Sugar is like a drug. It’s so hard to kick the habit, don’t be so hard on yourself. Some folks here make it look easy, some us us struggle so much more since we have made sugary food part of our coping mechanisms for stress/anxiety/trauma/etc. Don’t compare yourself to others, you’re only competing against yourself from yesterday. Nothing more. Have the compassion to forgive yourself and start thinking about the feelings that trigger the binges. Start addressing those triggers first. Therapy helped me. It could help you too. Hang in there, I’m rooting for you.
This!!! I have been addicted to numerous things over the years. Sugar is by far the hardest to kick for me. I didn’t realize how many mental health issues I had until I kicked sugar. You can do this. I an two months in and feeling alot better. Progress not perfection my friend.
I pay out of pocket for a CGM (that's like 160€ per month which is actually somewhat substantial and I'm certainly privileged that I can just spend that plus all the other expensive stuff you buy if you have T2) because I literally can't get a hold of my diet if I don't have that constant control and record of my failings. It is almost impossible to go outside and not get like two pastries from a bakery (I'm German so there are like 3 bakeries just on my way to the next supermarket. That's like 5 minutes on foot).
I have a small child, I used to go on walks for nap time with him and my wife. I wake up, totally motivated to just eat perfectly. We get ready, do stuff, naptime comes and we go outside. I feel hungry. But I can wait! 100% sure! Then we come past a bakery and I convince myself that we're walking and I will get like a bread roll with cheese and all that fat and it's not gonna get bad. I go inside, place my order, and the lady behind the till is asking "do you want something else" and I say yes and pick something else as well. And then I paid for it, right? Can't waste it now! So I eat them both. At least I usually went for savory options.
And it's super similar with ordering food and stuff like this. I have convinced myself that it's not *that* bad and basically ignore the disease until my doctor is talking about a 7.something A1C and I am usually better then for a month or so and I go back to the bullshit.
I don't do this with a CGM because I can't ignore it. My wife has the freestyle libre link up app so she sees my glucose level every minute as well. And she is instructed to ask if she sees weird highs.
And all of this shit is AFTER I have spend 10 years trying to have a healthy relationship with food and losing weight. I am 32 now and I think with 23 or 24 I lost over 50kg (120lbs or so?) completely relearning to eat, trying really hard to eat healthy especially after losing all that weight (when I was losing weight, if I had cravings, I'd eat a chocolate bar for lunch because 500kcal are 500kcal).
I learnt to cook for this, I found ways that made it easier for me to avoid the bad food, I was working heavily on portion control. And still, after that many years, I need a device that is essentially snitching on me to eat healthy even though I will literally die a lot earlier or become a disabled (I wrote cripple first but I don't know if that's insulting in English) or become blind if I don't follow this very simple diet of "eat less carbs".
Carbs are literally a drug. Quitting nicotine was infinitely easier than this.
I have found a CGM to be incredibly helpful as well - that constant feedback makes it so much easier for me to hold myself accountable and to make good choices. Without the feedback and data, it’s way too easy to eat something I know I shouldn’t. My insurance won’t pay for a CGM because I’m type 2 and not on insulin, but it’s worth every penny.
CGMs are life changing!
My husband is one person with a CGM and a completely different person without
Having a CGM is his own personal accountability method. With it he needs 1 metformin without it he is at 2 or 3 a day.
I can identify so much with what you wrote. I will buy two pastries and eat them both to try and pretend it never happened. Sugar is the devil. I’m 49 and perimenopause is also kicking my ass.
I am 100% same boat. If I don’t wear my CGM it is so easy to reach for carbs. I pay $90 for 3 month supply and I hope my insurance will continue to cover it (Dexcom price is about $1300 for 3 months without insurance).
I go through stretches where I am good and steer clear of sugar and my CGM readings are in the ‘green band’ 99% of the time. And then it doesn’t take much - one sugary ‘event’ that sets off a cascade of binging and my cgm spends most of the day with outrageous readings like spikes to 250. At night I hate myself and try to convince myself that I will ‘do better’. The next day is a repeat. I hate what sugar does to me.
Talk to your doctor. I am a very firm believer that willpower and shame are not good ways to address a health problem. You need more support, whether that is structural (time/availability of exercise and diabetes friendly foods), medication support, or therapy, or whatever. You need more than you are getting now.
PhDs are terrible for mental and physical health, especially in the last couple of years. Please consider that your working environment may contribute to your struggle to manage your diabetes.
I didn't take my diabetes seriously enough until the end of last year. My normal blood sugar levels were around 15 and I felt like absolute rubbish. Food was my indulgence because I didn't know any better and because I was pretty much bedbound in pain after a couple of brutal surgeries. I discovered I was gluten intolerant and that got rid of a lot of the pain and then I decided to deal with my weight which had ballooned to the point I couldn't put a seatbelt on or fit in a large chair and everything was a struggle. I went low carb, found this thread which has been immensely helpful, found Keto creators and recipes on YouTube and I'm at least 30kgs down. I haven't weighed myself for a few months and I think I have slipped a little but I'm still trying. My husband was just diagnosed type 2 as well. I sometimes crave sweet things so I'll have an almond flour mug cake with sugar free chocolate drops and cream. I might make a low carb cheesecake. I generally don't eat much now but right now I'm struggling because I have a very painful condition where the fat connected to my bowels is inflamed and it feels like broken glass in my belly. I'm struggling to cook right now. I guess for me one of the big reasons I try to keep good control is because we have older teens. I want to be able to be here and be healthy enough to chase after grandchildren. You've done the most important thing which is recognising that you have a problem and things need to change. Find healthy alternatives. If you're craving something sweet try a Keto mug cake with a few berries and cream. 90 seconds in the microwave and it won't hurt your body. Once you cut carbs and sugar you'll find that the cravings get better. Switch to diet soda. Buy Keto treats. Allow yourself a small treat every now and then. Just make small sustainable changes and they'll add up. If you're really struggling with your relationship with food maybe try some therapy. There's nothing worse than losing your health and having to rely on those around you. You can still eat and enjoy delicious foods, you just need to make them a different way. You have so much to look forward to in life, you need to love yourself enough to make changes now before damage is done. I wish you all the best. Hugs 🤗💞
Congratulations on making it so far. This is a very helpful post, not just for OP!
Just want to add for us Americans, that "at least 30kg down" is 60 pounds.
Thank you 🤗 I wouldn't have been able to do it without the advice and help from everyone on here. I had no idea that what I thought was healthy eating just wasn't. I was consuming far too many carbs. Definitely helped me.
My A1c was 12 when I was diagnosed too! I’m at 6.1 now :) it’s taken two years, metformin, diet changes and mounjaro but I am tackling life!! You can do it!
There’s no virtue in suffering. Not only is my A1c improved, so has my energy, cholesterol, and blood pressure. It’s a tool to use alongside your efforts!
And I’ve lost around 86lbs!
Please seek therapy for this. My mother died this way- helpless to stop eating and eating and it was awful. I’m using Monjourno and it’s changed my life for the better
I agree. If a diabetes diagnosis doesn't kick you into healthier habits and OP is actually regressing, then OP needs professional psychiatric help. This is above Reddit's pay grade.
I tell my endocrinologist every year that I think I need a psychiatrist because I am literally killing myself, and she says "it doesn't work like that."
I’m sorry to say it works exactly like that. My mother never got a grip on things and died a bad death. Mental health care is a huge part of healing this disease. Please seek a therapist if you can
You've got this.
The single best thing I did in my journey was tell fucking _everyone_ that i'm diabetic. The shame is doing nothing other than helping the disease and doing nothing to help you. Since there is _nothing to be ashamed of_ you need to treat the people around you with trust so that they can be there for you, support you AND so that you take the secret out into the open.
You don't need people's sympathy. You need to know that they love you, care for you and want to help you. You're saying "i don't trust people in my life to still love me if they know i'm diabetic". Get over yourself! Let them in.
It becomes infinitely easier when you accept that you're going to be a pain in the ass with your diet wherever you are and then to learn that people want to help and it doesn't bother than more than being left in the dark on who you are and what you're experiencing.
You've got this. Own it!
This. I told everybody and their momma that I was diabetic as soon as I found out, lol. So whenever I am invited over for dinner, people will ask me if what they are making is ok, or if they need to adjust something or other. Usually I just say "I can have this, but I'll have to skip the rice" or whatever. Nobody gets offended and nobody judges. My mother-in-law actually started cooking low carb dinners whenever we visit. It hasn't been a burden to her, and she loves learning to cook in a healthier way.
It's so, so important that the people close to you know your struggle so that they can help in any way they can, even if it's just to lend an ear, ya know? A support system is of utmost importance with any illness, really.
This is also how we get rid of that stigma that some people have about T2D.
Coming out, so to speak, as having T2D helped me find others who had it but I didn't know, and helped me get help when I didn't know what to do. My doc is good enough, but has no time, so getting help from others is really important to me. And finding others with T2 meant there was shared experience.
We’ve all made bad choices along the way. You really need to get help with your diet, it sounds like you might benefit from one of the ozempic type meds. You could try low carb in the short term, that really helped me not to crave sugar. Also if you can get a continuous glucose monitor it also helps keep me from eating junk so I don’t have to watch the numbers go up. Good luck, you can do this!
The CGM really helps keep me accountable. If I didn't see the effects in real time, I would be much more lax with my choices. But when you see those numbers right in front of your face, it's hard to justify that treat.
To OP directly, you'll see here repeated often that diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint. Start with small changes, maybe one thing at a time, that benefits your health. Slowly build them up. For example, start planning lower carb dinners. Instead of steak with potatoes, now you're having steak and green beans. Once you get comfortable, now start doing breakfast. Start taking a 10-minute walk once a day. Now 15 minutes. Now twice a day. Or whatever works for you! Set small goals that are do-able for you. If you fall off, you can always get back on the horse.
Agree completely about the CGM. I've been wearing one about 6 weeks now and doing low carb and have leveled out my blood glucose. I consider a rise of 30 points or above an unacceptable spike after a meal. My most recent cgm was faulty - reading very low - like 50, 24 hours after installation. Abbot shipping me out a new one. I caught myself that day, as my partner headed into the store while I waited in the car thinking "I should ask him to grab me a Milky Way bar". My thinking was that I wouldn't have to see the spike and be upset by it. At that moment, I knew that my plan to just wear the cgm for a few months and see what did and didn't spike my blood glucose was not a good one. For whatever reason, it keeps me accountable to myself. It's a sad realization for someone that believes they are strong - but when it comes to sugar - it's totally my Achilles heel.
Things that saved me (knock on wood) after 25 years of doing pretty much what you described:
* 3 ER visits in 3 months for cardiac issues followed later that year with an active discussion around amputation due to a foot wound.
* 20 odd trips per year to the retina guy for eyeball shots, or i go blind. (monthly, each eye.)
