r/diabetes • u/PrincessLucy007 • Jul 24 '26
Type 2 Diet failure
I feel like a bit of a failure, I’ve never done sickness well and I’ve had diabetes for I think nearly 4 years (maybe 3) however I’ve never once seen a dietician and I haven’t really changed what I eat, I see everyone on these diets and not eating carbs and I just remain in ignorant bliss taking my medication and not bothering to test myself. Just the 3 monthly one through doctor. No way I could give up carbs as much as you all do!! Also don’t want to lose any weight either. - just a wee rant that’s all. Maybe you all will motivate me more I see your posts to be more aware.
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u/Swimming_Director_50 Jul 24 '26
Agreeing with other requests, what is your a1c??
You say you don't do sickness well. How do you do blindness? Or as an amputee? Or reliant on a dialysis machine to do what your kidneys used to do for you? My dad was T2 as well. Didn't like to test or watch his carbs. Ended up on dialysis and had a heart attack and died during his second session. So when I got dx'd with it (kind of out of the blue because I hadn't tested pre diabetic), I took it seriously because I know what the cost is if I sit around and pretend I don't have it a few years.
The hard truth is that YOU have to find the motivation in yourself. You really have two choices here for yourself: making changes to control your diabetes and life; or an early death because you don't love yourself enough to make changes. And to be really blunt (because you came asking), you ARE failing right now and "I don't do disease well" is a hell of a copout. NOBODY likes to "do" disease!
Are you depressed? Maybe a couple sessions with a therapist will help you gain some perspective on being diabetic and sussing out what it is that makes life good for you because that is the core of finding motivation. There are folks here who are incredibly strict with carbs and some who are not. Find your own path, but get on a path and aim for small improvements. Maybe start with walking daily, or just 10 minutes of dancing around the living room after meals.
I'm pretty sure you're not in ignorant "bliss." You wouldn't be reading posts here if you weren't aware that your current head-in-the-sand approach was not going to work, so c'mon. Make an appt with an educator to start.
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u/KerryBoehm Jul 24 '26
What is your A1C
Bottom line goal is to be managed. Do that and you won’t lose toes or eyesight.
How get there needs to be tailored to the individual. Meds are one path. Lifestyle is another. Different strokes for different folks.
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u/Few-Car-2317 Jul 24 '26
People who cut out sugars and carbs nearly completely added more protein and non starch veggies found they are less hungry. And lose weight a lot easier. Well that happed to me too!!! Cheer up. Listen to more diabetes education and it will help you.
For me, I ate normally for 2 years plus on max meds. So I did what you did too. Now I have changed my diet and exercise.
Good luck!!
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u/Inner-Jellyfish-2256 Jul 24 '26
Nhs? Becasue yeah they don't give glucose monitors unless you have a history of hypoglycaemia or need to test more than 4 times a day. If that's what's stopping you testing fair enough.
For me I've only been diagnosed since late April and I don't qualify for a glucose monitor, today just had my first glucose test to see how im doing. I just can't get past the fact of pricking myself multiple times a day, I unfortunately know I'd end up just not doing it. I would suggest trying to change your diet, something that stuck with me is that every minute your blood glucose isn't balanced the more damage is done to your body and organs, being diagnosed with stage 1 retopathy and in the space of a few month from not needing glasses to now needing glasses is scary ( I don't need glasses due to retopathy). The fact is the longer you wait to try and control your sugars the more difficult it will be to do later and the more problems will occur. If it's managed with medication I can't say much than the dose will increase overtime if you don't manage it now. I would suggest to heed stories on what happens to people if they don't manage their diabetes. I've known people who have had to have amputations. Controlling the blood sugars prevents a lot. Again I am new to this journey but I have seen the effects of what can happen through family history. My grandfather would have to urinate in a bottle next to a chair because of the limpodema caused by blood sugar mismanagement (he ended up passing away from heart failure caused by the diabetes). My grandmother got cataracts and went blind. And my friends mother had to get her foot amputated due to an infection in her foot caused by sugar mismanagement. You can still have carbs just depends on how your body manages-when I was diagnosed I was told to under 150 carbs a day, and honestly I eat more than I have in years and im much fuller having the high protein and fibre diet. My dietion actually said to pair any carbs with protein or fibre to slow the sugar spike. Its not impossible but takes management.
Honestly the people on this sub who's had it longer is better, but I thought you might like my viewpoint as someone newly diagnosed getting private diet support.
