Always hungry?

[mho357]

Am I the only one who feels hungry (a lot)? Even when I've had plenty to eat, I still feel hungry.

Is this just a symptom? I haven't always been this way - just since I started watching carbs (and everything else that I eat).

Mark

[blue_eyed_devil]

hey mark,

i'm a type one, but yes i am always hungry, i can pack away a lot of food, sometimes until i feel ill, and still feel hungry.

i'm guessing that for me it's psychological...

for you it may just be because you've started watching carbs it's just drawn your attention to it so you focus on it more... try and take your mind off food for awhile (easier said than done but it may help...)

lauren

[princesslinda]

Hi Mark, I can certainly sympathize with your feelings of hunger. This is something that was esp. bad when first diagnosed. I've read that it has to do with insulin resistance. Our bodies are producing insulin that are cells are unable to absorb adequately (i'm speaking of Type 2s). Our cells feel they are starving and the brain sends out hunger signals...we eat, produce more insulin, cells STILL aren't able to properly utilize the insulin, sends more hunger signs...it's a vicious cycle...I really think that's why so many T2s are overweight.

I can remember having a big meal and 1/2 hr later having this "gnawing" hunger feeling, like just before your tummy growls...it was so frustrating.

Metformin is supposed to help your body better utilize the insulin you're making....i'm on it and it has helped with the hunger pangs. Also, eating lower carb has helped as well....the meals I eat tend to "hold" me longer.

Exercise is also supposed to help with insulin resistance....when you start feeling really hungry, try to get some exercise and see if that helps....I've done this on occasion and found it to work (it's just not always possible to go exercise at that particular time).

[mg_2204]

When I'm hungry, I'm hungry as a wolf. But I've realized it's because I don't get enough during the day. I didn't eat lunch at all. Now I'm on my 3rd day of doing things the right way and eating properly and things are getting better. Last night when preparing our evening meal I didn't feel like I could eat the whole fridge. I'm realizing now that small frequent meals are much better in my case. It's a tremendous change for me and it's a lot of work but I guess I'm worth it :D

[MJB]

Ditto what Marie said.

Drink lots of water too!

[babs2000]

Me too. I never feel full no matter how much I eat. Glad to know that it just isn't me. What's the solution so that you stop eating???? Beth

[mho357]

Maybe craving is a better description - just wanting to eat something.

I'm hungry before lunch because I've only had a snack since breakfast at 06:00. After dinner last night, I still was thinking about food and feeling like I wanted to eat. It isn't the gnawing kind of hunger that I feel when I haven't eaten for 5 or 6 hours.

Anyway, it sounds like I'm not alone on this one...

Thanks,

Mark

[patricia52]

I think it is part of the diabetes. I was having hungry attacks before I DXed. I read somewhere that it is one of the symptoms do Diabetes. Before my DX I could eat and still be hungry.

Anyway, I have found that if I get up and get some form of exercise, my hunger attack goes away. Don't know why it works but I will keep doing it as long as it helps. Much better than sending my bg too high.

[Trinifar]

This hits close to home. I was just about to post something similar.

When I was dx'd several weeks ago I immediately got serious about eating right and, after the first week, things started to go really well. I was eating a lot less, eating regularly, and eating better and wasn't hungry. This past week that rather wonderful state changed and I've been hungry again, quite often. Very discouraging.

Here's what I think happened. The doc added metformin to my treatment and my BG numbers got much better. I hate to admit it but I slacked off on my diet. Not horribly, but began to skip breakfast and snacks now and then, sometimes allowed myself more sweets. I had been so "religious" about eating right, and although these were small changes, I think, it's what brought back my hunger. Now I have to get serious about exercise.

[BlueSky]

Maybe craving is a better description - just wanting to eat something.

I'm hungry before lunch because I've only had a snack since breakfast at 06:00. ....
I also used to get very hungry in the mid - late morning. But when I switched to a very low-carb breakfast, the hunger went away. The craving was being caused by the cereal or toast I was having for breakfast. Changing breakfast to eggs, cheese, sausages etc sorted it out. I don't feel deprived by mid morning anymore. In fact, I don't get hungry in the afternoons anymore either.

Apparently this effect is caused by two mechanisms. In a T2, carbs in a meal causes insulin levels to rise excessively which, as princesslinda pointed out, causes hunger. Eating carbs also spikes seratonin levels, and it is when they come down again that we get those cravings.

Try eating low-carb breakfasts for a few days and see if this makes a difference.

[mho357]

My standard breakfast is 27 carbs - that isn't very high, is it?

I have eggs, 1/4 c of granola (the carbs) with skim milk, and some bacon or sausage.

My standard weekday lunch is a bit higher at 45 carbs.

I have yogurt for morning snack (~20-25 depending on flavor)

I exercise 6 days each week.

The feeling is more of a craving than actual hunger like I might feel before lunch or dinner. I keep thinking about food even though I'm not really hungry.

I'm not doing a weight loss diet - I'm just trying to control my BG. I am losing weight but that is because I no longer drink any beer (or any other alcohol). I've been losing 1-2 lbs each week since I stopped all alcohol in June.

When I drank beer, I didn't get hungry or have the cravings but I also ate way too much.

I don't mean to whine - I was just wondering if anyone else had these cravings and if they go away after a while.

Mark

[Dawn]

Hi Mark,

I felt hungry when I was eating too many carbs. When I began eating for my meter I realized that I was not feeling those cravings like I was when I was overweight and out of control. It is an adjustment. For me reducing my carbs and eating more protein really helped. It is pretty amazing to me that I eat a pretty small breakfast (3 oz of low carb yogurt, 1 TBS of flax seed and walnuts) and this holds me until lunch. Maybe your body is still adjusting to your new way of eating. When I was first diagnosed 2 years ago I ate more at breakfast but it was pretty much all protein...eggs, meat and cheese.

If I did feel hungry I would drink coffee. It filled me up. I was not a coffee drinker up until that point...I learned to drink it (now I've found some sugar/carb free coffee flavoring to add to it...yummy!!! I'm addicted now to iced coffee). Since you're not drinking beer now, maybe this will help fill you up.

One of my psychological issues with diabetes and losing weight was that I needed to visually see that I had a lot of food. I did not want a skimpy looking plate of food...that for sure made me feel deprived. So, I found ways to eat a lot and still lose weight and keep my b/g under control. (I've lost 100 pounds).

Maybe you could find a snack that is more protein...like nuts. If you do like yogurt there is a low carb brand...the kind I eat has 3 grams of carbs and 60 calories. Add some nuts to it too to fill you up. It is made by Dannon.

Congrats on your weight loss. Keep up the good work!!!

[catgalla]

Hi Mark,

I feel hungry all the time too. But I'm not sure it's actual hunger it's just the urge to want to eat something. Doesn't really matter what it is just anything. I just thought it was just me being a piggy but I guess I'm not the only one.:D

[mho357]

Dawn,

I have not seen the 3 carb yogurt - you say it is from Dannon? I'll have to look for it at the grocery.

Thanks,

Mark

[Dawn]

Mark - it's Dannon Light and Fit - Sugar and Carb control. They have it in peach, strawberry and some places carry blueberry. They also have vanilla. When I have a snack I sometimes put a tsp of pudding mix (sugar free) into the vanilla one and have some pudding. It is quite tasty.
Dawn

[dodo]

I too used to feel hungry all the time. I didn't know so many people feel the same way!

It all stopped few days ago when I started to take Lipitor and Altace. I don't know if this could be a side effect!:confused: