sugar addiction, it is a fact

lindens

I am addicted to sugar and have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
time to pull my socks up.
I fall down in that I comfort eat or reward myself with sweet treats

margaretclare

lindens wrote: »

I am addicted to sugar and have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes.
time to pull my socks up.
I fall down in that I comfort eat or reward myself with sweet treats

You're fortunate to have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes - time to do something about it, reverse before it's too late. It is possible.

It would help to have some kind of psychological treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy, that kind of thing. Ask your GP about it. It is inexcusable to give you a diagnosis of pre-diabetes and then leave you to go away and cope with it by yourself.

It is possible to deal with 'comfort eating'. It would be a good idea to sit down and work out when this started, why, what are the things that make you unhappy that are improved by eating. And does it really make you any happier to be eating all those sweet things?

You really do need serious help.

PS: This might be worth a look: https://www.makingthingseasy.com

teddysmum

You could go along to Diabetes UK meetings were professionals often talk about and show gory footage of the consequences eg rotting feet, amputations, damaged eyes, ruined organs. You then vow never to let things get out of hand.


A friend of my husband's was on just tablets, but had a slight foot injury, which he neglected. Had a neighbour not knocked, knowing he was home and got no response, he could well have died, as he'd passed out. He's now on insulin.

margaretclare

teddysmum wrote: »

You could go along to Diabetes UK meetings were professionals often talk about and show gory footage of the consequences eg rotting feet, amputations, damaged eyes, ruined organs. You then vow never to let things get out of hand.


A friend of my husband's was on just tablets, but had a slight foot injury, which he neglected. Had a neighbour not knocked, knowing he was home and got no response, he could well have died, as he'd passed out. He's now on insulin.

Again, couldn't agree more! We can all quote these awful warnings. Bloke across the street ignored his symptoms - tiredness, skin irritation, weeing a lot, weight loss - and a sore on his toe eventually resulted in a below-knee amputation.

I think our friend who died last week was also 'in denial'. He had sores on his legs which wouldn't heal. High blood glucose in the long term causes non-healing.

lindens

margaretclare wrote: »

You're fortunate to have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes - time to do something about it, reverse before it's too late. It is possible.

It would help to have some kind of psychological treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy, that kind of thing. Ask your GP about it. It is inexcusable to give you a diagnosis of pre-diabetes and then leave you to go away and cope with it by yourself.

It is possible to deal with 'comfort eating'. It would be a good idea to sit down and work out when this started, why, what are the things that make you unhappy that are improved by eating. And does it really make you any happier to be eating all those sweet things?

You really do need serious help.

PS: This might be worth a look: www.makingthingseasy.com

I have just been on a local council-run 6 week course to learn all about diabetes, food, diet, exercise etc so now feel better educated.


I have had a sweet tooth for as long as I remember. I always spent my pocket money down the sweet shop. I am definitely a comfort eater.


Thanks for that website - looks very interesting.

mel48rose

As a nurse I see many diabetic patients. I keep to a healthy weight and try to eat healthy diet and take regular exercise. It can be a scary condition if complications set in.

margaretclare

mel48rose wrote: »

As a nurse I see many diabetic patients. I keep to a healthy weight and try to eat healthy diet and take regular exercise. It can be a scary condition if complications set in.

Yes, seriously. We're going to a funeral on Wednesday. The sad and premature demise of my friend's husband illustrates every one of the things discussed on here. He was 57. He'd only been diagnosed diabetic for 2 years. DH was diagnosed in 1981 and he changed his lifestyle overnight.

I do what you do, Mel. I've been warned that I was 'at risk' just because of age and BMI, no family history. It's something I can do without. I'm going to have a revision of hip replacement in approx 5 months' time. Don't need diabetes as well!

robinwales

I have been trying to lose about a stone for the past two years. Despite being extremely fit and active it just would not go. Then, five weeks ago, after seeing some documentaries on sugar I realized I was eating too much sugar - buns, biscuits, snacks, beer etc. I cut out all those foods completely, and I mean completely. I have lost 7 pounds in 6 weeks. The strange thing is I really don't feel so hungry any more. I can have a day eating very little and be quite satified. So yes, there must be something to do with the chemical effect of sugar, not just the empty calories that it gives. Give it up!

There's a recent documentary well worth watching called "That Sugar Film" by Damon Gameau. You can get it on Amazon film and other outlets. It explains everything about sugar, and how bad it is.

Caterina

I struggle with sugar addiction all the time. Managed to lose a lot of weight in the past by just going fairly (not entirely, due to being vegetarian) low carb, that meant absolutely nothing with sugar in, but also cut bread and refined starches. I always had a few of the "better" carbs such as small amounts of pulses and grains such as millet and quinoa and still managed to lose then maintain so this was ok.

Recently I have been very stressed (DH was diagnosed with a life-limiting disease) and because of this, as well as having to give DH a healthy but high-carb diet for his condition, I have just started eating more and more, I have put a stone on in just a few weeks and am getting quite desperate to lose some weight, and I think that dropping sugar would go a long way towards helping me with this goal.

It is really hard to do just before Christmas, my mother is arriving from Italy in a week and will bring a lot of goodies with her, it will be virtually impossible to avoid alcohol - which in itself is not a problem as I only drink very little, but it loosens my control and I always end up eating more when I have even a glass of wine.

I am not sure what to do, on one hand I want to enjoy as much of life with DH as we can now, but on the other hand I think I need to get myself well and fit to be ready to face what could be a very difficult and demanding long time when DH's health deteriorates.

I will keep reading this thread with interest.

[Deleted User]

Caterina I think your body is talking to you. You are going through a very torrid and stressful time at the moment and you need reserves of energy. I would say not to think about this sugar addiction at the moment, thinking about it is adding another stress to your life. Your cortisol must be consistently high at the moment and that is also making you feel stressed, this is such a horrible cycle. I would say that deep relaxation will help you cope and will go a long way to restoring homeostasis in your body. There are very good relaxation hypnosis cds on amazon, I use some by Mark Bowden. They take 20-30 minutes and have helped me through a horrible few months. Now I have turned the corner and suddenly am no longer craving sugary things

Be kind to yourself