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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on February 11, 2012 at 5:36am

My insulin needs go up and down all the time. For a while I blamed exercising but I've had some "ups" that coincided with increasing the amount I was exercising too. Maybe it's getting in shape but I just work on adjusting it. I ate more around the holidays too but, as long as I take enough insulin according to the ratio and rate, it seems to do ok BG wise, although I'll find out for sure next week?

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Permalink Reply by Claire on February 13, 2012 at 3:47am

Thanks for the advice. I do exercise twice a week, do a lot of walking around my area. I did a bit too much around the holidays and now I regret that. Just the right time to have new years resolution, and be strict about it.

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Permalink Reply by acidrock23 on February 13, 2012 at 4:02am

One thing I'd suggest about that would be to try to look at it as something "fun" rather than "strict"? A friend of mine has done quite a bit of research proving that exposure to greenspace, even limited greenspace on narrow, urban trails, can make you happier and perform better on math tests. It can flip your schedule around to make time for it but the benefits can go well beyond anything it does for your blood sugar?

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Permalink Reply by Stemwinder on February 11, 2012 at 6:34am

Mine too goes up and down. I know what you mean about being a smoker it is hard to quit but I did it a long time ago. I've had limited success with diet. I've told several people that as hard as it was to quit smoking that controlling my diet is much harder. At least with smoking I could quit and be done with it. But with food you can't just quit cold turkey. You still must eat and there are food ads everywhere tempting you every day. So I keep struggling thats all any of us can do.

Gary S

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Permalink Reply by Claire on February 13, 2012 at 3:48am

I compare it to a smoker trying to quit, but I am a non-smoker, lucky! My son is a smoker and I keep telling him to quit it for his daughter's sake, and he tells me to quit sugar for him. Funny, easier said than done. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on February 11, 2012 at 11:55am

I'm sorry, Claire, but it sounds like your Diabetes is totally out of control and you are relying on your doctor to up your doses and you are putting yourself at serious risk for complications.

Yes, it is hard to change eating habits, but you have lots of great people on here who have done it and can give you support. It isn't about "will power" it is wanting to live and be healthy. We are the same age and at this point in our lives we become aware of life being limited, and needing to catch on to each moment. If you won't do it for you, do it for your children and grandchildren who want you around!

One key to diet change is not to feel deprived. If you are eating boring food and longing for delicious things, and then are saying "I'm just so weak, I can't do this". You will fail. I suggest, rather than looking at what you can't have, you look at what you can! Many people on here make desserts with substitute ingredients and you can find recipes in the food section. Myself, I don't eat sugar, and don't care for the substitute things so I just make yummy dishes of things I CAN eat, and there are lots. There is no reason to eat boring food. Also, some of that craving you are experiencing is physiological, sugar (and all carbs to a certain extent) is addictive, and when you manage to cut it out totally for 30 days (which will be hard, I know!) it gets easier. I haven't eaten sugar for 17 years and people ask how I could go so long. I tell them stopping is hard, staying stopped is easy. Some people can eat a small piece of cake occasionally; I couldn't, so I ended the cravings and now I can sit across the table from someone eating a gooey dessert and it doesn't phase me. It actually smells way too sweet to me.

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Permalink Reply by Claire on February 13, 2012 at 3:57am

It is very hard to change eating habits. It stems from grandparents cooking rich and tasty foods, and deserts compliment the meals. Im using sweeteners, but can't say no to sweets. Having a sweet tooth is very hard thing to get rid off. I saw some of the diabetic recipes and have to start following them. They look very healthy and delicious. Of course I want to live a healthy long life, and now that i've reached this age where you think how long or how short time do I have left, there's only one choice. Give up sugar or give up life. Thanks for the advice, if you can do it, i should be able to do it too. Have a nice day.

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Permalink Reply by Zoe on February 13, 2012 at 10:01am

You're right, Claire, if I can do it anyone can! I was a serious sugar addict. Also as a vegetarian, much of my diet revolved around pasta and rice!

Only you know for sure if you can have "a little sometimes" or need to give it up entirely, but you might want to give up sugar and/or carbs for a full 30 days before you decide if you can add some back.

Also only you know if the artificial sweeteners work for you. I'd say the larger number of people on this site use them. For me, as a sugar addict, they just made me "want the real thing" (though I know they've gotten better in recent years). I just got used to not having dessert. If I'm at a fancy restaurant and people order dessert, I'll get an espresso.

Good luck! It sounds like you are well motivated and you can do it!

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Permalink Reply by FHS on February 11, 2012 at 11:58am

Yeah, it can be hard. I guess the first step is realizing where your limitations currently are and then realizing how hard it is to do something about habits that aren't in your best interest.

I honestly don't know what the relative merits are to just stopping cold turkey versus gradually ramping down. I think back on all of the things I used to eat before diabetes and compare them to what I eat now. I know it didn't happen overnight and I still struggle with certain foods.

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Permalink Reply by Claire on February 13, 2012 at 4:02am

I guess if I want to live lnger, i have to want to stop sugar all together. I read that diabetes is reversible. My friend's husband had diabetes, and he walks and jogs for long hours early in the morning, and now doesn't take medication anymore. I wish I can do it too. i can't walk for so many hours but i can do exercise like taichi, dancing and gentle exercise. I have to follow a strict diet, diabetic cooking and lots of water if I have to want to reverse it. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by FHS on February 13, 2012 at 7:19am

I think you have to be a bit careful about the idea that diabetes is "reversible". Once you have diabetes, you have diabetes. There really isn't any going back to "not having diabetes".

There are definitely things that we can do to better manage our condition, and things we can do to throw our management all to hell. There's no silver bullet and no formula to follow. Sound's like your husband's friend has found something that helps them manage their condition. Maybe you can't do the exact same thing, but there is a strategy that works for you too.

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Permalink Reply by Jeannie Wagner on February 13, 2012 at 8:19am

I've only been D for 5 years but have totally changed the way I eat. One of the things to realise is that Carbs are addictive. The more you eat the more you want. The only way to deal with the cravings is to cut out the carbs. You are right this is not easy, but for a diabetic it is so necessary. It is not only the sugar carbs but the carbs from bread, crackers, rice, pasta and even fruit that you have to limit. There are tons of Low Carb and Gluten Free websites on the internet with fantastic recipes. I now make pasta, bread, cookies and muffins without sugar or flour all the time. When I do get the urge for a cookie I have one that doesn't mess with my blood sugar. Diabetes is about taking responsibility for your own bgs. We do a lot of travelling and eating out in restaurants. I have learned how to deal with ordering foods that won't raise my bgs. Just because a relative makes a high carb dish at the holidays doesn't mean you have to eat this. If you were allergic to peanuts would you continue to eat them, of course not. This is the way you need to think about sugar and carbs, you are allergic to them and they will impact the complications in your life. Personally I am kind of fond of my toes, feet, legs, kidneys, heart and eyes and would like to keep them as long as possible.

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