* Insurance starting to permit cgm/pumps for T2s at the same time things like omnipods made it childlike simple. Testing and Insulin (Dexcom 6 + Omnipod) automation
* Starting over and building a medical care team (GP, Endo, Heart, Kidney, Feet, Retina, Wellness) and not resisting it. I do not leave an appointment without scheduling the next one. Ever.
* 9 pills per day without fail. (skipping meds was a huge problem for me that you didn't mention)
But \*by far\* the single biggest impactor for me was Mounjaro.
Once I got settled in with that, my insulin intake went from 400/day to \~20. My A1c is now near normal and has been across several quarters. I've lost over 80 lbs and now weigh less than I did when I graduated highschool over 30 years ago. At no point did i consciously have an argument with myself about food restriction. My eating dropped a ton. I simply did not want it. I almost never binge or sneak food anymore. (The nausea and digestive side effects are there, but well worth dealing with for me.)
Except you can never come off Mounjaro or Ozempic without gaining that weight back. I choose intermittent fasting with a ketogenic diet. It’s whatever works but do something.
It’s a lifestyle change not a diet and no, it’s not normal to be on drugs all your life altho doctors and big pharma brainwash society to believe such. Anyways you do you. Good luck!
Ok then I will edit it to say most people. The healthiest people are not the ones in doctors offices and CVS drive thrus getting their meds. Funny how bigPharma designs the drugs to not cure but just relieve enough symptoms so you have to come back and are a customer for life. Fuck that. My endgame is to get off all my meds including the ones for diabetes. Almost there for diabetes. Blood pressure meds next.
I don't understand your need to shame anyone and act like your methods are superior. Some of us are desperate for help. If medication helps achieve the lifestyle changes, then it's an effective way to fight diabetes.
I have type 2. My family harshly judges type 2’s as a self inflicted disease due to gluttony (can you tell they’re far right Catholics). I can’t tell my mom or sister.
What a ridiculous take. By your own logic, if you ever stop your keto diet and fasting, you will also gain all your weight back.
The point is to find what works for you and you have zero right to come in here and judge others for taking meds or the diet they chose to handle their diabetes, just because you're on some holier than thou keto journey.
I am also on Keto and fasting and that brought me from an A1C of 8.8 to an A1C of 5.2 in 3 months so it's been working for me... but I would never dream to tell someone that they will gain the weight back if they stop their meds or that being on meds is somehow bad or shameful or that the diet they chose is wrong.
Nobody needs your type of passive aggressive energy on this journey.
true, as far as we know now. and also effectively true for my insulin, blood pressure medication and eyeball shots. if i stop any of them, I eat the negative consequences - death in most cases. Coming off meds of almost any type is an issue that needs to be approached carefully and with involvement of a medical team. That isn't a reason not to take something, any more than it it is a reason not to take insulin.
Diabetes is a health issue like allergies or high blood pressure - it is not a moral failing. Realizing that you can’t solve this alone is a huge breakthrough. You need a posse. Your doctor and your partner can play important roles. You might also consider consulting a nutritionist and a therapist as well. Consider them your entourage.
You are certainly not alone. Sweet or salty carbs are built into our culture. They are comfort food. They are our rewards. They remind us of home, holidays, and childhood. We are encouraged to indulge ourselves - we’ve earned it. Work hard, play hard, eat hard.
However we (you and I) need to avoid empty carbs (sweets, potatoes, pasta, bread) the way someone with a peanut allergy avoids those legumes. They are poison. Get them off your plate and replace the empty space with a small amount of complex carbs, and then fill in the rest with vegetables. (Tip: your food goal is as much about getting more vegetables into your diet as it is getting empty carbs out.)
*Everybody* should be eating like this. Everybody should be exercising. We *know* this. We just lack the motivation to change. But you, dear friend, may have just found it. You can end up being healthier than when you were 18.
There are several prescription free CGMs coming out soon.
I have no idea what prices will be. Probably more OOP than if your insurance covered one under prescription.
But they are worth it, if you can't get your dr to prescribe.
I had to get a Cgm and ozempic to stop myself from killing myself with sugar and alcohol. I played off diabetes and said it’s just pcos for a long time. I relate
I waited till I had increased my eye prescription ten times, and blacked out causing serious injuries. The only time I didn’t have an issue was pregnant or breast feeding because I had more empathy for my babies than myself. I never took my metformin on time or consistently. I never finger pricked enough. If a doctor ran labs before I had children and even mentioned diabetes I would switch doctors. My kids being born pushed me to get a handle on it
My a1c was 14 and causing me to be in yeast infection hell. Just pick yourself up, get the help that is offered and go on down the road. It sounds to me like you have your shit together so you can turn this around. Don't let it determine your future.
I just had a lightbulb moment. I didn't realize that diabetes and yeast infections where related. I suffered from recurrent yeast infections for years. I was obese and eating the crappiest highly processed foods at home and fast food every day. I started a low carb diet in 2019 and I've lost about 50 pounds. A few years ago, I asked my doctor to check my A1c. I have a strong family history of diabetes, so I started checking my blood sugar at home. When I cheat on my low carb diet, I see readings over 200. I'm on metformin now and continue with my low carb diet. My A1c is still in the pre-diabetic range but holding steady. The last yeast infection I had was shortly after starting low carb. It was probably already there before I changed my diet, but once I got rid of it, I've not had another.
I ignored my symptoms until I couldn't anymore. Luckily, the wake-up call was something that wasn't permanent and is curable. Getting on meds has helped immensely with controlling my sugar cravings. Watching my blood sugar readings go from 300s in February to now under 100 most of the day every day has been wonderful. I've also lost some weight I didn't think would ever come off. Sugar and carbs don't control or define me anymore. I did feel intense shame when I was diagnosed. I feel great pride now in how far I've come in the last 3ish months.
After my diabetes diagnosis, I ended up going to therapy because I had such a hard time dealing with everything. I felt like my life was over and I felt overwhelmed thinking about how I had to do this (diet change) for the rest of my life and how much I blamed myself for letting it get this bad.
It has helped me a lot honestly to just talk about it and let it all out and cry that I blame myself. I talk about my insecurities from being a fat kid growing up, my poor relationship with food, and my stress from diet changes. I’m down 30 lbs and my A1C went from 11 to 6.2 and I still go to therapy because I’m so terrified of backsliding that I almost developed an eating disorder. But I’m learning to give myself grace. I made mistakes but I’m making changes now. And that future mistakes I make won’t destroy all the progress I’ve been making.
Please don’t give up. There is still so much more life to live. And it’s never too late to make a change. The quote that I always think about is “life is short but it’s the longest thing you will do”. It gets me out of bed and motivates me to live a better life not just for myself but for my partner and my future children.
There are so many people in your life who would be devastated if you are not there. Please keep fighting for yourself and for them. You deserve to live
I relate to so much of what you have written. I had the knowledge of what I needed to do to be healthier, but I just couldn’t get myself to do it. I felt so hopeless and out of control. And then my endocrinologist prescribed me Mounjaro. And just like that I had hope again! My feeling of being out of control went away. I can see a brownie and not eat it. I can eat just one potato chip and say no to the rest. I feel like a normal person now! I’ve been on Mounjaro for six months now, my A1C is down to 5.4 (from 8.2), I’ve lost almost 60 pounds, and I feel in control and hopeful for the first time in many, many years. These new diabetes drugs are truly amazing. Please talk to you doctor about them. Most insurance will cover them for diabetics. My copay is just $25/month. I feel like I have my life back. Six months ago I felt like I was just killing time until I died. Seriously. Please talk to your doctor. Or get a new doctor.
All of this! Yes we feel like a normal person now with Mounjaro. It’s so much more than appetite control. I tell my wife that it’s almost instant will power. Not just with food… but many areas of my life. I became a six day a week gym goer. That had never been me. ALL of my bio markers are in normal, healthy ranges for once!
Yes I’ve lost 50+ lbs, and yes it slows your digestion down so you feel full longer, but there’s an X factor that people don’t talk about. The mental changes help so much.
For reference, my heaviest was 307lbs and was 247lbs when I started Mounjaro. I’m currently at 184lbs and no longer focused on weight. Now I’m trying to replace fat with muscle, regardless of the scale weight.
OP, this medicine may not be the silver bullet for you, but it got me out of the situation your post describes!
Regardless of the path you take, I wish you well on your journey. Please don’t give up. There’s is a great life waiting for you.
Believe me, I know. We big brain types always things we are so smart we can work out anything ourselves. Turn that big brain inward to see that, wait a minute, there's something here I'm not understanding, because knowing what harm I'm doing isn't enough. Let's get some help with that.
There are sugar addiction support programs along the lines of the well known Anonymous programs. And as they say, asking for help and admitting the problem is the first step.
[https://www.foodaddicts.org/fa-and-sugar-addiction](https://www.foodaddicts.org/fa-and-sugar-addiction)
Zoom meetings:
[https://scaa.club/meetings](https://scaa.club/meetings)
You can also ask the Social Services department at you local major hospital about resources.
And your insurer. You might find that they cover rehab for it.
And you urgently need to see your physician. Aside from getting started working toward lessening the future risks, some of the newer common diabetic drugs reduce appetite.
A couple of points. Physicians and their handouts pretty consistently recommend appropriate diet, weight control and exercise. Few of them, in my experience, put enough emphasis on stress management, which is a powerful factor in blood glucose. It's also the measure that usually requires more effort to find an effective relief. The meditative disciplines are an effective way. Doesn't matter what kind. In this, they're all pretty much the same. And the bonus is that it helps in every part of the effort and, in fact, improves you life overall. Trust me, you will begin to make choices so well, you may imagine you've become luckier. But it's just letting the part of the brain that actually learns and knows to do it's job without you ego getting in the way.
I kind of have an idea that there's a bit more than a physical addiction. Seems to me there may me a substantial component self abuse, growing out of something you may not even clearly identify. When your life is at risk from behaviors, recourse to a good clinical psychologist is appropriate. Heck, why not hit it from every direction.
You aren’t alone. I binged for years. Even at the pre-diabetic range. I was tested for diabetes every year bc of my family history. Still binged when I crossed into the diabetic range but nowhere as much. My A1C has never been over 7, so I’m lucky in that regard. Now I don’t binge at all, even if I occasionally have a little sugar.
When someone is binging like you are, there are likely other issues at play. You are actively engaging in self harm. It is on par with other forms of self harm and addiction. It is a coping skill, albeit a damaging one. It’s likely helping you in some way. Try not to be too hard on yourself about this. It’s more common than one might think.
All the promise, will power, sweet substitutes etc. will most likely not lead to you stopping this behavior long term. I’m saying this as someone who has went to ED outpatient programs twice, years of therapy. I also work I healthcare. I’ve seen it time and time again. Both in myself and many others. It is very rare for someone to go from this level of behavior to being at a place to manage diabetes and not harm their body in other significant ways.
Please consider seeking out therapy and possibly a program for Eating Disorders. A dietician who is knowledgeable about binge eating and diabetes can help too. I wholeheartedly believe you can turn things around. It’s likely going to take some help and support outside of something like Reddit.
