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Mood very low and finding it hard to cope

W

Whiff64

Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hiya only diagnosed couple weeks ago score only 50 so no medication given as yet and I thought I was looking at different menus and food but my mood has gone down quickly and I can’t seem to stop eating everything I shouldn’t have other people gone through this denial before I feel like I’m hurting myself even more but carnt help it if tht makes sense thank you everyone
 
Maybe you got bad advice on what to eat, @Whiff64 - eating the wrong stuff can really alter mood.
What sort of foods are you eating?
 
Drummer said:
Maybe you got bad advice on what to eat, @Whiff64 - eating the wrong stuff can really alter mood.
What sort of foods are you eating?
Click to expand...
Hiya I’ve been told to cut out carbohydrates and I know wht I should be eating but my brain is ignor8ng this and wanting then constantly and even sweets which I cut out months ago I not sure how to explain it but with no medication I feel like there is nothing wrong although deep down I know there is it’s just getting my head around it all feel like I have just been left to my own devices sorry if I sound stupid Ano how serious it is
 
Whiff64 said:
Hiya I’ve been told to cut out carbohydrates and I know wht I should be eating but my brain is ignor8ng this and wanting then constantly and even sweets which I cut out months ago I not sure how to explain it but with no medication I feel like there is nothing wrong although deep down I know there is it’s just getting my head around it all feel like I have just been left to my own devices sorry if I sound stupid Ano how serious it is
Click to expand...
An HbA1C of 50 is only just over the diagnostic threshold and where I started but following a low carb approach, NOT a NO carb one I reduced it to normal in 3 months. Making good choices with you meals, snacks and drinks keeping to no more than 130g carb per day it should be very possible.
Have a look at this link and you will see there are still plenty of things you can eat. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
If you are into cooking then the wed site sugarfreelondoner has recipes for low carb cakes and biscuits etc which can be incorporated into your diet and still not feel you are missing out.
It does need to be taken seriously and you will likely feel better once you get your blood glucose down.
 
Leadinglights said:
An HbA1C of 50 is only just over the diagnostic threshold and where I started but following a low carb approach, NOT a NO carb one I reduced it to normal in 3 months. Making good choices with you meals, snacks and drinks keeping to no more than 130g carb per day it should be very possible.
Have a look at this link and you will see there are still plenty of things you can eat. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
If you are into cooking then the wed site sugarfreelondoner has recipes for low carb cakes and biscuits etc which can be incorporated into your diet and still not feel you are missing out.
It does need to be taken seriously and you will likely feel better once you get your blood glucose down.
Click to expand...
Thank you I have the low carb app on phone I will look at other one I think I might be trying to do it all at once so feel like I need to slow down and cut bk little bit I realise how serious it all is and hopefully once I have comes to terms with different things i can sort myself out thank you
 
Whiff64 said:
Thank you I have the low carb app on phone I will look at other one I think I might be trying to do it all at once so feel like I need to slow down and cut bk little bit I realise how serious it all is and hopefully once I have comes to terms with different things i can sort myself out thank you
Click to expand...
When starting out with a HbA1c of 50 there is little need to differentiate between sugars and starches - they are broken down into the same thing and end up as simple sugars in your bloodstream.
You could decide to avoid sandwiches, for instance, if you were eating bread every day for lunch, have the same filling but reduce the number of slices of bread, or cut out crisps.
I need to stay really low carb, but my diet is quite heavy on steak (with onion and mushrooms) and strawberries with cream. It keeps me cheerful.
I don't eat potatoes at all, but can cope with swede or other low carb veges, so I can vary what I eat quite a lot - but it is all highly nutritious.
 
Drummer said:
When starting out with a HbA1c of 50 there is little need to differentiate between sugars and starches - they are broken down into the same thing and end up as simple sugars in your bloodstream.
You could decide to avoid sandwiches, for instance, if you were eating bread every day for lunch, have the same filling but reduce the number of slices of bread, or cut out crisps.
I need to stay really low carb, but my diet is quite heavy on steak (with onion and mushrooms) and strawberries with cream. It keeps me cheerful.
I don't eat potatoes at all, but can cope with swede or other low carb veges, so I can vary what I eat quite a lot - but it is all highly nutritious.
Click to expand...
Thanks tht seems a lot better wat to do it then cut it altogether quite fancy the steak part and defo with onions and mushroom and eggs are my friend at the minute it potatoes I have trouble with but will get there thanks for listening to me appreciate your help
 
Whiff64 said:
Thanks tht seems a lot better wat to do it then cut it altogether quite fancy the steak part and defo with onions and mushroom and eggs are my friend at the minute it potatoes I have trouble with but will get there thanks for listening to me appreciate your help
Click to expand...
No problem - I've had close normal numbers for 8 years now and am fit enough to be a nuisance.
 
Hi @Whiff64 sorry to hear you are struggling with coming to terms with your diabetes. It is still very early days since diagnosis and not at all unusual for it to affect your mood.
You don't need to make big changes to your diet or give up everything you like.
Managing your diabetes through diet and exercise without medication is a good thing for your overall health.
As you mentioned start with a small change then build on it.
I love chips but now I put 10 chips on my plate when I do have them. I fill up the plate with a good portion of chicken or other protein and lots of veg or salad so it fills me up and I eat the same meal as hubby, just less carbs.
If I only have an omelette for lunch (no carbs) then I will have a low carb protein chocolate mousse or pudding as well. The overall carbs is much less than I ate before diagnosis but I still get a treat.
These are just examples that work for me. Experiment a bit and find a way to eat that you enjoy but also helps you manage your diabetes.
 
