New and Needing Words of Wisdom

[Luna8Moon]

Hello all,

Hoping to have a wee bit of a rant and get some suggestions and advice for helping to get myself in order.

I (F,30) was diagnosed with Type 2 in March 2024 very unexpectedly. Being of South Asian heritage and having two parents who also have the condition I imagined it was somewhat inevitable but I didn’t imagine it so soon. I have always had such a difficult relationship with food, exercise, comfort eating and felt so very ashamed of myself.

I have gone through a number of life changes since my diagnosis such as getting engaged, getting married, moving from Scotland to England, being made redundant from my job and being unemployed for 3 months, completing the process of buying a house and moving again. A few days ago, I lost my job and I feel like it triggered such a spiral. I have eaten so much junk food and chocolate in the last few days it’s unbelievable and I can’t seem to get a grip on things.

I know I am harming myself and my body but I just can’t seem to stop. I don’t know where to start. Part of me also feels angry that I can’t just ‘eat my feelings’ away for a few days without this guilt hanging over me because I’m harming myself. I also feel guilty because my poor husband worries about me so much and I know I’m not helping. I struggle with going outside to exercise due to being on anti-depressants and struggling with side effect that they have on me body temperature regulation.

I am on 4 x metformin a day with 1 x Jardiance a day

I’m curious to know what has helped others. I was considering buying a Fitbit to track steps as that is something I feel would make me more active/encourage me to be more active.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hello all,

Hoping to have a wee bit of a rant and get some suggestions and advice for helping to get myself in order.

I (F,30) was diagnosed with Type 2 in March 2024 very unexpectedly. Being of South Asian heritage and having two parents who also have the condition I imagined it was somewhat inevitable but I didn’t imagine it so soon. I have always had such a difficult relationship with food, exercise, comfort eating and felt so very ashamed of myself.

I have gone through a number of life changes since my diagnosis such as getting engaged, getting married, moving from Scotland to England, being made redundant from my job and being unemployed for 3 months, completing the process of buying a house and moving again. A few days ago, I lost my job and I feel like it triggered such a spiral. I have eaten so much junk food and chocolate in the last few days it’s unbelievable and I can’t seem to get a grip on things.

I know I am harming myself and my body but I just can’t seem to stop. I don’t know where to start. Part of me also feels angry that I can’t just ‘eat my feelings’ away for a few days without this guilt hanging over me because I’m harming myself. I also feel guilty because my poor husband worries about me so much and I know I’m not helping. I struggle with going outside to exercise due to being on anti-depressants and struggling with side effect body temperature regulation.

I’m curious to know what has helped others. I was considering buying a Fitbit to track steps as that is something I feel would make me more active/encourage me to be more active.

Welcome to the forum, sorry that this diagnosis has crept up on you sooner than might have expected but it is not too late to get a start on putting things right, a few day won't make a difference in the long term scheme of things as long as you make some changes now. High blood glucose can upset temperature regulation unless you have some other condition. Many find that a low carb approach is successful and this link might point you in the right direction with a variety of menu plans including a vegetarian one. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
I found this as well https://www.knowdiabetes.org.uk/media/4076/7-day-south-asian-low-carb-veg.pdf?

Of course there are other options of a low calorie or shakes and soups based approach but what will be suitable for you will depend on your HbA1C, and if you are on any diabetic medication. If you are willing to share then people will be able to make appropriate suggestions.
There are plenty of things you can eat and still reduce your blood glucose.
I found this which may help you as well

 

[saffron15]

@Luna8Moon you must be a ball of stress. So many huge life changes without adding diabetes. I like the way the little bit of Scottish crept in. I don't know if both or neither parent are good roles models in how they approached their diagnosis. I was born in Scotland but am not of South Asian heritage. Have you had problems with your weight for a while or has it become a problem because of comfort eating? The only bonus when I was diagnosed was I ate fewer carbs and my weight started to drop. I've lost 3 stone in a year. I'm retired and used to worry about calories but if you reduce portion sizes of carbs it's amazing. I was eating 100 to 120 carbs but was then put on dapaglifozin which i took meant I should increase my carbs to 130.
How good is your doctor? I went through a stressful time at work and was given a course I could read online ( pre smart phones etc) the best thing it taught me was to be more positive although I hadn't realised how negative I was being. One scenario a person you knew walked past you on the other side of the street I would be sure they were deliberately ignoring me ( ie centred on me) but they may have been on the phone and not noticed me or not wearing their glasses.
I hope you and your husband can plan together. Is there a leisure centre where you could swim or do aquafit? Movement is a good way of keeping your BG down. Are you better improving your health and well being before considering work options? In many areas there are diabetes groups. Try googling using your nearest town. In my area they are only for type 1 or children but I know people in the south have lots of groups. If you haven't already done so Try and stop adding sugar to drinks. Try without or sweetners. Stay hydrated. I try not to buy sweets or biscuits as I know I will keep eating them. Some people with a sweet tooth bake from the site sugar free Londoner

Don't panic. Tackle things gradually. When you are unwell you have to pace yourself. You have taken the step of joining the forum. There is no need to be ashamed. This is the first step to putting your life back on track. Ask anything you want.

