Type 2 Diabetic Struggling here...

johnmcbryde53
johnmcbryde53 Posts: 2
in Introduce Yourself
Hello,

I am new to MFP. I joined with my wife to help her along with her journey to lose weight. She is doing fantastic and I couldn't be more proud of her.

However, I am struggling with my journey because I am having a hard time accepting that I need to stay away from sugar and carbs. I know sugar and carbs are foods I should avoid or at least limit, but am struggling.

I feel I need to understand how this all work, meaning being a diabetic, any links you can forward me will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, John

Replies

  • RHachicho
    RHachicho Posts: 1,115 Member
    Ok I am sure some other people will give you some good links but imagine this.

    Your body is a car. Driving down a straight road. You want to keep it as straight as possible. When you eat sugar or don't it makes the car start turning to the left or to the right. In a healthy person the body then turns the steering wheel and keeps the car on the correct course.

    However in a diabetics body the steering wheel is slow to respond .. or outright broken. Which means that if external control on sugar input is not established then the car could end up veering off the road and crashing.

    Basically you have to take over via diet control and medication what the part of y our body that is broken with diabetes would normally do.

    I hope that helps you understand.
  • mom2mozart
    mom2mozart Posts: 307 Member
    Read the book "Sugar Busters" it explains the roles of sugars and carbohydrates. It will help you to make sound food choices and keep within your macros. My husband was recently diagnosed with type 2 and modifications in his diet have made drastic changes in his blood sugar levels.
  • RoseLavAllen
    RoseLavAllen Posts: 14 Member
    Hello, Ive had type 1 diabetes (a bit different but many similarities) since I was 8. Every persons different, but what I found that foodshigh in carbs are not the ones to be avoided, its the high sugar foods. One of my favourite sweet snacks is hartleys sugar free jelly, which is delicious but virtually sugar and carb free. I'm no expert on type 2 diabetes but would be happy to try & answer any questions you have :)
  • stacysjourney
    stacysjourney Posts: 52 Member
    I am type 2 as well. I honestly had to go cold turkey.. no soda, no junk food, ect. It was super hard the first week or two but its working!!! I have lost almost 20 pounds in two months
  • valeriesmith1840
    valeriesmith1840 Posts: 41 Member
    Hi John, I'm new here too. Congrats on you and the wife working to live a healthier lifestyle together - that is awesome! My Husband wants to watch with me (though we have different philosophies on what is eating good and what's not) and I can vouch that it is so much better when you both are there supporting each other.

    Diabetes runs in my family - all type 2 - so from that standpoint I can really understand and sympathize what you are going through. I don't know to what degree your diabetes is, but I know that I have family members who control their diabetes with insulin as well as pills, and before that diet. It is part of my motivation for being here - to prevent diabetes. Because everyone over the age of 40 in my family pretty much has it...and I'm 33.

    All I can say is that totally cutting out those things hasn't worked for me...but really limiting them has. I have lost weight a few times in the past and the hardest thing for me was always the feeling that I couldn't join in the junk food binging fun. This is not to say I'm not struggling right now...it is SO hard. But I'm finding, for me at least, if I allow myself a little of what everyone around me is indulging in...like a slice of pizza with a healthy salad...or half a doughnut with eggs and spinach or something like that. I feel less deprived and I feel like I'm participating with everyone around me.

    I'm a social eater though so that may not work as well for you - but just my thoughts and experiences. I have a terrible sweet tooth too. I could eat sugary food morning noon and night and then wake up in the middle of the night for more sugary snacks.

    Good luck to you and your wife with your weight loss and I hope you stick around for support! :)
  • GlucernaBrand
    GlucernaBrand Posts: 486
    Hi John. It's great that you and your wife are making changes together. Have you been to a diabetes education class? Most hospitals offer them, and it's an excellent way to learn more about diabetes and also get support and encouragement from the other people in the class. Each person needs to figure out the type of eating plan that works best for them, and learning as much as you can about diabetes and your own body will help you achieve your goals. ~Lynn /Glucerna

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