You have written a lot of posts very quickly. I felt bewildered and grief struck when I was diagnosed. Perhaps not allowing for natural feelings of sorrow even fear is the problem.The only bright spot having been fat since an early menopause was low carb caused my weight to drop. I started between 80 and a 120 gms carbs. I didn't realise that fat plus protein quenched my hunger. I cut everything bad to begin with but when I started to reintroduce things I had occasional attacks of my greedy gene in fact if I ate extra carbs for lunch I invariably wanted extra for supper. I can be obssessed with food and there are times when my best course is not to buy it. My sister gave me an Easter egg yesterday. I had chosen one with 70% chocolate but she also gave me two packets of mini eggs. Ive not had sweets for many months. I ate the whole packet for supper even though it was incredibly sweet! I havent started the second or the Egg. Sometimes i will leave an item in the boot of the car so i have to make the effort to walk to the car and open it. It is important to eat mindfully not mindlessly. You can plan for a piece of fruit or chocolate. I like lowish carb as i do not need to count calories.
When I first started on metformin it blunted my appetite but that has worn off!
If you are overweight or have belly fat it is a good idea to plan to lose it and summer food and light evenings make it much easier. A short, ten minute walk after eating will lift your mood and reduce your blood sugar. Standing washing up or climbing stairs works too.
I have posted a link to a website in the New Forest which has lots of info. Try and get your family's encouragement. If you do pasta you could have a substitute like black bean pasta they could have the usual and you can all have the same topping.

Good luck
 
silver minion said:
Hi @Whiff64 sorry to hear you are struggling with coming to terms with your diabetes. It is still very early days since diagnosis and not at all unusual for it to affect your mood.
You don't need to make big changes to your diet or give up everything you like.
Managing your diabetes through diet and exercise without medication is a good thing for your overall health.
As you mentioned start with a small change then build on it.
I love chips but now I put 10 chips on my plate when I do have them. I fill up the plate with a good portion of chicken or other protein and lots of veg or salad so it fills me up and I eat the same meal as hubby, just less carbs.
If I only have an omelette for lunch (no carbs) then I will have a low carb protein chocolate mousse or pudding as well. The overall carbs is much less than I ate before diagnosis but I still get a treat.
These are just examples that work for me. Experiment a bit and find a way to eat that you enjoy but also helps you manage your diabetes.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much everyone giving me there experiences really helps I didn’t think it had affected me as much as it has but the last couple of weeks has been hard thanks again
 
saffron15 said:
You have written a lot of posts very quickly. I felt bewildered and grief struck when I was diagnosed. Perhaps not allowing for natural feelings of sorrow even fear is the problem.The only bright spot having been fat since an early menopause was low carb caused my weight to drop. I started between 80 and a 120 gms carbs. I didn't realise that fat plus protein quenched my hunger. I cut everything bad to begin with but when I started to reintroduce things I had occasional attacks of my greedy gene in fact if I ate extra carbs for lunch I invariably wanted extra for supper. I can be obssessed with food and there are times when my best course is not to buy it. My sister gave me an Easter egg yesterday. I had chosen one with 70% chocolate but she also gave me two packets of mini eggs. Ive not had sweets for many months. I ate the whole packet for supper even though it was incredibly sweet! I havent started the second or the Egg. Sometimes i will leave an item in the boot of the car so i have to make the effort to walk to the car and open it. It is important to eat mindfully not mindlessly. You can plan for a piece of fruit or chocolate. I like lowish carb as i do not need to count calories.
When I first started on metformin it blunted my appetite but that has worn off!
If you are overweight or have belly fat it is a good idea to plan to lose it and summer food and light evenings make it much easier. A short, ten minute walk after eating will lift your mood and reduce your blood sugar. Standing washing up or climbing stairs works too.
I have posted a link to a website in the New Forest which has lots of info. Try and get your family's encouragement. If you do pasta you could have a substitute like black bean pasta they could have the usual and you can all have the same topping.

Good luck
Click to expand...
Thanks for your post yes think I’m trying to get all my feeling out but I have no idea how I an feeling at this minute in time whether denial or anger at myself for me doing this to myself or fear thinks it’s all of them I
Appreciate everyone help as this is the only port of call I feel I have so thank you
 
Whiff64 said:
Thanks tht seems a lot better wat to do it then cut it altogether quite fancy the steak part and defo with onions and mushroom and eggs are my friend at the minute it potatoes I have trouble with but will get there thanks for listening to me appreciate your help
Click to expand...
Ask whatever you need to find out, there's always someone here who can help.
Good luck
 
Sorry that you feel bad as a newly diagnosed Diabetic, but don't be upset or be afraid.

I have been a type2 Diabetic for over 20 years, and have mood swings, where I want to eat all the foods I miss (usually high in carbs) but the key is moderation. I know I eat more when I am stressed, so snack and graze all day

If you change and have lower carbs and more protein and fat in your diet, surprisingly you will not get hungry often.

I have almonds and walnuts, strawberries and blueberries with full fat greek yogurt, all snacks.

One bit at a time and also this forum has some fantastic people, always willing to listen and help wherever possible, no such thing as a stupid question (trust me I have asked loads).
 
Sorry you’ve been in the doldrums a bit @Whiff64

The sorts of denial / anger / hopelessness / bargaining you sound like you’ve been experiencing are not uncommon. It can be part of a sort of grieving process that some people experience following their diagnosis.

Hopefully your thoughts will clear a little as you begin to make smaller more steady changes. Little by little. Many folks on the forum are amazed at the difference the experience in how they feel, and how far they have come in a relatively short space of time. Some way they haven’t felt so healthy or energised in years!
 
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