Need to vent!!!

[michelby]

OK, so I just need to vent...I'm new to this whole type 1 junk, and I am STARVING!!!!! I'm 26 years old, and all I want to do is eat halloween candy and pizza like my friends!

We went to Olive Garden today, and I'm still freakin' starving because I had the Chicken Parmesan, but couldn't eat the pasta, so I had this little piece of chicken and one bowl of salad, and everyone else hounded down on all kinds of pasta. I'm so mad that I can't eat anything!!!

I know I can eat these things "in moderation" but what's the point?!?!?! What's the point of having one piece of pizza? That's not fun, and it only makes the temptation worse!

I'm so fed up that I can't do the same things as my friends because I have this stupid disease, and everyone asks "Are you sure you can have that?" Ugh! So frustrating! I just want to gorge on Snickers bars and pepperoni pizza, just in spite of the disease...but I can't because then I'll feel like garbage in an hour. :mad:

Sorry, I don't mean to be so negative, but this is soooo hard, and I haven't mastered it, and my sugar is high because I'm always hungry and probably don't make the best food choices because who wants to eat celery and apples for the rest of their life?!?!?!

[princesslinda]

It is hard to deny ourselves foods we enjoyed prior to diagnosis.

I don't go to restaurants such as Olive Garden, as it's hard for me to enjoy it not having the pasta. Perhaps you could suggest a restaurant that would have things that you could easily eat w/o feeling left out.

Most restaurants have steak or grilled chicken entree and a big salad...also a sweet potato is a good potato alternative, as are the steamed veggies.

When you want pasta, try the Dreamfield's brand, it's good and for many of us is quite blood sugar friendly.

[jer.lawrence]

That sounds harsh, I haven't gone anywhere like Olive Garden either just for fear of that same craving.

I do eat lots of veggies and such though, and I will have the occasional food that I shouldn't.. just not much of it.

[Granny Shanny]

There are times I feel a lot the same way, and since I'm not on insulin, I don't have much wiggle room either. But you shouldn't be starving all the time. Your diet can be very filling if you're taking decent portions of protein, sensible carbs and a little fat which helps greatly with satiety.

You can often check online menus before a restaurant visit. Just having some idea of your choices before you get there might help, and I agree with Linda & Jeremy . . . avoiding the more tempting venues is wise, at least until you get a little better handle on this.

Without knowing sic 'em about using insulin, I still want to ask if you've been able to work out your needs for lantus & humalog so that you can gain greater control over the highs with the correct bolus for your meals?

As for the snickers bars & halloween candy . . . try the Atkins Endulge bars. I haven't tried all of them, but the chocolate coconut bars, peanut butter cups & peanut caramel clusters are awesome! As for pizza, just eat the toppings. It's the crust that wrecks us.

[notme]

I think it must be really tough to be young and want to have the things your friends have. However, think of it this way.......

In a few years your friends who have had a heart attack, high cholesterol, and all the other things that can happen to you by eating badly, they will wish they were you and that they had learned long ago to eat healthy like you did! :D

What other disease or health problem can you get that can be helped by eating the proper foods and getting exercise??? You will look fabulous and your friends will be looking to you for advice!

[Maddogg]

Just because your Type 1 doesn't mean you can't eat all that ****! You just have to be much more careful and methodical about it. If you want to eat a lot of pasta, or a second helping of desert or some halloween candy... sure, you can do it, don't deprive yourself of all the things you love or used to love just because your diabetic.
If your gonna eat more than usual or eat something really sweet, or do anything that goes outside your limits/boundaries determined between you and your doctor/endo; you simply need to adjust your insulin intake accordingly.
If you usually take 10 units of fast acting insuling w/ your dinner and you wanna have that really good looking piece of cheesecake or apple pie w/ ice cream or anything like that... You'll probably be fine if you do it, most of the time; you just have to make sure to increase your dose accordingly, maybe you'll need 15 units instead of 10, these guidelines should have been established by your endo but over time you'll learn to adjust them yourself. Just be careful not to give yourself too much insulin.

