Need help

[Katyo77]

Hi, I am new to this group but have been diagnosed with type 2 for 7 years now and I need help. My levels have been very up and down, my problem is i can't seem to stop eating. I am very much an emotional eater and life is pretty manic at the moment and so I just eat, everything and anything. My weight keeps going up and down too. I am hoping you guys will have some tips to help and I am looking for some support also.
Thanks Kate

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Kate and welcome from me too.

Do you have a blood glucose meter to test yourself?? It can help to see what the bad stuff is doing to your BG levels after you eat it, in order to motivate you to do better. The risk of serious damage to your body over the longer term is quite real and needs to be taken seriously.

I too am an emotional eater and will binge when I am stressed. I make sure I have things in the house that I can hit when I feel like that which won't make my BG go through the roof. I am currently in such a frame of mind and munching on brazil nuts ....Lidl do big 200g bags of nuts for a very reasonable price. Olives are a good option if you like them too. Pickles are self limiting so they can be useful. Gherkins particularly, as there is less sugar in them than onions or beetroot. If you really need a biscuit or something sweet, a Nature Valley protein bar Peanut and Chocolate or Salted Caramel are both just over 9g carbs so a much lower carb option than most biscuits, protein or muesli bars. A chunk of really nice cheese can hit the spot and reduce the munchies, but keeping busy/physically active is the biggest help, so find a pastime that helps to take your mind off it when you feel the urge. Something that occupies your hands .... gardening is great or knitting if you are not an outdoors person.
Cutting your carbohydrate intake right down helps to reduce the cravings as well as your BG, but getting there can be difficult, so sometimes choosing your moment to commit to it is key. Success breeds success, so once you start to see your BG coming down a bit it usually spurs you on to try harder and get lower.

Good luck

 

[CathyB]

Hi Kate,
Like you I was an emotional eater, upset = comfort eat, sad = comfort eat, happy....yay celebrate eat 😳 I’ve been low carb since diagnosed just over a year ago and can honestly say I don’t get the urge or cravings I used to, I still have to snack but I ‘allow’ myself certain treats like nuts, or I know through testing that I can now tolerate 2 small apples a day, one mid morning and the other mid afternoon. I used to snack on a family size chocolate bar , I couldn’t imagine never having chocolate again so now I allow two squares of no added sugar chocolate half an hour after my dinner....yes I watch every minute go by but it tastes SO good and I feel guilt free which I never did with my old habits. Never imagined I would be able to do this but now I absolutely love my diet, love the new wardrobe from a 4 stone weight loss & don’t feel deprived. This is a way of life now, not a ‘diet’ & I know I can sustain it. Trust me, if I can do it...anyone can

 

[Philomena]

Love your post, @CathyB ! 🙂 And a four stone weight loss is absolutely fantastic. Very inspiring.

 

[Katyo77]

Thank you guys. I don't regularly test my blood. I do have a kit from when I was pregnant 5 years ago but none of the bits that go with it. I am at the nurse next week so will ask her. Carbs is a big thing for me, pasta and potatoes are 2 faves. I do eat whole wheat pasta as I know it is a better carb. I am new to this carb counting so any tips or a link to a thread about it would be great. Thank you all again. 4 stone is my goal to lose and I am not going to do that by eating everything. Tomorrow is a new day. Xxx

 

[Katyo77]

Hi Kate,
Like you I was an emotional eater, upset = comfort eat, sad = comfort eat, happy....yay celebrate eat 😳 I’ve been low carb since diagnosed just over a year ago and can honestly say I don’t get the urge or cravings I used to, I still have to snack but I ‘allow’ myself certain treats like nuts, or I know through testing that I can now tolerate 2 small apples a day, one mid morning and the other mid afternoon. I used to snack on a family size chocolate bar , I couldn’t imagine never having chocolate again so now I allow two squares of no added sugar chocolate half an hour after my dinner....yes I watch every minute go by but it tastes SO good and I feel guilt free which I never did with my old habits. Never imagined I would be able to do this but now I absolutely love my diet, love the new wardrobe from a 4 stone weight loss & don’t feel deprived. This is a way of life now, not a ‘diet’ & I know I can sustain it. Trust me, if I can do it...anyone can

Well done xxxx

 

[Katyo77]

Hi Kate and welcome from me too.

Do you have a blood glucose meter to test yourself?? It can help to see what the bad stuff is doing to your BG levels after you eat it, in order to motivate you to do better. The risk of serious damage to your body over the longer term is quite real and needs to be taken seriously.

I too am an emotional eater and will binge when I am stressed. I make sure I have things in the house that I can hit when I feel like that which won't make my BG go through the roof. I am currently in such a frame of mind and munching on brazil nuts ....Lidl do big 200g bags of nuts for a very reasonable price. Olives are a good option if you like them too. Pickles are self limiting so they can be useful. Gherkins particularly, as there is less sugar in them than onions or beetroot. If you really need a biscuit or something sweet, a Nature Valley protein bar Peanut and Chocolate or Salted Caramel are both just over 9g carbs so a much lower carb option than most biscuits, protein or muesli bars. A chunk of really nice cheese can hit the spot and reduce the munchies, but keeping busy/physically active is the biggest help, so find a pastime that helps to take your mind off it when you feel the urge. Something that occupies your hands .... gardening is great or knitting if you are not an outdoors person.
Cutting your carbohydrate intake right down helps to reduce the cravings as well as your BG, but getting there can be difficult, so sometimes choosing your moment to commit to it is key. Success breeds success, so once you start to see your BG coming down a bit it usually spurs you on to try harder and get lower.

Good luck

Some really good tips so thank you xx

 

[Katyo77]

Hi, Kate. Welcome to the forum.

The thing that keeps me focussed on managing my diabetes is the thought of what could happen to my body if I don't. It's sometimes hard to maintain a strict dietary and exercise regime, especially one that has to become a way of life.

If you feel the need to eat make sure you eat the right things. Seven years in you know what's good and what's bad.

Be strong.

Martin

Thank you, I need to take care of myself more xx