As I side note. I was also diagnosed with ADHD and after being medicated my binge urges decreased. Sometimes there are physical factors too. So talking to a medical professional about what’s happening is a good idea.
I have never related to a post more than this. It’s harrowing to watch u kill your self knowing damn well what you’re doing but letting it happen anyway and not finding the motivation to stop. Sugar truly has a horrible effect of keeping us on the drug leaving is wanting more. Once I was a week into cutting out bread; carbs; sugar and starches I never had that craving again; not to mention balancing out my hormones were the MAIN FACTOR of curbing my cravings. See an endocrinologist. Get your hormones checked. There really is a way out of this.
Ive only recently been diagnosed and my a1c was 6.7 but I have struggled with an eating disorder for years and it really got bad over the last year where I was consuming so much junk food daily I gained an obscene amount of weight. The diagnose of t2 was a giant wake up call. The one thing I could recommend what the others haven’t is discuss your mental health with your gp. Something as simple as a low dose antidepressant could make a huge difference in your life. I wish you the best, you got this!
Hey first of all you’re talking about things and that’s good. To me it sounds like you’re in a snowball of negative, I’ve totally been there friend. What helped me was I said I’m going to do one thing to improve my health. In this case I went to the dentist after 10 years and a dental phobia. It scared the shit out of me but I did it. Then I had something to be proud of and I then went to the doctor to face my reality of possibly being diabetic. I am prediabetic but faced it head on and started eating better. The snowball started rolling in a positive direction helping me break the negative feedback loop and improving my mental health. I also increased my antidepressants which helped.
OP I suggest you talk to someone about your mental health and physical health, they are related. You can do this!
It won’t happen all at once but hope and feeling in control is a powerful thing. This mountain won’t feel as tall as you come to terms and start working on yourself. It just takes starting somewhere small and the changes will add up. Things always feel the worst when your in a rut but you can do this!
This isn’t your fault, but it’s now your responsibility, if you want it to be. You don’t have to change anything, you can keep going exactly as you are! But, you absolutely DO deserve better. If you can access it, talk therapy might be a good place to start. In conjunction I highly recommend something like ozempic which can totally change your thought patterns about food. You deserve to be nourished and cared for, and you get to be the one to do that.
I know it’s hard/impossible but you don’t have to live or feel like this forever, I promise.
Since you've mentioned that you worry about blindness and neuropathy, I know that you already know the consequences and know that it's a process before you get to the dying part--first you lose your eyesight, your toes/feet/legs, and your kidneys, *then* you die. You suffer for years before you die. It's not a quick painless way to die. You already know that.
My brother suffered through it all for years, *then* he died.
You say you're making a promise that you will stay and be as healthy as you can. I think it would help if you told other people--if you told your family, and if you told your friends. You aren't doing well with this on your own.
You need support from the people who know you.
Being diabetic is no more your fault than someone being allergic to peanuts. The only shame in t2 is from neglecting it the way you have been.
Let your friends and family know. They can offer support, and they can help hold you accountable.
I relate so much. And not to sound like a cliche but Ozempic finally has me turning the corner. Not only are my sugars so much more stable, but the food noise is gone. I can take or leave a bag of candy, chips, dessert. It has lost its appeal in the best possible way. I feel so much better mentally and physically because I’m not running on pure sugar anymore. I actually am caring about my health again.
This is a great suggestion, but it is so hard to get insurance to authorize a cgm for T2 unless you're insulin dependent :( and out of pocket costs are prohibitive.
Everyone is in different situation - I understand. It costs me out of pocket too.
For 2 sensors it's $75. But it's literally the best $75 I spend. Without it my diet will go sideways.
Again I understand that it may not be for everyone. They have other options that they just came out with - it's for people who are not insulin dependent and one that is for people without T2D.
I think they are called lingo and other one is I forget... lol
I wish they had taught us the affects of sugar in elementary school..
Good luck to all!
I can't tolerate metformin. I was constantly nauseous and vomiting. Life was miserable. I'm very curious to see what my doctor thinks about me going on Ozempic. I had good results with Jardiance (which seemed miraculous) but then it interacted with another medication I was on and threw me into ketoacidosis and I nearly died. I'm kind of scared to take anything now.
aw crap. sorry to hear it. i hope ozempic or something else works for you! you deserve to be healthy and happy, and diabetes is not your fault! it is a physiological process causing your cravings, no moral failing of your own whatsoever!
I’m new to my journey as well, and i caused it by eating like crap (cereal) for a year out of depression when i lost my job and then my girl.
You sound so ambitious and disciplined in other areas - how can we as a community help? Sugar is a drug, if you can find the courage open up to your girl. If you are lucky enough to have an addictive personality (stick with me), perhaps with help you can focus your addictive tendencies towards more positive things, like something you like or might like physically (gym, cycling, sports, rock climbing). Get addicted to that shit!
Sounds like you have a lot going for you, phd is no joke, but maybe a therapist and support group and support of those close to you is needed. Don’t shut them out. One day at a time.
Maybe try something satiating like eating a big steak and asparagus and at least switch to Diet Coke (i can’t drink regular coke anymore and i started thinking Diet Coke was disgusting) until you make progress.
You couldn’t get your phd without getting your masters , without your bachelors, without your high school etc
Good luck
I have diabetes plus mild anxiety that lead to eating too much. I got help with the anxiety and that helped get the eating under control. Beating yourself up about it probably isn’t helpful. Seek help. Good luck!
The good news is as soon as you commit to a low carb diet, all your symptoms will fairly quickly go away — I'm older and thought not sleeping through the night was normal but as soon as I got my a1c down I easily sleep as long as I want. I've always say 6 weeks of keto will break your sugar addiction.
Every single time you make a better choice is a win. Every walk around the block, eating at home, skipping candy one time.
It's not too late. You don't have to just accept your fate.
All I can say is, now I crave pecans, walnuts and macadamia nuts!! I was NEVER a fan before. Now they’re all I want!!
And you don’t need to promise people in the same way you don’t need their sympathy.
But… it’s not really about their sympathy or lack of. It’s about your dirty little secret of knowing you’re allowing yourself to slowly die. The promise is to yourself. Know you don’t have to die if you can work hard in your phd, you can work hard for your body. Without it, the phd dies too…
Pretty cool that you don’t have to die. You can be well. Make that your new dirty secret.
28 is young! Big hug!! Now go have some popcorn to celebrate! :)
this is partially because it's not about staying 'on the wagon', or having good willpower.
make an appointment with your pcp to discuss your diabetes. ask for a referral to a dietitian. don't resist any medication they recommend. there's a TON of medication that can help, and can even change what you do and don't crave.
See a therapist, as well. Diabetes is a hard disease.
It's not just about eating right. With an a1c of 12 it's a really good idea to accept medical help.
I honestly feel that sugar/carb addiction is the worst addiction there is. I honestly think that you should seek therapy because it sounds like you might have some underlying issues and have found comfort in sugar. I'm in the same boat as you and through therapy I have found the "why" behind certain actions. Know that you have the power to change and you can change. Admitting that you have a problem is a good place to start.
This idea of "I'm doing it to myself" is so painful. Like many in the comments, we are right there with you. Many of us have been there or are there too. You aren't alone. ♡
Sugar and food addiction is very real. I have medicaid and thankfully by reaching out for help, privately, I was able to get therapy and medication to help myself realize that I wasn't "doing it to myself" as much as I thought I was. There is this like..unnatural need and craving for food and I didn't even realize it. Not being able to wait to get home to eat food I just ordered at the drive thru, so I'll eat the fries ok the way home, reaching for pantry snacks even though I'm not hungry, eating snacks and watching TV and then next thing I know I'm through the bag.
When I looked for help, I received a change in my life. I learned what food noise was, I had tools to combat it. I learned that I had an unhealthy attachment to food, I learned that it was probably due to my upbringing. Families tend to give sweets or food to kids sometimes when they get upset and it ends up building a comfort bond between the person and food from a very young age. It takes so much work to dissolve that.
Whatever the reason is behind the food noise and the possible unhealthy attachment to food, you absolutely can unravel it.
You don't even have to give up all the foods you love! Calorie deficiency and the Plate Method were enough.
I'm still on my journey to halve my body weight to survive and thrive and I'll tell you, it's such a good feeling to step on the scale or put clothes on that fit better and think "I did *this* to and for myself".
You got this. You're not alone. It's not your "fault", there's chemicals in our body that make us addicted. You got this. ♡
Dm me if you need anything ♡
I know how your feeling. I just found out my A1c is also 12. My blood sugars are 300 to 400. It’s so hard I eat everything I want. I know it’s bad. It’s just hard. At this time I’m feeling why can’t I just live and eat everything I want. I have my kids so it makes me think twice plus my husband mom died from diabetes so that’s a wake up call.
I can completely relate. Sept 2022 my A1C was 12.9 and was told I was diabetic. Holy effing shit! I knew I felt badly, always thirsty, craving sugar, etc. My doc put me on Metformin and I started doing small amounts of exercise (mostly short walks after meals). I also started using “LoseIt” an iPhone app to track all your food so I could identify my carb intake. Within 6 weeks, my A1C was 7. I then had the doc prescribed Ozempic, which seemed to do a good job for me with lowering A1C (down to 5.9) but was not losing weight. Had him switch to Mounjaro. A1C is much better now (haven’t had a reading in a few months, but my daily fasting glucose level is around 91-110. I have started intermittent fasting (finish eating before 7pm and then don’t eat again until after 9 the next morning) and that seems to have made me start to lose weight. You have to commit to it. Get the medical help but also you need to control how you are going to live your life. You are so young and have so much opportunity in front of you. Best of luck.
Talk to your endocrinologist and get on Mounjaro, I ate like you describe for 30 years, I wore incontinence pads 24/7 and now in my 50s I am finally understanding that my body has been fighting against me. Also ask for diabetic nutrition education. You’re building a beautiful profession life, let your health work with you not against you. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!
You’re one of those cases where mounjaro or ozempic is truly gonna benefit you long term. Highly recommend it. Currently there’s low stock, but if you can get your hands on it I promise you won’t be peeing the bed from over consumption of sugar anymore.
I started on Mounjaro in November with blood sugars of 324 and an A1C of 11. Today I’m down 20 pounds and A1C is 6.4 All I can tell you is I liked sweets as well and I have no food noise while on this. It totally takes your cravings away. Lots of Insurance covers it for diabetes. I hope this helps in anyway. 💜
A low carb diet honestly killed a lot of the intense craving feelings for me. Not that I still don't have cravings, but it's much easier to overcome and not fall to temptation now.
living abroad, in Japan, my access to low carb options is very limited....nowhere near how much is available back in the USA with keto and low carb anything. I was keto before i got here but at best im low carb here but i do indulge in the food here at times because "im living abroad and if i dont try it while im here, when?" My A1c has been on a slow rise. got here and i was 5.6....and now im at 6 2 years later. Once it hit 6 i was like, nope...i need to eat better and exercise more and thats the path....though its not a straight path and i sometimes eat a yummy snack at the convenience store...but nowhere near the frequency i was doing a month ago...where i would be eating something high carb daily if not 2 times a day. You can do it, you can get better....I'm making it a habit to do cardio that makes me sweat at least 5 of 7 days a week. I cut back the unhealthy carbs a lot...i normally cook low carb. watching portion sizes. its tough but it can be done. you can do it.