Don't let a disease have too much control over your life and lifestyle. Just be careful, especially when your new and you start making your own adjustments, if your not sure, call your doctor and over time you'll get to know your body, your insulin and you'll be able to have a lifestyle or diet similar (but unfortunately never identical) to the one you had before. Sometimes life or your body will throw a curve ball at you and you'll have to deal w/ it. But we gotta make the most of it... make everyday count! Even people who are 100% healthy should live their lives with that philosophy :)

...oh and welcome to the forums

[belyro]

In time you'll figure out what different foods do to your bloodsugar and how to bolus for them and you shouldn't feel as restricted (unless you choose to follow a low-carb diet anyway).

For me, "in moderation" does mean not regluarly eating too much of anything that's going to make my bloodsugar skyrocket, but it also means letting myself eat what I want to from time to time. If I want to indulge from time to time I do! I just make sure I do it "smartly" - do my best to match my bolus to my carbs (both in amount and in timing - greasy food may need a few smaller boluses rather than one big one), and then I check my bloodsugar a few times after eating to make sure I correct any mis-calculations quickly. I don't recommend doing that every day, but IMO there's nothing wrong with doing it carefully from time to time once you get the hang of the whole "balancing act". Personally, I find that letting myself eat that pizza or ice cream from time to time makes the "in-moderation" times in between much less painful! :) And, really, nobody should be indulging unhealthy cravings everyday anyway - diabetes or not! Right?

I'm sure it seems overwhelming and frustrating right now, but it'll get easier! Good luck!

[belyro]

Don't let a disease have too much control over your life and lifestyle. Just be careful, especially when your new and you start making your own adjustments, if your not sure, call your doctor and over time you'll get to know your body, your insulin and you'll be able to have a lifestyle or diet similar (but unfortunately never identical) to the one you had before. Sometimes life or your body will throw a curve ball at you and you'll have to deal w/ it. But we gotta make the most of it... make everyday count! Even people who are 100% healthy should live their lives with that philosophy :)


And what he said too. ;) I agree wholeheartedly!

[Gangrel]

Co-sign to the last 3 posts. (man, aren't I trying to be hip?!?)

As belyro says, you can do it all, just do it carefully. contrary to what some people may lead you to believe, if you decide to have a piece of cake, and guess everything wrong and end up at 20.0 afterwards, then so what? Take a correction, drink lots of water, and prepare to feel crummy for an hour or two.

Then, just remember that the next time you want cake, and guess more carbs!

What I find helpful is that if i know the restuarant I'm going to, i search online first, as lots of places are listing nutrition information. Then I figure out what I am going to eat (along with dessert!) so that I can bolus when I'm there.

I know it is all scary right now, i was lucky as I was 7 when i got it 26 years ago.... so my parents did all the thinking. ;)

But over time it will come. And don't be afraid. To rip a quote from my favourite band, "why search for perfection when you are making succesfull mistakes?"

[It Ain't Over]

Sorry, I don't mean to be so negative, but this is soooo hard, and I haven't mastered it, and my sugar is high because I'm always hungry and probably don't make the best food choices because who wants to eat celery and apples for the rest of their life?!?!?!

There is why you feel such strong hunger, high blood sugars are a clue.
The process is that you are undoubtably being prescribed high levels of insulin to combat the high sugars. This level of insulin forces the glucose in your bloodstream to be converted and sent to your fat cells very quickly. So while your sugars read high, your brain is getting underfed, because the glucose that the insulin has attached itself to goes into the fat cells so quickly it leaves a shortage of the same attached glucose for the brain to use. Therefore the brain tells the body 'I am starved feed me more sugar now!'
Brains always win is these situations. The cure is to lower your food intake and in turn lower your dosage as you can.
Does that mean eating celery and apples the rest of your life? No, you should not eat the apples, too much sugar there.:D

[xMenace]

Living a full life is a goal for all of us.

Keep working on your education. Really get to know your own sugar behavior. Knowledge is power. I know I can, and I occaisionally do, really pig out. I've had full chinese buffets, whole large pizzas, gobs of Dairy Queens, and whatever else while still staying in control.

I don't eat like this. After years of struggling with choices I've come to terms with food, I think. I eat very low carb and very real, healthy food. I do it by choice, not because I can't eat those other things. I just don't want to anymore.

