can help in any way.

Thank you, i do like crisp breads so they will be going on my shopping list this week, i think i need to totally revamp my shopping. my DN is also trying to get me in with the nutritionist which i know will be a big help! i think it doesnt help that i work from home so am surrounded by food all the time now with lockdown. in normal circumstances i would be going out to see clients so wouldnt always be at home. also as mentioned earlier my 2 year old got overloaded with chocolate over easter so thats really not helping !!

 

[Jenniw1990]

I have found the quark deserts in Asda they are called Kvarg, raspberry and white chocolate, or protein yoghurt from Aldi are also good. I have pumpkin and sunflower seeds but nuts are good as well.

they are going on my shopping list ! thank you 🙂