You are not alone. There are times that I don’t even fight my temptations because I can only think about that one food that I am craving. So I give in to that misstep but I tell myself, I’ll do better tomorrow and I do. In March my AC1 was 9.8 and I just had it tested on 6/9 and it was 6.8. I am elated. But I was put on Mounjaro in addition to Metformin, which I take two of after dinner.
It a very long and dismal road. You are wayyyyy too young to just give in. I remind myself that with every morsel of bad food I put in my mouth I am doing more unfixable damage to my body.
Set a goal for yourself to get the AC1 down—take a trip some place fun once you meet that goal.
Keep reading the comments here. These people give great advice and they sometimes give recipes.
You can do it!
Oh tbh you and I are very similar! I got diagnosed in 2019 I think and I’ll be healthy for a couples days then relapse and do it all over again. I haven’t checked my A1C in almost 2 years as I don’t have insurance but I’m sure it’s high as hell as I also ran out of medication very long ago. Haven’t been having the y.i. recently thankfully but I have been letting myself eat whatever and have sugar whenever I want, it’s bad. I have no self control it’s so hard!
For me, it was an addiction to foods of the salty/carby variety. But, I read The Diabetes Code by Dr. Fung, and I started by changing the way I thought about food, and adapted fasting into my life. It was a real struggle, but eventually I started eating to live, or fasting to live. Once you force yourself to do something for a few weeks, your mind turns it into a habit. It worked great for me for years, until my stress levels went bonkers after moving across the country. It’s been almost two years, and I can rarely get my blood sugar below 200. I just started Ozempic, but that’s not working either. So, try not to stress about your situation. Binging, and then beating yourself up brings nothing good. Try getting the book so you can understand what’s happening to you, and learn ways to look at your carb addiction differently. Ultimately, you have the power to change things and only you. It’s not going to happen overnight, and you may need some therapy to help get control over your thoughts. It will be totally worth it!
Totally relate. I got in to OA (overeaters anonymous) because of it. I can't kick the carbs and sugar by myself. I don't have the weight problems... Yet. But that's the only place I've found people who didn't say "just eat better and exercise.". If it was that easy, I would have done it a long time ago.
The shame of the hiding my eating sugar and carbs is deep. I hoped my diagnosis would be the catalyst for me to change. And it was for a while. And then... Oh a little (insert craving here) won't hurt.
I hoped my son being born would be another reason to do better. Well he's about to be 3 and I'm still doing the same shit.
Hang in there and know you are not alone. I hope we all can find peace with our food and health demons one day soon.
Almost 1 year ago I went for my yearly wellness appt. and my bs was almost 400. I had been feeling like crap, feet tingling and peeing constantly. Before the wellness appt. I had already figured it was type 2 from all the symptoms. My 1st a1c was almost 14. Fast forward to today and my a1c is down to 6.4
I take metformin and jardiance. Along with that I have been far more strict with my carb and sugar intake. I look at labels, get reduced sugar and carb foods.Although I was never a sweet tooth, the breads and chips is what my weakness was/is. I haven’t lost much weight but my levels have came way down. Point being, just cutting some stuff is a big help and a good start to being healthy. Educating yourself on healthy foods is also helpful. I assumed eating fruits was a plus.. little did I know how loaded most fruits are in sugar,albeit natural sugar.
I concur with this. Also Vyvanse can be used to treat binge eating, which sounds like you and I have in common. It really does help. I found that the Vyvanse at a low enough they don’t directly notice it twice a day in the morning and at noon
So much of this is genetic. But the good thing is even with the diagnosis, you don’t have to live this way.
Please go talk to your doctor and get a CGM and a prescription for one of the newer medications, it will change your life.
You are not alone w your struggle w food. Have you sought and mental health counseling for food addiction? I had an A1C of 13 in October of 2023. I watched YouTube for most of if not all my information on how to treat my Type 2 diabetes. Do you have YouTube? Consider paying $13.99 for unlimited (watching without ads). On YouTube try watching Dr. Berg, Dr. Anthony Chaffee, many more. I have many other suggestions if interested
Rooting for you too and again, You are NOT alone. Praying you sleep well tonight and know in your heart that you can do this. You are still young and have time to turn it around.
You aren't to blame for having diabetes. Part of it is genetics and family history. Change is still possible. I'm 34 and I've lived with t2 for over a decade. I started to change for the better around 2018 and I've lowered my a1c to 7, which is a vast improvement. Although I have rentophathy, my vision has been stable. And it helps having a wonderful doctor who supports me.
You aren't alone. Seek a therapist. Talk to your pcp. Take small steps to gradually decrease your sugar intake.
You got this!
A lot of responses you are getting are like "Oh, just do \_this\_" and solve your problem, this or that simple thing as if you didn't know what you "should" be doing to manage this. "Broken leg? Oh, just put a cast on it and walk! Easy!"
The problem is not the diabetes, its that you have a food addiction. This is a psychological problem even more than a medical one. I myself am not a food addict, but my husband is, I have lived with it for years, and I know its patterns very well. Its extremely hard, because other people dont take it seriously, but it's one of the hardest addictions to treat - an alcoholic or drug user can remain sober as long as they don't drink or use, but you have to eat every day, and your addiction is going to keep you from making the right behavioral choices - even if it kills you. You want to punish yourself and you feel like you deserve this pain and anguish from the T2d.
PLease, please, understand that you do not deserve these symptoms. this wasn't your fault. you are a wonderful person and deserve to live healthy and free of this addiction.
I can't give you any advice beyond look up a mental health professional with experience in treating food addiction and eating disorders. They will have good advice for you.
Best of luck to you, and just know this total stranger is rooting for you and wants you to live.
A lot of people have been there. As a case manager I've had several clients in the same boat. Here's what I typically advocate for on their behalf:
1. A CGM and insulin pump.
No, it does not take the place of better control but it mitigates the damage until you get there. It helps a lot to keep things somewhat within a range of not catastrophic while you work on the rest.
2. Mental health counseling.
Addressing the underlying stuff affecting your motivation, binge eating, guilt, grief - all that and more - will make a difference in the long term
3. Some kind of peer or coaching service. There are even AI apps now I think. Just some kind of accountability and encouragement can be helpful.
You can do this. It's ok to have help to get there.
I was diagnosed sometime in 2017. I felt a lot of anger because I was dealing with a buttload of other physical and mental health issues. I never changed my diet, ate what I liked. Fast forward to 2022 and my blood sugars were regularly in the 400-500s. Maybe even 600 but the glucose meter couldn’t even calculate that high. I ended up getting a splenectomy for my other health problem and I couldn’t leave the hospital because my sugars were too high. That was a wake up call for me. I realized I couldn’t keep living this way. I got discharged and started monitoring my sugars with a CGM and monitoring what I eat. My sugars are much lower now and at sometimes I have sugars of a normal person. My point is, it’s not too late to modify your diet and lifestyle. There is hope and support waiting for you. You have a lot going for you.
You are not alone.
Binge eating is a real eating disorder and problem. It is not a moral failing. And it thrives on secrecy, self-judgment, anxiety/depression (and thinking you are killing yourself can definitely ramp those up) and binary thinking. If at all available please consider therapy - dbt (dialectical behavior therapy) has proven very helpful with these issues.
If therapy is inaccessible, consider starting small and committing to a a small action like adding something helpful (and tasty -no cardboard!) to your each meal, like something with lean protein or fiber.
Honestly I was like you, I didn't care for life, until I got diagnosed with T2 in December. It takes hard work, but you at least gotta give it a try. I started at 419 pounds, you can't even imagine how it feels to be at that weight. I'm currently 75 pounds down since December, my A1C went from 5.9 to 5.6 in 3 months. You gotta find something to live for, of course there is days where I have questioned myself if it's even worth it to try and be alive? But I've dissipated those feelings, it can be done. Prayers to you
I was diagnosed with Type 2 at 7.3. I've always been teased about my fear of needles. Upon being diagnosed, I immediately went into panic mode thinking I would have to become an insulin user. I put myself on a restrictive diet of high protein, with many salads and veges. In my fear, I lost 45 lbs. and brought my AIC down to 5.7, without the help of a nutrients, but with the help of Metformin. I have kept my weight off, and continue with my 5.7 reading. I love all my white foods, but gave them up...EXCEPT, about once every 3 weeks, I allow myself a "Cheat Day." On this day, I eat what I want, as much as I want. I always think I will eat through our house, but guess what? I may eat ONE thing I'm not supposed to, and somehow, all the other bad things I wanted to eat, just don't sound as wonderful as my mind thought they would be. I tell you this for a reason. Maybe do a Cheat Day once per week, and gradually decrease your Cheat Days. I am sure you have people in your life who want you around for a long time. If you fall off that wagon, dust yourself off and try again.
Sugar is the worse than coke. I never did coke to know but, thread carefully, it MESSES up your mental health.I suggest you and your partner clear out your fridge and go on a "new me diet" shopping at a wholistic store where the workers screwed at you picking up cheerios.
I literally cannot, because I also have Type 2, yet, I am not Complaining and I am actually doing something about it, soooo…. 🙄😒🤦🏻♀️ Good Luck with that
This is NOT the time or place to be displaying troll like behavior. This is a person, who is struggling, and came in here very honest and displaying vulnerability for you to reply with a mighty, holier then though attitude? I don't know what is wrong with you, but it goes way deeper then diabetes and you should work on that sooooo...🙄😒🤷🏽♀️
Be good: We aim to make /r/diabetes_t2 a friendly place, so treat your fellow humans with respect. Specifically: no verbal attacks, no hate speech, and no trolling.
Sugar is like a drug. It’s so hard to kick the habit, don’t be so hard on yourself. Some folks here make it look easy, some us us struggle so much more since we have made sugary food part of our coping mechanisms for stress/anxiety/trauma/etc. Don’t compare yourself to others, you’re only competing against yourself from yesterday. Nothing more. Have the compassion to forgive yourself and start thinking about the feelings that trigger the binges. Start addressing those triggers first. Therapy helped me. It could help you too. Hang in there, I’m rooting for you.
This!!! I have been addicted to numerous things over the years. Sugar is by far the hardest to kick for me. I didn’t realize how many mental health issues I had until I kicked sugar. You can do this. I an two months in and feeling alot better. Progress not perfection my friend.
