[GeishaGirl]

I am trying, very hard, to lower my carbs. I do really well during the day -- less than 5 for breakfast, under 40 for lunch -- but after that, everything goes to ****. Let me demonstrate:

8:30 - breakfast - 4 small Banquet sausage patties (2 carbs)
11:30 - frozen meal, under 40 carbs
1 - snack, if I need - usually a small slim jim, some almonds, or cheese.
4:30 -- this is when I get out of rehearsal (directing the school play) and by this point I am SO FRICKIN HUNGRY that I'll eat anything. I've been known to actually snack on glucose tabs. Obviously, I wind up eating sometimes. Sometimes, it's okay, sometimes it's horrible.
6ish - dinner - husband is big on meat-and-side-dish, so I eat meat and a little side dish -- under 40 carbs, preferably under 30. Unfortunately, if I've been bad earlier, I'm more likely to overdo the side dish.
Evening -- now I'm screwed. Whether it's been a really good day, or a really bad one, I WANT SUGAR NOW! I wind up literally pacing the house like a caged animal, trying desperately not to make that walk to 7-11.

Obviously, I need to work on bringing food with me to eat during rehearsal. Now that I've got breakfast and lunch down, this is my next step, but the carb cravings are literally maddening. I've actually chewed on my fingers.

I've tried substitute snacks -- stringcheese, flavored almonds, even 100-cal packs of sweets. I've tried eating 5 Hershey's kisses -- but if there's an open bag (and this includes the box of 100-cal packs!) I wind up getting up and going for "just a few" more. And then a few more. So keeping those snacks in the house is out of the question.

Any tips from those who've made it?

[fgummett]

Try filling up at meal times on the fat and protein... emphasis on the meat and de-emphasize the "side"... go for rich and tasty, quality over quantity... don't be scared of butter, 35% cream and the like.

Eating fewer carbs will lead to less cravings for carbs.

If you must snack; again opt for quality over quantity... don't be scared to spend a bit more on your food, but eat less of it... try a REALLY dark chocolate like 85% cocoa (I have some 99% at home)... it is an acquired taste but if you let it slowly melt in your mouth you may find that the cravings have gone away.

[It Ain't Over]

For me cravings always come from hi BG's. Get the BG's closer to normal and I feel little hunger. Don't really feel any hunger even with lo's.
That ain't the same as riding the roller coaster of hi to lo. Have been on the no carb diet and am able to keep my BG's under 100 at most. Took a while, but I did lose that awful craving for food.
Just keep at it. I never eat anything with more carbs than a slice of sharp cheddar. If something goes wrong, and it does at times, I know I am hi just as soon as I start really craving food.

[jimhuck]

He said: Eating fewer carbs will lead to less cravings for carbs.

When I first started low carb, I really cut out the carbs to an extreme. I experienced a small withdrawal, but nothing significant.

Bring snacks with you and eat frequently. Don't let yourself get hungry. Consider no sugar added peanut butter with celery, tuna salad, beef jerkey (check how much sugar they add), hard boiled eggs (seasoned), chicken parts (that sounded gross, but you know what I mean), cold cuts, and an apple or a bag of grapes (just to be safe). Almonds are awesome.

I'm sure other people would disagree, but maybe try a can of diet soda???? After being off carbs for a few days, a can of soda tasted REALLY sweet. I don't know how the body processes soda....I've heard from some people that it raises blood glucose, even though it's diet. I have no idea.

It requires a lot more planning, but I think you will overcome your cravings if you can handle the "cold turkey" phase.

Keep an eye on blood glucose. Don't let it get too low.

Good luck! Let us know how you are doing. If anyone has other food ideas, I'd love to hear them.

[Mich]

I've learned to carry snacks that have little or no carbs.

Dice-sized pieces of tasty cheese in a baggie and a broken up WASA cracker (8-9 carbs) in another.

Pieces of cut up meat (cold steak, a hamburger patty, ham, chicken) in a baggie. I eat them like a snack bar.

Sliced in half boiled eggs and a knotted baggie of mustard. (Snip off the end.)

A small container of salad with shredded cheese and a knotted baggie of dressing.

A baggie of nuts.

Cream cheese and SF Jelly on a WASA cracker. (The "crunch" helps.)

Cut up veggies and dip.

An ice cold apple. (1/3 lb=17g carb)

An cold diet drink with crushed ice. I'm an ice cruncher and it feels like a treat. I like SF Hawaiian Pumch with ice.