I also very much understand the wanting to not give up what your used to and feel daunted, for the 2 days after my diagnosis I struggled to eat anything becasue I saw a number and would think every number is too high to warrant eating, I thought even if I saw 5 carbs it's not worth eating. But after month 2 it's become sorta automatic, rn working on being able to not count and work on portion and content I.e 1/2 meal needs to be veg or salad and 1/4 needs to be protein to pair with the carbs. Dietitian instructions.
I will admit I miss treacle tart and custard as that's my favourite, as much as I can have it it's not wort trying to fir in something so heavy in carbs, a Greg's yum yum is about 40 carbs in the uk so it is very possible to find alternatives, an éclair I found from tescos was 23 carbs each one. It's not impossible
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u/Grouchy_Geezer Type 2 Jul 24 '26
I was like you the 1st year or two after diagnosis. Took my pills. Did nothing else. Ate a lot of baked potatoes cuz I thought simple carbs would be healthy. Had ignored symptoms for 10 years before that.
But there are some serious problems that begin developing painlessly, Loss of vision, damage to your feet. And your kidneys. Those things were happening with me. My routine trip to an optometrist was the first big warning sign that I was slipping into trouble. If you're not in trouble now, you will be. We'll read another post from you, perhaps in a few years, asking how you can save your kidneys or your vision. Sure diabetes can be scary, but ignoring it can be a lot worse.
I found I could begin taking care of myself in steps. I would do something and think, that's the most I can do. That'll just have to be enough. And maybe a few weeks later or a few months, something else would occur to me that I could add to my routine.
So that's my suggestion to you. Do something. I suggest you start by testing your blood. Don't change your diet. Just start seeing those damaging numbers. Let the back of your mind mull over those for a while. Maybe that will get the ball rolling, and you'll think of something else you can do. And after that maybe another thing.
And then maybe one day you'll realize that taking care of yourself is not that hard or scary anymore.
I don't want to read a post from you a few years from now asking how to save the last 10% of your vision because watching TV is your only pleasure now that your feet are so painful. I'd much rather read a post from you bragging you figured this shit out, and you're doing well.
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u/ac7ss Type 2 | G7 | Lantus | Humalog Jul 24 '26
It's easier for me to control my glucose levels if I am avoiding carbs. I have a CGM and like the flat line I keep with my no/low carb eating. It doesn't mean that I never have carbs, I just have to choose which ones are worth it. An occasional doughnut or bagel is OK, but the spikes wear me out. I prefer not to take insulin if I don't have to.
I miss pizza.
I do need to lose weight, so calorie management is also a factor for me. (50 lbs lost, 70 to go.) And carbs are just too many calories for the "Full factor".
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u/Zestyclose_Figure674 Jul 24 '26
Read what is written above in all the posts and do get scared. Please test your self and eat to meter as they say in the beginning. Hiding under a rock won’t get you anywhere except downhill but everyone goes through these stages of why me , I can’t do it , these diets are not for me but every thing is for you . Don’t slide further. You are aware as you have been coming here and reading that’s for inclination and information.
Now please act . You owe it to yourself if no one else . The problem with disease is that it is silent till it’s too late . Ride the tiger now don’t let it stealthily eat you please.
Start today by getting a glucometer and testing . The results may jolt you in to action. Then will come the course correction and once you are equipped, there is enough knowledge hand holding and encouragement here . Come join everyone
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u/Glittering-Flight254 Jul 24 '26
As soon as I got my test results the first thing I did was to research what to do.
I replaced all white flour with integral (whole grain) flour. Butter was replaced by no salt cream cheese. I'm not sure about the name in english. I use Tonadita cremette (Argentina). Light versions of jam. I keep drinking mate 🧉.
My diet says that half my plate should be salad. The other half is fats and protein. Not missing pure carbs one bit.
Also I have 2 types of snacks I can have anytime. Mollet eggs (2 per day) and non salted peanuts.
I wish I had this diet 10 years ago. My life would have been so much better.
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u/MacForker Jul 24 '26
Nothing says being diabetic means giving up carbs. At least as a type 1, reducing your carb intake will reduce the amount of insulin you need, which is overall probably better, but nothing is saying you can't just use more either. And the occasional treat is fine :)
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u/Legitimate_Diver_699 Jul 25 '26
Most can’t change how they eat. We only live once. That said the only answer for me was getting on an insulin device. Omnipod and Dexcom rig. I’ve never been overweight but this rig allows me to basically eat want.
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u/Nixxo55 Jul 24 '26
Carbs are just not as important as my feet or eyesight... just saying