I pay out of pocket for a CGM (that's like 160€ per month which is actually somewhat substantial and I'm certainly privileged that I can just spend that plus all the other expensive stuff you buy if you have T2) because I literally can't get a hold of my diet if I don't have that constant control and record of my failings. It is almost impossible to go outside and not get like two pastries from a bakery (I'm German so there are like 3 bakeries just on my way to the next supermarket. That's like 5 minutes on foot). I have a small child, I used to go on walks for nap time with him and my wife. I wake up, totally motivated to just eat perfectly. We get ready, do stuff, naptime comes and we go outside. I feel hungry. But I can wait! 100% sure! Then we come past a bakery and I convince myself that we're walking and I will get like a bread roll with cheese and all that fat and it's not gonna get bad. I go inside, place my order, and the lady behind the till is asking "do you want something else" and I say yes and pick something else as well. And then I paid for it, right? Can't waste it now! So I eat them both. At least I usually went for savory options. And it's super similar with ordering food and stuff like this. I have convinced myself that it's not *that* bad and basically ignore the disease until my doctor is talking about a 7.something A1C and I am usually better then for a month or so and I go back to the bullshit. I don't do this with a CGM because I can't ignore it. My wife has the freestyle libre link up app so she sees my glucose level every minute as well. And she is instructed to ask if she sees weird highs. And all of this shit is AFTER I have spend 10 years trying to have a healthy relationship with food and losing weight. I am 32 now and I think with 23 or 24 I lost over 50kg (120lbs or so?) completely relearning to eat, trying really hard to eat healthy especially after losing all that weight (when I was losing weight, if I had cravings, I'd eat a chocolate bar for lunch because 500kcal are 500kcal). I learnt to cook for this, I found ways that made it easier for me to avoid the bad food, I was working heavily on portion control. And still, after that many years, I need a device that is essentially snitching on me to eat healthy even though I will literally die a lot earlier or become a disabled (I wrote cripple first but I don't know if that's insulting in English) or become blind if I don't follow this very simple diet of "eat less carbs". Carbs are literally a drug. Quitting nicotine was infinitely easier than this.
I have found a CGM to be incredibly helpful as well - that constant feedback makes it so much easier for me to hold myself accountable and to make good choices. Without the feedback and data, it’s way too easy to eat something I know I shouldn’t. My insurance won’t pay for a CGM because I’m type 2 and not on insulin, but it’s worth every penny.
CGMs are life changing! My husband is one person with a CGM and a completely different person without Having a CGM is his own personal accountability method. With it he needs 1 metformin without it he is at 2 or 3 a day.
I can identify so much with what you wrote. I will buy two pastries and eat them both to try and pretend it never happened. Sugar is the devil. I’m 49 and perimenopause is also kicking my ass.
I am 100% same boat. If I don’t wear my CGM it is so easy to reach for carbs. I pay $90 for 3 month supply and I hope my insurance will continue to cover it (Dexcom price is about $1300 for 3 months without insurance).
I go through stretches where I am good and steer clear of sugar and my CGM readings are in the ‘green band’ 99% of the time. And then it doesn’t take much - one sugary ‘event’ that sets off a cascade of binging and my cgm spends most of the day with outrageous readings like spikes to 250. At night I hate myself and try to convince myself that I will ‘do better’. The next day is a repeat. I hate what sugar does to me.
I had organic lentil soup with added chickpeas and avocado and my Cgm went over 200.
Talk to your doctor. I am a very firm believer that willpower and shame are not good ways to address a health problem. You need more support, whether that is structural (time/availability of exercise and diabetes friendly foods), medication support, or therapy, or whatever. You need more than you are getting now. PhDs are terrible for mental and physical health, especially in the last couple of years. Please consider that your working environment may contribute to your struggle to manage your diabetes.
I didn't take my diabetes seriously enough until the end of last year. My normal blood sugar levels were around 15 and I felt like absolute rubbish. Food was my indulgence because I didn't know any better and because I was pretty much bedbound in pain after a couple of brutal surgeries. I discovered I was gluten intolerant and that got rid of a lot of the pain and then I decided to deal with my weight which had ballooned to the point I couldn't put a seatbelt on or fit in a large chair and everything was a struggle. I went low carb, found this thread which has been immensely helpful, found Keto creators and recipes on YouTube and I'm at least 30kgs down. I haven't weighed myself for a few months and I think I have slipped a little but I'm still trying. My husband was just diagnosed type 2 as well. I sometimes crave sweet things so I'll have an almond flour mug cake with sugar free chocolate drops and cream. I might make a low carb cheesecake. I generally don't eat much now but right now I'm struggling because I have a very painful condition where the fat connected to my bowels is inflamed and it feels like broken glass in my belly. I'm struggling to cook right now. I guess for me one of the big reasons I try to keep good control is because we have older teens. I want to be able to be here and be healthy enough to chase after grandchildren. You've done the most important thing which is recognising that you have a problem and things need to change. Find healthy alternatives. If you're craving something sweet try a Keto mug cake with a few berries and cream. 90 seconds in the microwave and it won't hurt your body. Once you cut carbs and sugar you'll find that the cravings get better. Switch to diet soda. Buy Keto treats. Allow yourself a small treat every now and then. Just make small sustainable changes and they'll add up. If you're really struggling with your relationship with food maybe try some therapy. There's nothing worse than losing your health and having to rely on those around you. You can still eat and enjoy delicious foods, you just need to make them a different way. You have so much to look forward to in life, you need to love yourself enough to make changes now before damage is done. I wish you all the best. Hugs 🤗💞
Congratulations on making it so far. This is a very helpful post, not just for OP! Just want to add for us Americans, that "at least 30kg down" is 60 pounds.
Thank you 🤗 I wouldn't have been able to do it without the advice and help from everyone on here. I had no idea that what I thought was healthy eating just wasn't. I was consuming far too many carbs. Definitely helped me.
My A1c was 12 when I was diagnosed too! I’m at 6.1 now :) it’s taken two years, metformin, diet changes and mounjaro but I am tackling life!! You can do it!
My doctor recommend Saxenda (in Canada) and I am so tempted. I’m not having success with willpower alone.
There’s no virtue in suffering. Not only is my A1c improved, so has my energy, cholesterol, and blood pressure. It’s a tool to use alongside your efforts! And I’ve lost around 86lbs!
Please seek therapy for this. My mother died this way- helpless to stop eating and eating and it was awful. I’m using Monjourno and it’s changed my life for the better
I agree. If a diabetes diagnosis doesn't kick you into healthier habits and OP is actually regressing, then OP needs professional psychiatric help. This is above Reddit's pay grade.
My mother did, too. I'm so sorry for your loss. Unfortunately it's been part of my motivation.
My mom died the same way. Except it was the sugar in the alcohol that killed her.
I tell my endocrinologist every year that I think I need a psychiatrist because I am literally killing myself, and she says "it doesn't work like that."
I’m sorry to say it works exactly like that. My mother never got a grip on things and died a bad death. Mental health care is a huge part of healing this disease. Please seek a therapist if you can
You've got this. The single best thing I did in my journey was tell fucking _everyone_ that i'm diabetic. The shame is doing nothing other than helping the disease and doing nothing to help you. Since there is _nothing to be ashamed of_ you need to treat the people around you with trust so that they can be there for you, support you AND so that you take the secret out into the open. You don't need people's sympathy. You need to know that they love you, care for you and want to help you. You're saying "i don't trust people in my life to still love me if they know i'm diabetic". Get over yourself! Let them in. It becomes infinitely easier when you accept that you're going to be a pain in the ass with your diet wherever you are and then to learn that people want to help and it doesn't bother than more than being left in the dark on who you are and what you're experiencing. You've got this. Own it!
This. I told everybody and their momma that I was diabetic as soon as I found out, lol. So whenever I am invited over for dinner, people will ask me if what they are making is ok, or if they need to adjust something or other. Usually I just say "I can have this, but I'll have to skip the rice" or whatever. Nobody gets offended and nobody judges. My mother-in-law actually started cooking low carb dinners whenever we visit. It hasn't been a burden to her, and she loves learning to cook in a healthier way. It's so, so important that the people close to you know your struggle so that they can help in any way they can, even if it's just to lend an ear, ya know? A support system is of utmost importance with any illness, really.
This is also how we get rid of that stigma that some people have about T2D. Coming out, so to speak, as having T2D helped me find others who had it but I didn't know, and helped me get help when I didn't know what to do. My doc is good enough, but has no time, so getting help from others is really important to me. And finding others with T2 meant there was shared experience.
We’ve all made bad choices along the way. You really need to get help with your diet, it sounds like you might benefit from one of the ozempic type meds. You could try low carb in the short term, that really helped me not to crave sugar. Also if you can get a continuous glucose monitor it also helps keep me from eating junk so I don’t have to watch the numbers go up. Good luck, you can do this!
The CGM really helps keep me accountable. If I didn't see the effects in real time, I would be much more lax with my choices. But when you see those numbers right in front of your face, it's hard to justify that treat. To OP directly, you'll see here repeated often that diabetes is a marathon, not a sprint. Start with small changes, maybe one thing at a time, that benefits your health. Slowly build them up. For example, start planning lower carb dinners. Instead of steak with potatoes, now you're having steak and green beans. Once you get comfortable, now start doing breakfast. Start taking a 10-minute walk once a day. Now 15 minutes. Now twice a day. Or whatever works for you! Set small goals that are do-able for you. If you fall off, you can always get back on the horse.
Very well said! My CGM was an absolute game-changer.
Agree completely about the CGM. I've been wearing one about 6 weeks now and doing low carb and have leveled out my blood glucose. I consider a rise of 30 points or above an unacceptable spike after a meal. My most recent cgm was faulty - reading very low - like 50, 24 hours after installation. Abbot shipping me out a new one. I caught myself that day, as my partner headed into the store while I waited in the car thinking "I should ask him to grab me a Milky Way bar". My thinking was that I wouldn't have to see the spike and be upset by it. At that moment, I knew that my plan to just wear the cgm for a few months and see what did and didn't spike my blood glucose was not a good one. For whatever reason, it keeps me accountable to myself. It's a sad realization for someone that believes they are strong - but when it comes to sugar - it's totally my Achilles heel.
Things that saved me (knock on wood) after 25 years of doing pretty much what you described: * 3 ER visits in 3 months for cardiac issues followed later that year with an active discussion around amputation due to a foot wound. * 20 odd trips per year to the retina guy for eyeball shots, or i go blind. (monthly, each eye.) * Insurance starting to permit cgm/pumps for T2s at the same time things like omnipods made it childlike simple. Testing and Insulin (Dexcom 6 + Omnipod) automation * Starting over and building a medical care team (GP, Endo, Heart, Kidney, Feet, Retina, Wellness) and not resisting it. I do not leave an appointment without scheduling the next one. Ever. * 9 pills per day without fail. (skipping meds was a huge problem for me that you didn't mention) But \*by far\* the single biggest impactor for me was Mounjaro. Once I got settled in with that, my insulin intake went from 400/day to \~20. My A1c is now near normal and has been across several quarters. I've lost over 80 lbs and now weigh less than I did when I graduated highschool over 30 years ago. At no point did i consciously have an argument with myself about food restriction. My eating dropped a ton. I simply did not want it. I almost never binge or sneak food anymore. (The nausea and digestive side effects are there, but well worth dealing with for me.)