Go out and enjoy half a pizza and practice your bolusing. Make sure you test, correct, and test some more until your sure you are stable.

[belyro]

Me again...

Just to add to Gangrel's comment about restaurants. It's important to also note the FAT content of restaurant meals. It's sometimes shocking how much fat is in restaurant food - even the meals you wouldn't suspect of being high-fat. Remember that fat will slow down the rise in bloodsugar - instead of getting a spike right after the meal, you will likely get it a few hours later. How many hours later is a bit of a guessing game (unless you've really got your body's response to fatty foods figured out). When this happens, if you give yourself one big bolus for your meal, you may end up going low first and then high later....so, again, be sure to keep an eye on your bloodsugars for a while afterwards!

You may get a lot of different opinions on all this carb stuff. There are a lot of eat-what-you-want-to Type 1s here, a lot of low-carbing Type 1s here, and a lot of us who fall somewhere in the middle. I encourage you to learn about what carbs do to you personally, listen to other people's experiences, and then decide what's best for YOU!

[lexdfox]

yea it sucks at first, before i was diagnosed i was into sodas and energy drinks like you wouldnt believe!

But there are some great options out there for snacks and meals that i have come to love in the 3 months ive had type 1.

When going out and getting food, stick with proteins. For example when I went to Olive garden I got the lemon herb half chicken and a greek salad (yum!). I will admit I will have a couple slices of pizza every so often since my roommates seem to live off the stuff, but its just a matter of keeping limits.

And its not like you have to simply eat nothing but veggies all day, there are loads of great snack food out there. Some good ones i will have are crackers, beef jurkey, and fiber bars. veggies are good too, they dont have to be nasty, things like celery and peanut butter, salted edemame (sp?), and carrots with ranch are things i will enjoy on a regular basis.

It seems super tough right now and thats normal, i hated life when i was diagnosed. its just a matter of taking this thing head on and doing something about it so your diabetes doesnt control your life. keep it up man, i know you can get through it!

[HollyB]

I second and third the "knowledge is power" advice. You can't learn everything all at once, but know that as you learn to match your insulin, food, and personal metabolism better, as a Type 1 you can eat pretty normally.

But you do need to know what you're doing -- so get some good books, figure out your insulin to carb ratios (ask the dietitian or CDE at your clinic to help you), and test often so you know what's going on with your body. The book "Think like a Pancreas" is a great place to start -- very readable, and not as dense and technical as "Using Insulin" which is kind of a bible book.

My son is 17, been diabetic for 4 years. His A1c has always been under 6.5 -- so that's pretty darn good for a teenager. He eats good food, and avoids total pig-outs, but he definitely does not limit himself to one piece of pizza. He eats pasta (usually a one-cup serving), rice, Thai noodles, potato chips. Down the road when his metabolism slows down he may need/want to go lower carb, but for now he enjoys all the food groups and definitely does not go hungry.

Hang in there -- you'll get it figured out!

[DannyK]

Instead of giving any advise, I would like to know (from T 1's), how many of you think that it's OK to eat anything, or whatever you want, just because you can bolus for it?

NEVER have I thought that way, or was told (by Dr.'s) that it was an alright thing to do.....

It seems to me, that this only confuses the different thinking between the two types. :confused:

[Gordonm]

Instead of giving any advise, I would like to know (from T 1's), how many of you think that it's OK to eat anything, or whatever you want, just because you can bolus for it?

NEVER have I thought that way, or was told (by Dr.'s) that it was an alright thing to do.....

It seems to me, that this only confuses the different thinking between the two types. :confused:

I eat pretty much like most normal people should eat. Everything in moderation. Yes I have pizza but limit myself to 2 slices. Cake sure why not for a special occasion, just not a huge honkering piece. Pasta on occasion but a very small amount. To eat whatever you want is not good for anyone and will lead to weight gain. I do limit myself on a lot of things but why not give a taste or two and bolus for it. I have found over the years I can limit myself pretty easily. A lot of people have no self control and over do everything.

[jenb]

When I have a yen for pizza I order an individual one with everything I love - sausage, eggplant, olives, onions, basil Hmmmmmmm. Then I just eat the toppings (with lots of crushed red pepper!) and a big salad. It's a high-fat-a-palooza though, so I make sure to test at 3 and 4 hours postmeal to catch that pesky fat-induced high.