Sushi. I also love the cucumber salad.

A can of tuna with a little french dressing knotted in a baggie to put on it.

If the snack is tasty, I don't miss the carbs.

Enjoy those kids. Plays are fun! Mich

[MssWho]

I am a newby here, I come and read and learn from everyone, I am a new diabetic.

But when I read this forum I had to speak...lol

I to am having a hard time with night time eating, craving for sugar so much.

I usually end up losing the battle then the guilt sets in and not to mention the high sugar and feeling bad.

I am trying so hard to get a grip on this. but my sugars aren't under control yet.

I haven't had my 2nd dr app yet, (since being told I have diabetes). So am still new to this.

Ps I am on Lantis , and high bg at night, so I do under why. but not sure what to do about it.

[Mich]

Hi MissWho,

Welcome to the forums. You've come to the right place. Post again in the INTRODUCTIONS SECTION and tell us what type of diabetes you have.

When do you take your Lantus? For some people it doesn't last the full 24 hours, which may explain your night highs. Or it may be a case of the "dawn effect" where your body gets ready for the morning by getting a little boost of sugar from your liver. Or you may just be overdoing it on carbs for dinner

Looking forward to getting to know you,

Mich

[MssWho]

ok thanks,
I will do that,

I take Lantus and I am up to 90 Units at 9 pm. I am now also using Humalog Kwick pen for meals because my sugar always spike after eating.

Problem is I still haven't learned to control it yet.

Seems to be my lantus is wore off by 7pm or so..BG start climbing, and I start craving something sweet.
I dont do the humlog because its so close to my 9 pm shot.
So I suffer through it.
My next dr app is 3/10 so hanging in there till then.

ok off to the introduction page

[ShottleBop]

OK, I'm prediabetic, and don't use insulin, but I listen to Dr. Bernstein's monthly teleconferences online. He says that Lantus does not really last 24 hours, so he always has his patients split their doses between bedtime and morning. (Actually, he has recently concluded that Lantus sometimes goes bad even before the end of the 28 days it's supposed to last, so he's taken his patients off of Lantus and put them on Levemir for basal.)

[MssWho]

Thanks to this site I think I get it now.

Lantus is to get my sugars to a normal level,,,as if I never ate.

Humalog is to handle my spikes when I eat.

I agree and would almost bet my dr will put me on 2 shots of lantus a day or change the type I use.

so much more clearer now, thanks

[eakmdk]

Originally Posted by fgummett

Try filling up at meal times on the fat and protein... emphasis on the meat and de-emphasize the "side"... go for rich and tasty, quality over quantity... don't be scared of butter, 35% cream and the like.

Eating fewer carbs will lead to less cravings for carbs.

If you must snack; again opt for quality over quantity... don't be scared to spend a bit more on your food, but eat less of it... try a REALLY dark chocolate like 85% cocoa (I have some 99% at home)... it is an acquired taste but if you let it slowly melt in your mouth you may find that the cravings have gone away.

Was does pumping and VSG mean?

[fgummett]

Originally Posted by eakmdk

Was does pumping and VSG mean?

"Insulin Pump" and "Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy"

[Overcomer]

My weakness is Tomato Basil Terra Chips. I can do great all day but then I get the urge to stop by the store for Terra Chips and its all over. I usually eat half of the bag and it shoots my bg leve way up. I must find a way to defeat my demon.

[Mich]

Hi Overcomer.

Chips. Oh my, the bane of my existance. I think it's somewhere between the salt and the crunch.

Here's an alternative: On a flat plate, put four piles (about 2T ea) of Parmesan Cheese (or Cheddar) and microwave until lightly browned, a little darker around the edges. Take it our and use a fork remove them to a paper towel to drain. Lightly salt them. While warm, they also can be folded or relled into shapes. As they cool, they will become crunchy.

When cool, they make a nice no-carb alternative to chips to go with your favorite beverage.

Mich

[lorilei]

i actually like the soda idea as suggested above...also hot tea...i'd try for a snack before the 4:30 crazy time...maybe by about 45 min or so, that way you feel satiated before your body requests carbs...as for the late night...I go for sf jello...and see if you can redirect that crazy pacing feeling to a brisk walk or shower (i kid you not...this really helped me in the past b/c sometimes the dessert thing is a mental reward for ending the day...now a shower can do the same)...of course there is always gum to ease with anxiety eating...


good for you for trying so hard! hang in, it does get easier..(most of the time! we all have our moments)