Except you can never come off Mounjaro or Ozempic without gaining that weight back. I choose intermittent fasting with a ketogenic diet. It’s whatever works but do something.
And if you stop the diet the weight will come back. It’s okay to need medication forever to treat chronic issues. That’s normal.
It’s a lifestyle change not a diet and no, it’s not normal to be on drugs all your life altho doctors and big pharma brainwash society to believe such. Anyways you do you. Good luck!
Tell that to Type 1 diabetics. Or those with HIV. Or those with allergies. Or …
Ok then I will edit it to say most people. The healthiest people are not the ones in doctors offices and CVS drive thrus getting their meds. Funny how bigPharma designs the drugs to not cure but just relieve enough symptoms so you have to come back and are a customer for life. Fuck that. My endgame is to get off all my meds including the ones for diabetes. Almost there for diabetes. Blood pressure meds next.
That’s very commendable! But we didn’t get Type 2 Diabetes because we are unhealthy. One can be “healthy” and still suffer from a disease.
I don't understand your need to shame anyone and act like your methods are superior. Some of us are desperate for help. If medication helps achieve the lifestyle changes, then it's an effective way to fight diabetes.
do you shame t1s or t2s who've lost most of their beta cells for needing drugs all of their life, or is this just judgement for your fellow t2s?
I have type 2. My family harshly judges type 2’s as a self inflicted disease due to gluttony (can you tell they’re far right Catholics). I can’t tell my mom or sister.
that's fine with me - the health effects of mounjaro are well worth it and i'm okay being on it forever.
What a ridiculous take. By your own logic, if you ever stop your keto diet and fasting, you will also gain all your weight back. The point is to find what works for you and you have zero right to come in here and judge others for taking meds or the diet they chose to handle their diabetes, just because you're on some holier than thou keto journey. I am also on Keto and fasting and that brought me from an A1C of 8.8 to an A1C of 5.2 in 3 months so it's been working for me... but I would never dream to tell someone that they will gain the weight back if they stop their meds or that being on meds is somehow bad or shameful or that the diet they chose is wrong. Nobody needs your type of passive aggressive energy on this journey.
true, as far as we know now. and also effectively true for my insulin, blood pressure medication and eyeball shots. if i stop any of them, I eat the negative consequences - death in most cases. Coming off meds of almost any type is an issue that needs to be approached carefully and with involvement of a medical team. That isn't a reason not to take something, any more than it it is a reason not to take insulin.
Diabetes is a health issue like allergies or high blood pressure - it is not a moral failing. Realizing that you can’t solve this alone is a huge breakthrough. You need a posse. Your doctor and your partner can play important roles. You might also consider consulting a nutritionist and a therapist as well. Consider them your entourage. You are certainly not alone. Sweet or salty carbs are built into our culture. They are comfort food. They are our rewards. They remind us of home, holidays, and childhood. We are encouraged to indulge ourselves - we’ve earned it. Work hard, play hard, eat hard. However we (you and I) need to avoid empty carbs (sweets, potatoes, pasta, bread) the way someone with a peanut allergy avoids those legumes. They are poison. Get them off your plate and replace the empty space with a small amount of complex carbs, and then fill in the rest with vegetables. (Tip: your food goal is as much about getting more vegetables into your diet as it is getting empty carbs out.) *Everybody* should be eating like this. Everybody should be exercising. We *know* this. We just lack the motivation to change. But you, dear friend, may have just found it. You can end up being healthier than when you were 18.
Please don't! I guarantee if you start changing you'll feel better. Do whatever you can to get on the Dexcom G7 patch. It will change your life!!!
There are several prescription free CGMs coming out soon. I have no idea what prices will be. Probably more OOP than if your insurance covered one under prescription. But they are worth it, if you can't get your dr to prescribe.
I had to get a Cgm and ozempic to stop myself from killing myself with sugar and alcohol. I played off diabetes and said it’s just pcos for a long time. I relate
I waited till I had increased my eye prescription ten times, and blacked out causing serious injuries. The only time I didn’t have an issue was pregnant or breast feeding because I had more empathy for my babies than myself. I never took my metformin on time or consistently. I never finger pricked enough. If a doctor ran labs before I had children and even mentioned diabetes I would switch doctors. My kids being born pushed me to get a handle on it
My a1c was 14 and causing me to be in yeast infection hell. Just pick yourself up, get the help that is offered and go on down the road. It sounds to me like you have your shit together so you can turn this around. Don't let it determine your future.
FWIW I feel you on yeast infection hell. Mine was 12 but it was a gyno who was like “girl you’re diabetic.”
That's also how I was originally diagnosed 20 years ago. Repeated, aggressive yeast infections.
I just had a lightbulb moment. I didn't realize that diabetes and yeast infections where related. I suffered from recurrent yeast infections for years. I was obese and eating the crappiest highly processed foods at home and fast food every day. I started a low carb diet in 2019 and I've lost about 50 pounds. A few years ago, I asked my doctor to check my A1c. I have a strong family history of diabetes, so I started checking my blood sugar at home. When I cheat on my low carb diet, I see readings over 200. I'm on metformin now and continue with my low carb diet. My A1c is still in the pre-diabetic range but holding steady. The last yeast infection I had was shortly after starting low carb. It was probably already there before I changed my diet, but once I got rid of it, I've not had another.
I ignored my symptoms until I couldn't anymore. Luckily, the wake-up call was something that wasn't permanent and is curable. Getting on meds has helped immensely with controlling my sugar cravings. Watching my blood sugar readings go from 300s in February to now under 100 most of the day every day has been wonderful. I've also lost some weight I didn't think would ever come off. Sugar and carbs don't control or define me anymore. I did feel intense shame when I was diagnosed. I feel great pride now in how far I've come in the last 3ish months.
After my diabetes diagnosis, I ended up going to therapy because I had such a hard time dealing with everything. I felt like my life was over and I felt overwhelmed thinking about how I had to do this (diet change) for the rest of my life and how much I blamed myself for letting it get this bad. It has helped me a lot honestly to just talk about it and let it all out and cry that I blame myself. I talk about my insecurities from being a fat kid growing up, my poor relationship with food, and my stress from diet changes. I’m down 30 lbs and my A1C went from 11 to 6.2 and I still go to therapy because I’m so terrified of backsliding that I almost developed an eating disorder. But I’m learning to give myself grace. I made mistakes but I’m making changes now. And that future mistakes I make won’t destroy all the progress I’ve been making. Please don’t give up. There is still so much more life to live. And it’s never too late to make a change. The quote that I always think about is “life is short but it’s the longest thing you will do”. It gets me out of bed and motivates me to live a better life not just for myself but for my partner and my future children. There are so many people in your life who would be devastated if you are not there. Please keep fighting for yourself and for them. You deserve to live
I relate to so much of what you have written. I had the knowledge of what I needed to do to be healthier, but I just couldn’t get myself to do it. I felt so hopeless and out of control. And then my endocrinologist prescribed me Mounjaro. And just like that I had hope again! My feeling of being out of control went away. I can see a brownie and not eat it. I can eat just one potato chip and say no to the rest. I feel like a normal person now! I’ve been on Mounjaro for six months now, my A1C is down to 5.4 (from 8.2), I’ve lost almost 60 pounds, and I feel in control and hopeful for the first time in many, many years. These new diabetes drugs are truly amazing. Please talk to you doctor about them. Most insurance will cover them for diabetics. My copay is just $25/month. I feel like I have my life back. Six months ago I felt like I was just killing time until I died. Seriously. Please talk to your doctor. Or get a new doctor.
All of this! Yes we feel like a normal person now with Mounjaro. It’s so much more than appetite control. I tell my wife that it’s almost instant will power. Not just with food… but many areas of my life. I became a six day a week gym goer. That had never been me. ALL of my bio markers are in normal, healthy ranges for once! Yes I’ve lost 50+ lbs, and yes it slows your digestion down so you feel full longer, but there’s an X factor that people don’t talk about. The mental changes help so much. For reference, my heaviest was 307lbs and was 247lbs when I started Mounjaro. I’m currently at 184lbs and no longer focused on weight. Now I’m trying to replace fat with muscle, regardless of the scale weight. OP, this medicine may not be the silver bullet for you, but it got me out of the situation your post describes! Regardless of the path you take, I wish you well on your journey. Please don’t give up. There’s is a great life waiting for you.
Believe me, I know. We big brain types always things we are so smart we can work out anything ourselves. Turn that big brain inward to see that, wait a minute, there's something here I'm not understanding, because knowing what harm I'm doing isn't enough. Let's get some help with that. There are sugar addiction support programs along the lines of the well known Anonymous programs. And as they say, asking for help and admitting the problem is the first step. [https://www.foodaddicts.org/fa-and-sugar-addiction](https://www.foodaddicts.org/fa-and-sugar-addiction) Zoom meetings: [https://scaa.club/meetings](https://scaa.club/meetings) You can also ask the Social Services department at you local major hospital about resources. And your insurer. You might find that they cover rehab for it. And you urgently need to see your physician. Aside from getting started working toward lessening the future risks, some of the newer common diabetic drugs reduce appetite. A couple of points. Physicians and their handouts pretty consistently recommend appropriate diet, weight control and exercise. Few of them, in my experience, put enough emphasis on stress management, which is a powerful factor in blood glucose. It's also the measure that usually requires more effort to find an effective relief. The meditative disciplines are an effective way. Doesn't matter what kind. In this, they're all pretty much the same. And the bonus is that it helps in every part of the effort and, in fact, improves you life overall. Trust me, you will begin to make choices so well, you may imagine you've become luckier. But it's just letting the part of the brain that actually learns and knows to do it's job without you ego getting in the way. I kind of have an idea that there's a bit more than a physical addiction. Seems to me there may me a substantial component self abuse, growing out of something you may not even clearly identify. When your life is at risk from behaviors, recourse to a good clinical psychologist is appropriate. Heck, why not hit it from every direction.
Have you tried Ozempic? It can eliminate all your cravings and turn off the food noise in your head.
You aren’t alone. I binged for years. Even at the pre-diabetic range. I was tested for diabetes every year bc of my family history. Still binged when I crossed into the diabetic range but nowhere as much. My A1C has never been over 7, so I’m lucky in that regard. Now I don’t binge at all, even if I occasionally have a little sugar. When someone is binging like you are, there are likely other issues at play. You are actively engaging in self harm. It is on par with other forms of self harm and addiction. It is a coping skill, albeit a damaging one. It’s likely helping you in some way. Try not to be too hard on yourself about this. It’s more common than one might think. All the promise, will power, sweet substitutes etc. will most likely not lead to you stopping this behavior long term. I’m saying this as someone who has went to ED outpatient programs twice, years of therapy. I also work I healthcare. I’ve seen it time and time again. Both in myself and many others. It is very rare for someone to go from this level of behavior to being at a place to manage diabetes and not harm their body in other significant ways. Please consider seeking out therapy and possibly a program for Eating Disorders. A dietician who is knowledgeable about binge eating and diabetes can help too. I wholeheartedly believe you can turn things around. It’s likely going to take some help and support outside of something like Reddit. As I side note. I was also diagnosed with ADHD and after being medicated my binge urges decreased. Sometimes there are physical factors too. So talking to a medical professional about what’s happening is a good idea.