The website below has lots of info it also has good website links on low lefthand including Freshwell, Caldesi and Moseley. Caldesi is quite low carb but there are also a helpful list of strategies.
Good luck

Diabetes & Metabolic Health | New Forest PCN

newforestpcn.co.uk

 

[Kopiert]

@Luna8Moon Wow, you are going through a lot at the moment.

My first reaction is to stop feeling guilty - it is rarely a helpful emotion. Your need to use food as comfort is a very common and understandable reaction to stress and feeling overwhelmed, so stop beating yourself up over it.

As you are on antidepressants, I think that means you will be under a doctor's supervision, so it's worth talking to them.

I have just come out of a pretty long-term depression, which was triggered by being put on furlough at the end of the COVID stuff. I also lost my job, and as an older person, that is a pretty terminal job-wise. I can tell you what helps me, and maybe you can take something from that.

Overall, it is about taking back a little bit of control and not allowing yourself to be completely taken over and overwhelmed by events.

Exercise is important; I am not talking about the gym or running. Just taking a gentle walk is incredibly beneficial for both your body and mind. You say you struggle to go outside, but if you can, you will feel better for it. If you have a wood or a beauty spot near you, even better. I believe the Japanese call it Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing. I think walking is the single most important habit I have tried to develop.

Start a journal. I started something called Morning Pages see here and here , but they became quite dark, so I pivoted to a gratitude-type journal. I write about what I do each day, and what was great about the day, little stories about what made me feel good. It may take a while to work, but it made me feel more positive.

If you feel up to it, consider getting a blood glucose meter. I found, from the very beginning of my diagnosis, that it provided some control over this condition we have. It will helped me understand which foods I can eat and which I can't eat- there is a lot of information in the forum about that. It is a tangible manifestation of a condition that you don't really see day-to-day, and making it 'real' helped me want to deal with it. If you do get one, go and join the "Group 7 day waking average" thread. Every day, members go in and post their morning fasting numbers. Sometimes we tell each other about what is happening in our lives (good and bad) - this week we have had a celebrity wedding, wedding vow renewals, and weird and wonderful ballets (I think that is what it was!). It will make you feel less alone and feel part of a wider community that understands our condition. Actually, you don't even have to post, just go and view each day.

A few other things that have helped me.

• Reconnecting with friends - making an effort to stay in touch.
• Start a course. There lots of free ones. The Open University has a huge range of short free courses (Open Uni - Open Learn). Again, they help provide a purpose and structure; remember, the journey is more important than the destination.
• Start sketching. This may seem strange. I can't draw, but I have enjoyed sketching, and it is pretty well known as helping with mental health. It has other benefits too - 6 reason to sketch
• Use this forum, both as a reader and contributor. If you see something you can empathise with or help, then post. It helps people. Feeling part of a diabetes community does, in my opinion, make diabetes easier to deal with. Sometimes I drift away, but I am so happy when I come back.

As you have probably gathered, most of these things are little purposeful activities that help you start to think and act in a positive manner. They help me a lot. Not perfect, and sometimes I dont do them, but I do try.

I hope something helps here. Good luck, and do come back!

Nick

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[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Luna8Moon

Sorry to hear what a difficult time you have been having, and how your diagnosis with T2 has affected you. It can be a lot to adjust to, and many people go through a form of grieving after a diagnosis with diabetes. With all the intense outpourings of emotion that can involve - denial, bargaining, anger, depression, but ultimately a form of acceptance - learning to live well with your diabetes.

Some people later reflect that their diagnosis became a sort of catalyst. That the changes they made to their diet and lifestyle to help their diabetes management had wide ranging benefits to other things they had struggled with in the past (eg migraines or weight management). Some say they haven’t felt so ‘healthy’ in years!

Hope you can find ways to nourish yourself, both through the way you eat, and also in the way you look after your thinking and your mind.

And feel free to rant away! That’s what the forum is here for. You are among people who ‘get it’.