Don't worry...the more experienced you get, the easier it will be to handle situations like this. Don't ever feel bad about splurging a little; just learn how to adjust your insulin for it.

Best,
Jen

[shiftzor]

Eating anything you want is a interesting idea. Now we all know the limitations of our insulin i.e. peaking at 2 hours and we all soon find out how food will affect us with this limitation. People keep posting these questions and yet they have the answer :D. If you can eat a hole pizza and it doesn't spike your bg (1 hour in, 2 hours in and 3-4hours after) then do so at will. If you can't eat pizza because you spike stupidly badly then eat it once in a while so that it doesn't affect your SD too much. Simply forcing yourself not to have it will only make you crave and binge more.

[JayDee1950]

It ain't easy man.
Once you stabilize life will become easier.
I created a spreadsheet to see what effect things had on me, test results and times, foods/snacks between tests, meds, etc.
Within two weeks I pretty much knew what I could get away with. You don't need to starve or be unhappy.
Taking control of your diabeties can be accomplished, most of us here have gone through the same ordeal as you and survived.

[Gangrel]

Instead of giving any advise, I would like to know (from T 1's), how many of you think that it's OK to eat anything, or whatever you want, just because you can bolus for it?

NEVER have I thought that way, or was told (by Dr.'s) that it was an alright thing to do.....

It seems to me, that this only confuses the different thinking between the two types. :confused:

I do. But, as many others here have said, in moderation. I think nothing of grabbing a chocolate bar once in a while now that I know MDI and carb counting. But would I do it every single day? No.

But, compared to some on here, i'm a loose cannon..... so your mileage may vary. I try to eat healthy, do all the right things.... stay in shape.... My average A1c over the past few years has probably been 6.6-ish, which compared to what I see in some signature blocks here is a full point higher.

But, this disease has already taken things from my life like career choices, and time, and energy........ I'm not going to give it anything extra.

I keep myself heatlhy, my endo is pleased, so voila. A piece of chocolate cake or a bag of M+Ms once in a while it is. ;)

[washadog]

You can eat pasta at olive garden. I prefer not to eat candy. It is hard on your teeth anyway. I go to Olive garden all the time. You are playing a number game. You have to learn to master the BG control. You have to figure it out by trial and error method. It is never easy. I am 20 years vetern with this. I do understand well. Take one step at a time alway.

[Subby]

Instead of giving any advise, I would like to know (from T 1's), how many of you think that it's OK to eat anything, or whatever you want, just because you can bolus for it?

Not in the least, speaking for myself. I've moderated my carbs and diet quite heavily in order to get what I consider reasonable control.

This is through concrete necessity. Carbs work very fast in me, insulin can be quite sluggish. Most refined carbs outstrip the fastest insulin in me, period. For me, it's untenable to eat a lot of refined carby food and expect good control outcomes.

This is after years of trying to do so, and exploring every trick in the book. It needs to be clear there are two reasons why a meal/bolus may not work. One, is that the dosages and therapy is not correctly adjusted. Two, that the therapy is just not up to the job in most circumstances, for that body.

Some people's physiology seems to lend itself to better being able to match insulin with a wide variety of carbs, with a good outcome afterwards (talking 2 - 6 hours after). Good for them. Thoroughly putting aside all the other potential health risks with over-eating too many refined carbs (which I think could be significant, perhaps more for some people than others, but not actually central to controlling blood sugar in type 1 diabetes unless required), then there seem to be quite a lot of type 1s who can bolus successfully for "normal" amounts of carbs.

Presenting their experience is valid and reasonable. It's when people start telling other people with different bodies, what they can and can't do, that I agree it gets shaky. We need to keep the knowledge and the possibilities open. Note the "for me" in my sentences above. People need to be respectful that if they apply their own take on how control works too strongly, you run the risk of making things worse for someone currently trying to get a grip on their own particular reality.

Maybe the OP needs only to work on insulin delivery. Maybe the OP only needs to restrict carbs. I would highly suspect it's a combo of the two and that keeping both elements in mind (improving insulin therapy, and changing diet to be more conducive to control) that would help many a type 1 having control difficulties with food and meals.