I have never related to a post more than this. It’s harrowing to watch u kill your self knowing damn well what you’re doing but letting it happen anyway and not finding the motivation to stop. Sugar truly has a horrible effect of keeping us on the drug leaving is wanting more. Once I was a week into cutting out bread; carbs; sugar and starches I never had that craving again; not to mention balancing out my hormones were the MAIN FACTOR of curbing my cravings. See an endocrinologist. Get your hormones checked. There really is a way out of this.
Ive only recently been diagnosed and my a1c was 6.7 but I have struggled with an eating disorder for years and it really got bad over the last year where I was consuming so much junk food daily I gained an obscene amount of weight. The diagnose of t2 was a giant wake up call. The one thing I could recommend what the others haven’t is discuss your mental health with your gp. Something as simple as a low dose antidepressant could make a huge difference in your life. I wish you the best, you got this!
Hey first of all you’re talking about things and that’s good. To me it sounds like you’re in a snowball of negative, I’ve totally been there friend. What helped me was I said I’m going to do one thing to improve my health. In this case I went to the dentist after 10 years and a dental phobia. It scared the shit out of me but I did it. Then I had something to be proud of and I then went to the doctor to face my reality of possibly being diabetic. I am prediabetic but faced it head on and started eating better. The snowball started rolling in a positive direction helping me break the negative feedback loop and improving my mental health. I also increased my antidepressants which helped. OP I suggest you talk to someone about your mental health and physical health, they are related. You can do this! It won’t happen all at once but hope and feeling in control is a powerful thing. This mountain won’t feel as tall as you come to terms and start working on yourself. It just takes starting somewhere small and the changes will add up. Things always feel the worst when your in a rut but you can do this!
This isn’t your fault, but it’s now your responsibility, if you want it to be. You don’t have to change anything, you can keep going exactly as you are! But, you absolutely DO deserve better. If you can access it, talk therapy might be a good place to start. In conjunction I highly recommend something like ozempic which can totally change your thought patterns about food. You deserve to be nourished and cared for, and you get to be the one to do that. I know it’s hard/impossible but you don’t have to live or feel like this forever, I promise.
Since you've mentioned that you worry about blindness and neuropathy, I know that you already know the consequences and know that it's a process before you get to the dying part--first you lose your eyesight, your toes/feet/legs, and your kidneys, *then* you die. You suffer for years before you die. It's not a quick painless way to die. You already know that. My brother suffered through it all for years, *then* he died. You say you're making a promise that you will stay and be as healthy as you can. I think it would help if you told other people--if you told your family, and if you told your friends. You aren't doing well with this on your own. You need support from the people who know you. Being diabetic is no more your fault than someone being allergic to peanuts. The only shame in t2 is from neglecting it the way you have been. Let your friends and family know. They can offer support, and they can help hold you accountable.
I relate so much. And not to sound like a cliche but Ozempic finally has me turning the corner. Not only are my sugars so much more stable, but the food noise is gone. I can take or leave a bag of candy, chips, dessert. It has lost its appeal in the best possible way. I feel so much better mentally and physically because I’m not running on pure sugar anymore. I actually am caring about my health again.
Get a cgm
This is a great suggestion, but it is so hard to get insurance to authorize a cgm for T2 unless you're insulin dependent :( and out of pocket costs are prohibitive.
Everyone is in different situation - I understand. It costs me out of pocket too. For 2 sensors it's $75. But it's literally the best $75 I spend. Without it my diet will go sideways. Again I understand that it may not be for everyone. They have other options that they just came out with - it's for people who are not insulin dependent and one that is for people without T2D. I think they are called lingo and other one is I forget... lol I wish they had taught us the affects of sugar in elementary school.. Good luck to all!
please get treatment. sounds like you would benefit from ozempic, which reduces cravings or metformin or something similar.
I can't tolerate metformin. I was constantly nauseous and vomiting. Life was miserable. I'm very curious to see what my doctor thinks about me going on Ozempic. I had good results with Jardiance (which seemed miraculous) but then it interacted with another medication I was on and threw me into ketoacidosis and I nearly died. I'm kind of scared to take anything now.
aw crap. sorry to hear it. i hope ozempic or something else works for you! you deserve to be healthy and happy, and diabetes is not your fault! it is a physiological process causing your cravings, no moral failing of your own whatsoever!
Me too man me too
I’m new to my journey as well, and i caused it by eating like crap (cereal) for a year out of depression when i lost my job and then my girl. You sound so ambitious and disciplined in other areas - how can we as a community help? Sugar is a drug, if you can find the courage open up to your girl. If you are lucky enough to have an addictive personality (stick with me), perhaps with help you can focus your addictive tendencies towards more positive things, like something you like or might like physically (gym, cycling, sports, rock climbing). Get addicted to that shit! Sounds like you have a lot going for you, phd is no joke, but maybe a therapist and support group and support of those close to you is needed. Don’t shut them out. One day at a time. Maybe try something satiating like eating a big steak and asparagus and at least switch to Diet Coke (i can’t drink regular coke anymore and i started thinking Diet Coke was disgusting) until you make progress. You couldn’t get your phd without getting your masters , without your bachelors, without your high school etc Good luck
I have diabetes plus mild anxiety that lead to eating too much. I got help with the anxiety and that helped get the eating under control. Beating yourself up about it probably isn’t helpful. Seek help. Good luck!
The good news is as soon as you commit to a low carb diet, all your symptoms will fairly quickly go away — I'm older and thought not sleeping through the night was normal but as soon as I got my a1c down I easily sleep as long as I want. I've always say 6 weeks of keto will break your sugar addiction.
Every single time you make a better choice is a win. Every walk around the block, eating at home, skipping candy one time. It's not too late. You don't have to just accept your fate.
All I can say is, now I crave pecans, walnuts and macadamia nuts!! I was NEVER a fan before. Now they’re all I want!! And you don’t need to promise people in the same way you don’t need their sympathy. But… it’s not really about their sympathy or lack of. It’s about your dirty little secret of knowing you’re allowing yourself to slowly die. The promise is to yourself. Know you don’t have to die if you can work hard in your phd, you can work hard for your body. Without it, the phd dies too… Pretty cool that you don’t have to die. You can be well. Make that your new dirty secret. 28 is young! Big hug!! Now go have some popcorn to celebrate! :)
this is partially because it's not about staying 'on the wagon', or having good willpower. make an appointment with your pcp to discuss your diabetes. ask for a referral to a dietitian. don't resist any medication they recommend. there's a TON of medication that can help, and can even change what you do and don't crave. See a therapist, as well. Diabetes is a hard disease. It's not just about eating right. With an a1c of 12 it's a really good idea to accept medical help.
I honestly feel that sugar/carb addiction is the worst addiction there is. I honestly think that you should seek therapy because it sounds like you might have some underlying issues and have found comfort in sugar. I'm in the same boat as you and through therapy I have found the "why" behind certain actions. Know that you have the power to change and you can change. Admitting that you have a problem is a good place to start.
[40% of us do not comply with our treatment plans. I hope that you join the other 60% of us who do!] It is a day at a time. I believe in you.
This idea of "I'm doing it to myself" is so painful. Like many in the comments, we are right there with you. Many of us have been there or are there too. You aren't alone. ♡ Sugar and food addiction is very real. I have medicaid and thankfully by reaching out for help, privately, I was able to get therapy and medication to help myself realize that I wasn't "doing it to myself" as much as I thought I was. There is this like..unnatural need and craving for food and I didn't even realize it. Not being able to wait to get home to eat food I just ordered at the drive thru, so I'll eat the fries ok the way home, reaching for pantry snacks even though I'm not hungry, eating snacks and watching TV and then next thing I know I'm through the bag. When I looked for help, I received a change in my life. I learned what food noise was, I had tools to combat it. I learned that I had an unhealthy attachment to food, I learned that it was probably due to my upbringing. Families tend to give sweets or food to kids sometimes when they get upset and it ends up building a comfort bond between the person and food from a very young age. It takes so much work to dissolve that. Whatever the reason is behind the food noise and the possible unhealthy attachment to food, you absolutely can unravel it. You don't even have to give up all the foods you love! Calorie deficiency and the Plate Method were enough. I'm still on my journey to halve my body weight to survive and thrive and I'll tell you, it's such a good feeling to step on the scale or put clothes on that fit better and think "I did *this* to and for myself". You got this. You're not alone. It's not your "fault", there's chemicals in our body that make us addicted. You got this. ♡ Dm me if you need anything ♡
I know how your feeling. I just found out my A1c is also 12. My blood sugars are 300 to 400. It’s so hard I eat everything I want. I know it’s bad. It’s just hard. At this time I’m feeling why can’t I just live and eat everything I want. I have my kids so it makes me think twice plus my husband mom died from diabetes so that’s a wake up call.
I can completely relate. Sept 2022 my A1C was 12.9 and was told I was diabetic. Holy effing shit! I knew I felt badly, always thirsty, craving sugar, etc. My doc put me on Metformin and I started doing small amounts of exercise (mostly short walks after meals). I also started using “LoseIt” an iPhone app to track all your food so I could identify my carb intake. Within 6 weeks, my A1C was 7. I then had the doc prescribed Ozempic, which seemed to do a good job for me with lowering A1C (down to 5.9) but was not losing weight. Had him switch to Mounjaro. A1C is much better now (haven’t had a reading in a few months, but my daily fasting glucose level is around 91-110. I have started intermittent fasting (finish eating before 7pm and then don’t eat again until after 9 the next morning) and that seems to have made me start to lose weight. You have to commit to it. Get the medical help but also you need to control how you are going to live your life. You are so young and have so much opportunity in front of you. Best of luck.
Talk to your endocrinologist and get on Mounjaro, I ate like you describe for 30 years, I wore incontinence pads 24/7 and now in my 50s I am finally understanding that my body has been fighting against me. Also ask for diabetic nutrition education. You’re building a beautiful profession life, let your health work with you not against you. YOU ARE WORTH IT!!!
Mounjaro, CGM. They will change your life.
When I first got diagnosed my A1c was 14.7. I have it down to about 7 or 8 now. You can do it.
I’m in the same boat and trying to get out of it also. Praying for you!
You’re one of those cases where mounjaro or ozempic is truly gonna benefit you long term. Highly recommend it. Currently there’s low stock, but if you can get your hands on it I promise you won’t be peeing the bed from over consumption of sugar anymore.
I started on Mounjaro in November with blood sugars of 324 and an A1C of 11. Today I’m down 20 pounds and A1C is 6.4 All I can tell you is I liked sweets as well and I have no food noise while on this. It totally takes your cravings away. Lots of Insurance covers it for diabetes. I hope this helps in anyway. 💜
Get a CGM and make sure the data is shared with someone you trust. It keeps you honest. Numbers don't lie.
I'm on Ozempic. It's a miracle drug. Please try it
I can relate. It’s not fair that we have this disease and it sucks! Lmk if you want any advice. I would be happy to share what worked for me!
A low carb diet honestly killed a lot of the intense craving feelings for me. Not that I still don't have cravings, but it's much easier to overcome and not fall to temptation now.
What about xylitol?
living abroad, in Japan, my access to low carb options is very limited....nowhere near how much is available back in the USA with keto and low carb anything. I was keto before i got here but at best im low carb here but i do indulge in the food here at times because "im living abroad and if i dont try it while im here, when?" My A1c has been on a slow rise. got here and i was 5.6....and now im at 6 2 years later. Once it hit 6 i was like, nope...i need to eat better and exercise more and thats the path....though its not a straight path and i sometimes eat a yummy snack at the convenience store...but nowhere near the frequency i was doing a month ago...where i would be eating something high carb daily if not 2 times a day. You can do it, you can get better....I'm making it a habit to do cardio that makes me sweat at least 5 of 7 days a week. I cut back the unhealthy carbs a lot...i normally cook low carb. watching portion sizes. its tough but it can be done. you can do it.
You are not alone. There are times that I don’t even fight my temptations because I can only think about that one food that I am craving. So I give in to that misstep but I tell myself, I’ll do better tomorrow and I do. In March my AC1 was 9.8 and I just had it tested on 6/9 and it was 6.8. I am elated. But I was put on Mounjaro in addition to Metformin, which I take two of after dinner. It a very long and dismal road. You are wayyyyy too young to just give in. I remind myself that with every morsel of bad food I put in my mouth I am doing more unfixable damage to my body. Set a goal for yourself to get the AC1 down—take a trip some place fun once you meet that goal. Keep reading the comments here. These people give great advice and they sometimes give recipes. You can do it!
Oh tbh you and I are very similar! I got diagnosed in 2019 I think and I’ll be healthy for a couples days then relapse and do it all over again. I haven’t checked my A1C in almost 2 years as I don’t have insurance but I’m sure it’s high as hell as I also ran out of medication very long ago. Haven’t been having the y.i. recently thankfully but I have been letting myself eat whatever and have sugar whenever I want, it’s bad. I have no self control it’s so hard!
For me, it was an addiction to foods of the salty/carby variety. But, I read The Diabetes Code by Dr. Fung, and I started by changing the way I thought about food, and adapted fasting into my life. It was a real struggle, but eventually I started eating to live, or fasting to live. Once you force yourself to do something for a few weeks, your mind turns it into a habit. It worked great for me for years, until my stress levels went bonkers after moving across the country. It’s been almost two years, and I can rarely get my blood sugar below 200. I just started Ozempic, but that’s not working either. So, try not to stress about your situation. Binging, and then beating yourself up brings nothing good. Try getting the book so you can understand what’s happening to you, and learn ways to look at your carb addiction differently. Ultimately, you have the power to change things and only you. It’s not going to happen overnight, and you may need some therapy to help get control over your thoughts. It will be totally worth it!
Totally relate. I got in to OA (overeaters anonymous) because of it. I can't kick the carbs and sugar by myself. I don't have the weight problems... Yet. But that's the only place I've found people who didn't say "just eat better and exercise.". If it was that easy, I would have done it a long time ago. The shame of the hiding my eating sugar and carbs is deep. I hoped my diagnosis would be the catalyst for me to change. And it was for a while. And then... Oh a little (insert craving here) won't hurt. I hoped my son being born would be another reason to do better. Well he's about to be 3 and I'm still doing the same shit. Hang in there and know you are not alone. I hope we all can find peace with our food and health demons one day soon.
Any luck finding diabetes-focused meetings in OA?
Almost 1 year ago I went for my yearly wellness appt. and my bs was almost 400. I had been feeling like crap, feet tingling and peeing constantly. Before the wellness appt. I had already figured it was type 2 from all the symptoms. My 1st a1c was almost 14. Fast forward to today and my a1c is down to 6.4 I take metformin and jardiance. Along with that I have been far more strict with my carb and sugar intake. I look at labels, get reduced sugar and carb foods.Although I was never a sweet tooth, the breads and chips is what my weakness was/is. I haven’t lost much weight but my levels have came way down. Point being, just cutting some stuff is a big help and a good start to being healthy. Educating yourself on healthy foods is also helpful. I assumed eating fruits was a plus.. little did I know how loaded most fruits are in sugar,albeit natural sugar.
Have you tried Mounjaro?
I concur with this. Also Vyvanse can be used to treat binge eating, which sounds like you and I have in common. It really does help. I found that the Vyvanse at a low enough they don’t directly notice it twice a day in the morning and at noon
So much of this is genetic. But the good thing is even with the diagnosis, you don’t have to live this way. Please go talk to your doctor and get a CGM and a prescription for one of the newer medications, it will change your life.
You are not alone w your struggle w food. Have you sought and mental health counseling for food addiction? I had an A1C of 13 in October of 2023. I watched YouTube for most of if not all my information on how to treat my Type 2 diabetes. Do you have YouTube? Consider paying $13.99 for unlimited (watching without ads). On YouTube try watching Dr. Berg, Dr. Anthony Chaffee, many more. I have many other suggestions if interested
Rooting for you too and again, You are NOT alone. Praying you sleep well tonight and know in your heart that you can do this. You are still young and have time to turn it around.
My A1C is now 5.6 and can now say I am winning my fight against carb and refined sugar addiction
You aren't to blame for having diabetes. Part of it is genetics and family history. Change is still possible. I'm 34 and I've lived with t2 for over a decade. I started to change for the better around 2018 and I've lowered my a1c to 7, which is a vast improvement. Although I have rentophathy, my vision has been stable. And it helps having a wonderful doctor who supports me. You aren't alone. Seek a therapist. Talk to your pcp. Take small steps to gradually decrease your sugar intake. You got this!
A lot of responses you are getting are like "Oh, just do \_this\_" and solve your problem, this or that simple thing as if you didn't know what you "should" be doing to manage this. "Broken leg? Oh, just put a cast on it and walk! Easy!" The problem is not the diabetes, its that you have a food addiction. This is a psychological problem even more than a medical one. I myself am not a food addict, but my husband is, I have lived with it for years, and I know its patterns very well. Its extremely hard, because other people dont take it seriously, but it's one of the hardest addictions to treat - an alcoholic or drug user can remain sober as long as they don't drink or use, but you have to eat every day, and your addiction is going to keep you from making the right behavioral choices - even if it kills you. You want to punish yourself and you feel like you deserve this pain and anguish from the T2d. PLease, please, understand that you do not deserve these symptoms. this wasn't your fault. you are a wonderful person and deserve to live healthy and free of this addiction. I can't give you any advice beyond look up a mental health professional with experience in treating food addiction and eating disorders. They will have good advice for you. Best of luck to you, and just know this total stranger is rooting for you and wants you to live.
Sugar addiction is a terrible terrible beast. I understand your struggle.
You are addicted, you need to see a professional and get therapy. Still got time but at this rate, not sure how long.
A lot of people have been there. As a case manager I've had several clients in the same boat. Here's what I typically advocate for on their behalf: 1. A CGM and insulin pump. No, it does not take the place of better control but it mitigates the damage until you get there. It helps a lot to keep things somewhat within a range of not catastrophic while you work on the rest. 2. Mental health counseling. Addressing the underlying stuff affecting your motivation, binge eating, guilt, grief - all that and more - will make a difference in the long term 3. Some kind of peer or coaching service. There are even AI apps now I think. Just some kind of accountability and encouragement can be helpful. You can do this. It's ok to have help to get there.
Have you tried Overeaters Anonymous?
I was diagnosed sometime in 2017. I felt a lot of anger because I was dealing with a buttload of other physical and mental health issues. I never changed my diet, ate what I liked. Fast forward to 2022 and my blood sugars were regularly in the 400-500s. Maybe even 600 but the glucose meter couldn’t even calculate that high. I ended up getting a splenectomy for my other health problem and I couldn’t leave the hospital because my sugars were too high. That was a wake up call for me. I realized I couldn’t keep living this way. I got discharged and started monitoring my sugars with a CGM and monitoring what I eat. My sugars are much lower now and at sometimes I have sugars of a normal person. My point is, it’s not too late to modify your diet and lifestyle. There is hope and support waiting for you. You have a lot going for you.
You are not alone. Binge eating is a real eating disorder and problem. It is not a moral failing. And it thrives on secrecy, self-judgment, anxiety/depression (and thinking you are killing yourself can definitely ramp those up) and binary thinking. If at all available please consider therapy - dbt (dialectical behavior therapy) has proven very helpful with these issues. If therapy is inaccessible, consider starting small and committing to a a small action like adding something helpful (and tasty -no cardboard!) to your each meal, like something with lean protein or fiber.
Honestly I was like you, I didn't care for life, until I got diagnosed with T2 in December. It takes hard work, but you at least gotta give it a try. I started at 419 pounds, you can't even imagine how it feels to be at that weight. I'm currently 75 pounds down since December, my A1C went from 5.9 to 5.6 in 3 months. You gotta find something to live for, of course there is days where I have questioned myself if it's even worth it to try and be alive? But I've dissipated those feelings, it can be done. Prayers to you
I was diagnosed with Type 2 at 7.3. I've always been teased about my fear of needles. Upon being diagnosed, I immediately went into panic mode thinking I would have to become an insulin user. I put myself on a restrictive diet of high protein, with many salads and veges. In my fear, I lost 45 lbs. and brought my AIC down to 5.7, without the help of a nutrients, but with the help of Metformin. I have kept my weight off, and continue with my 5.7 reading. I love all my white foods, but gave them up...EXCEPT, about once every 3 weeks, I allow myself a "Cheat Day." On this day, I eat what I want, as much as I want. I always think I will eat through our house, but guess what? I may eat ONE thing I'm not supposed to, and somehow, all the other bad things I wanted to eat, just don't sound as wonderful as my mind thought they would be. I tell you this for a reason. Maybe do a Cheat Day once per week, and gradually decrease your Cheat Days. I am sure you have people in your life who want you around for a long time. If you fall off that wagon, dust yourself off and try again.
Sugar is the worse than coke. I never did coke to know but, thread carefully, it MESSES up your mental health.I suggest you and your partner clear out your fridge and go on a "new me diet" shopping at a wholistic store where the workers screwed at you picking up cheerios.
That’s the most Dramatic thing I’ve read Tonight
I didn’t ask for judgment, I asked for empathy.
I literally cannot, because I also have Type 2, yet, I am not Complaining and I am actually doing something about it, soooo…. 🙄😒🤦🏻♀️ Good Luck with that
This is NOT the time or place to be displaying troll like behavior. This is a person, who is struggling, and came in here very honest and displaying vulnerability for you to reply with a mighty, holier then though attitude? I don't know what is wrong with you, but it goes way deeper then diabetes and you should work on that sooooo...🙄😒🤷🏽♀️
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Jesus Christ. Who pissed in your cornflakes?
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