It seems to me, that this only confuses the different thinking between the two types. :confused:

This "confusion" is relevant how? Why is it important here? We have a type 1, posting in a type 1 forum, with predominantly type 1s replying, and the types 2s who reply have responded appropriately based on where their own condition intersects with dietary moderation. For a change, there is NO inappropriate confusion between the treatment of T1 and T2. Why are you bringing it up?

[Subby]

There is why you feel such strong hunger, high blood sugars are a clue.


Michelby, this is an incredibly important statement to consider. If you don't have good control, you could be setting off all sorts of tortuous hunger cravings. It can take a while, and that's fine, but doing whatever it takes to reduce your BGs in general back to normal with very little or only brief highs, will over some days likely remove this extreme terrible craving for carbs. Actually, at the moment you might be used to it "just being hunger"... if you move away from that, it's possible you actually will recognise carb cravings.

That might involve removing some carbs that you automatically overeat, leading to an inescapable viscious cycle (overeat, so WILL go high, so WILL keep having cravings...)

I agree with the others that for the moment, you should not feel so tortured by this, you should eat some pizza, other foods, just aim for SOME moderation. It need not be 1 slice or 1 pizza. How about 3 slices. If for example pizza spikes you and causes cravings, it makes sense that this is going to be problematic in the long run. You might be able to deal with many of your favourite foods, but you may need to tweak your insulin dosage and delivery a lot (pumps can also be a quantum leap up for dealing with different foods). But for now, practice bolusing from where you are at, learn something about trying to bolus for specific reasonably moderate sized, high carb foods and meals. Knowledge is power.

Are you carb counting and dosaging that way? That's going to be essential if you are going to be eating large amount of carbs that are so far spiking you. I really do understand your general frustration and I imagine it must seem annoying for people to focus on the details. I've learn't with my diabetes, that focusing on the details and making definite improvements and changes (may seem small and subtle), is how I actually get anywhere with improving control and improving the frustration and emotional side of dealing with the thing. So much of the horrible state of being high, the mental agitation, the moodiness, is the effect it is chemically having on your brain.

[lorilei]

i am much more comfortable with the occaisional splurge (usually not candy though..but a bagel or pasta yes)...it does take some practice...

however, if you are like i was in my early twenties..we went out alot...pasta was a big staple in college...carbs were the only food we could store in our dorm rooms..we had no fridge...i don't know how i would have done that and i think i would have been pretty darned ticked off...

sorry you in a slump right now...it will get easier..

[Mich]

Hi Michelby,

You will find that you are growing stronger than your friends. It takes a paradigm shift to learn to be a diabetic. I agree with Gordon that people tend to overdo things nowdays.

Olive Garden is not the best place to go for dinner when you're just staring out, but they do have great salads and any restaurant will add extra chicken to your salad. Just ask. Find one of your friends that doesn't eat as much pasta and hit them up for a "taste" of the sauce with a little pasta (1/4 or 1/2 cup) and then bolus for it. For salad, count at least 6 grams for each packed cup of salad greens. You can do this and may even teach your friends something about moderation. There is nothing you can't eat, you just learn to pick you battles and eat the stuff that doesn't require a HUGE amount of insulin unless it's *really* important this particular time. You may be young and active enough to tolerate large meals now, but usually as you get older you will be less active and need to eat less to keep from gaining weight.

As for your friends: Go to http://behavioraldiabetes.org/downloads/Etiquette-Card.pdf#page=1&zoom=100&view=Fit and download a copy of the Diabetes Etiquette Card for each of them. It's for friends and family who "don't get it" and need a little educating! Enough of that playing "amateur dietician" at your expense! You know what you're doing.

Mich

[gary.keith]

As for your friends: [...] download a copy of the Diabetes Etiquette Card for each of them.

Thank you for that link!

[viranth]

The past few days I've been moving, and because the new apartment doesnt have a ready kitchen yet, I've been eating out a lot more than I ever have.

That means burgers, fries, pizza, more burgers, more fries.

My meals have been completly irregular and basically this is horrible control, if you want a strict diet and tight BG control.

BUT, my BG has never been better. I simply cannot understand how it is possible, maybe because I've been walking/working/moving all day, but the amount of, I'm sorry to say, **** foods I've eaten, should have annihilated my BG.

I feel great, and I'm looking forward to getting my kitchen ready (on monday, thank god) so I can eat some healthy food again.

But to answer your first post, eat what you want and make sure you are full. Starving will only make you fall off the wagon, so enjoy yourself when you feel like you need it. Just don't make it a habit.

[mortis505]

I don't moderate as stringently as others here, but I don't eat whatever I please all the time either. I allow myself a treat if my numbers have been good and allow myself to enjoy a bit of decadence once in a while.

To the OP. As was said earlier. learn the value of carb counting. calorieking can be a great tool if used wisely.

[Joeprep4820]

You know, I eat what I want, when I want. I never eat at Olive Garden because their food is lousy, but if I want pasta, I eat pasta, and fairly often (fresh, whole grain pasta from Dean & Deluca's usually). I eat a balanced diet regularly because I don't want to get fat, but normally on a weekend I allow myself to be a bit more liberal with my diet - a few weeks ago when I was back from Berlin I ate a huge bowl of Linguine alla Bolognase and a bottle of wine, and that was okay. Last weekend I ate half of a pizza. You just have to learn how to adjust your insulin to carb ratio. When you master this, you can eat those foods again constantly if you'd like, but I still wouldn't recommend doing that as I wouldn't recommend any normal person doing it either.

[DeusXM]

Instead of giving any advise, I would like to know (from T 1's), how many of you think that it's OK to eat anything, or whatever you want, just because you can bolus for it?

From a diabetes perspective, it's fine.

I would say though that from a general health perspective, no, it's not. In much the same way a healthy 'norm' wouldn't eat McDonalds and pizza and Snickers Pie every day, neither would I.

[Joeprep4820]

From a diabetes perspective, it's fine.

I would say though that from a general health perspective, no, it's not. In much the same way a healthy 'norm' wouldn't eat McDonalds and pizza and Snickers Pie every day, neither would I.

That's my opinion on the matter - I eat a very balanced, very strict yet nutritious diet most days of the week, then let loose a bit on weekends to keep myself from craving some less healthy foods or larger portions during the week.

[ant hill]

First of all, Welcome to DF. :D
I find a balance between food, Insulin, & Exercise. But as far the food is concerned as this will silence the Food Police. WE CAN EAT JUST ABOUT ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! with insulin. :D
The art of knowing the amount of Carbohydrates and how long that Carbohydrates will last in your body. Even today, Even my own sister still question, Are you allowed that???

Oh Yes
:D:D:D
:T:T
:)

[washadog]

That is not true. Olive Garden is great food.

[Jules49]

Pasta has never been a problem with me. Cauliflower is the only white thing I eat.

[Joeprep4820]

That is not true. Olive Garden is great food.

They make none of their food there. They cook it in industrial sized ovens in Pyongyang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoboken, and maybe a few other places, freeze it, ship it to a distribution center, it goes to the restaurants, then is reheated by your teenage son's friend who is "a little off" who makes your food when he comes out of the bathroom without washing his hands. Most chain sit down restaurants follow the exact same plan.

[musique913]

If someone likes Olive Garden telling them it's gross isn't going to work for them, even if you don't like it.:D

To the the poster: I feel the same way that you do a lot! I can't count the amount of times I have felt envy for my friends that could eat everything they wanted and not have it affect them.

My DE told me one thing that made me kind of feel better and it was that just because they can eat what they want, it doesn't mean it isn't hurting them either, in reality. Anyone that eats high carb/high fat with all kinds of extras(too much food), is eventually going to have it catch up with them! lol.

Just think of it as you are treating your body the way it should be.

One suggestion? I know you love Olive Garden, but..

Think about the way it makes you feel when you go there and your friends are eating lots of pasta and bread, and how sick you get if you eat too much of it..

Then pick another type of restaurant you can eat at: Chili's, Outback--something like that..where you can get a nice steak with veggies or fajitas or something that won't spike you and will still allow you to eat yummy stuff.

Hang in there. I promise, it does get better..even if it's hard.

Angela

[DanG]

...ship it to a distribution center, it goes to the restaurants, then is reheated by your teenage son's friend who is "a little off" who makes your food when he comes out of the bathroom without washing his hands. Most chain sit down restaurants follow the exact same plan.

Okay - preach this wide and far - and maybe a few thousand may hear it and do something about it - i.e. do not frequent that type of "joint." Too bad so few hear and do something. I have good memories of places like that, however, the last time I was there is probably 10 years ago. Oh, well - I have not suffered, I don't think.

I'm glad to see a "class of 2008" thinking and yelling in this manner. Maybe if more persons in the "class of 2008 & 2007 & 2006 & 2005" make something of this type of nonsense, the multi-nationals will die, and we might recover some fine local restaurants who prepare local stuff in a responsible manner. I'm fed up with the greedy capitalism that is stabbing the occasional dinner out that I used to enjoy. No dining out by me nor anyone in my household anymore these days, what with the fake fat (olestra), and fake sugars, and msg, and industrialized food preps - this culture entices me no more these days.

[foxl]

I had a friend from FIRST GRADE come into town this weekend. It really emphasized the extent of my inability to eat out ... I got to feeling very, very sorry for myself. Why can't I ahve insulin, just once in a while for a restaurant meal? It's not fair!

Then I wondered, if I got good at using ... how often would I use it? And how much weight would I gain as a result of overuse? In ten years I suspect I will be thanking my endo.

[Joeprep4820]

I had a friend from FIRST GRADE come into town this weekend. It really emphasized the extent of my inability to eat out ... I got to feeling very, very sorry for myself. Why can't I ahve insulin, just once in a while for a restaurant meal? It's not fair!

Then I wondered, if I got good at using ... how often would I use it? And how much weight would I gain as a result of overuse? In ten years I suspect I will be thanking my endo.

I'm an insulin user right now, and I have to say that any period of time I did gain weight, it was from overeating, not from using too much insulin use. My diet is nowhere near low carb, and I am not gaining any weight.

[Subby]

I had a friend from FIRST GRADE come into town this weekend. It really emphasized the extent of my inability to eat out ... I got to feeling very, very sorry for myself. Why can't I ahve insulin, just once in a while for a restaurant meal? It's not fair!

Then I wondered, if I got good at using ... how often would I use it? And how much weight would I gain as a result of overuse? In ten years I suspect I will be thanking my endo.

Goodness me, if you can work out you will get fat off insulin just thinking about it, how stuffed are we that HAVE to use it!

[Joeprep4820]

Insulin isn't necessarily Krispy Kreme donuts liquefied and put into a bottle; it actually does help you and there are millions (I hope) of fit diabetics using it.

[DannyK]

Insulin isn't necessarily Krispy Kreme donuts liquefied and put into a bottle; it actually does help you and there are millions (I hope) of fit diabetics using it.

WTF? :eek: Where did you get your info from?????

[genie86333]

Insulin isn't necessarily Krispy Kreme donuts liquefied and put into a bottle; it actually does help you and there are millions (I hope) of fit diabetics using it.

I think we all know Insulin is a good thing for those who need it, however, I think Linda, was talking more about getting into the mindset of "I can use it if I want a treat" and then being tempted into doing it too often. I can totally understand that because I feel the same way. In addition to having a treat more often, I can see also myself using it as an excuse to have a treat..."oh, my insulin is 27 days old...I should use some of it up before I have to throw it away."

[dbaratta]

I'm so fed up that I can't do the same things as my friends because I have this stupid disease, and everyone asks "Are you sure you can have that?" Ugh! So frustrating! I just want to gorge on Snickers bars and pepperoni pizza, just in spite of the disease...but I can't because then I'll feel like garbage in an hour. :mad:



I think plenty of us have been here. I know I have. I am like you, if I eat the wrong things I feel real bad physically. Emotionally I don't care. I still am in denial and am hoping this is just a bad dream that I will be waking up from soon.

we are here, come here anytime and vent away! :pcguru:

[ant hill]

I am now beginning to think that Insulin is evil too. No matter what we do as we just get FFF Fat!!!


What's Missing???
Exercise!!!!!! ;)

[foxl]

Joe ... I WOULD gain. I know I WOULD. I have spent many years (like 25) frustrated with my diet and weight ... if not gaining, maintenance at least. Probably, yes, as Subby says, contemplating using insulin could make me gain!

I don't think everyone would, but ME ... I would.

[Joeprep4820]

I am now beginning to think that Insulin is evil too. No matter what we do as we just get FFF Fat!!!


What's Missing???
Exercise!!!!!! ;)

Diet as well. A good diet is not necessarily one that is low carb.

[telizas]

Until this forum, it never occurred to me that using insulin would make me gain weight. I don't WANT to use insulin - its simply the best thing for *me* and its working to keep me healthier. I don't want to die of a heart attack from eating crappy food just because I could take insulin for the carbs! Since being on insulin, I'm eating better, started exercising more. I pay $35 a month for the stuff and the fewer carbs I eat, the less I use and the further that $35 goes! I'm also telling my doc all the carbs I eat, which is a GREAT way to cut down!

To the OP: I am not a Type 1. I could get away with eating whatever I want, but I don't. Its hard. Its hard to self-police, and its hard to have other people watching you. It sounds like you aren't doing yourself any favors by depriving yourself. Eat what you want in moderation for a week. Write everything down and compare it to your numbers. Give yourself some time to figure out how things affect you. Its all trial and error. Two slices of pizza aren't going to kill you, and maybe you can learn more about your disease by having them and testing. Pizza everyday, probably not a good idea.

My #1 philosophy about eating is, if it's going to be something "bad" for me, it had better be REALLY good. Today we had a birthday brunch for some family members. It was at a place that has the most AWESOME food. I ate what I wanted. I skipped the syrup on my lemon ricotta pancakes, only had a bite here and there of the dessert, filled up on the berries and my daughter's (uneaten) eggs. It was FABULOUS. I would rather have a couple of bites of some decadent chocolate cake made fresh than a Hostess cupcake, and when I DO have a treat, I make it worthwhile. If I get pizza, I try not to waste it on Pizza Hut, but go to an awesome place where I know I can truly satisfy my craving.

Don't let food rule your life.

[Subby]

Joe ... I WOULD gain. I know I WOULD. I have spent many years (like 25) frustrated with my diet and weight ... if not gaining, maintenance at least. Probably, yes, as Subby says, contemplating using insulin could make me gain!

I don't think everyone would, but ME ... I would.

It's really unfortunate that you, who have shown yourself to be extremely disciplined, have lost weight, modified your diet, jump up and down at any BG excursion and do what needs to be done, have in your mind that insulin use is SUCH a threat, such a hard thing to manage and such an automatic precurser to weight, you can only cast a vote of complete non-confidence in using it sensibly. I think it's an unfortunate lack of confidence in yourself and a very unfortunate sentiment to be showing here. I also think it's quite illogical if you do lose further insulin function in the future and need to supplement it in order to have closer to normal insulin levels in your body, that insulin will automatically lead to weight. It may, it may not. Certainly in the camp of type 1s, you can get very overweight people, but you get a whole bunch of pretty "normal" kind of people, like me a bit heavy, or sticks, or...

Take that for what you may. You can obviously hold this fear, you can obviously share it, but consider in context of the OP and the thread it may not be helpful for others who have no choice but to integrate insulin into their life, to have the fearmongering that "just thinking about insulin" might make someone fat - the example to cave so easily to affordable fear. Those who are insulin dependent do not have this luxury. I do not quite see how it is useful or relevant or kind, here.

[Joeprep4820]

Disagreements like these kind of remind me of the Jets and the Sharks from West Side Story

[Subby]

Haven't seen that. I don't know if you are suggesting that it's people ganging up on each other - if so that wasn't my intention. I can sympathise with you Linda, really! I can especially understand it considering you were cast a "type 2" for a while and went a lot of low carb information, some of which tends to be very strong and concrete where I feel it may not have a right. To put it another way, I do think there is a sense of indoctrination about this absolute mentality you have against insulin working well for you. I just don't like to see such fear held by someone so obviously rational, and for it to be spread to those who are trying to find their own relationship with this necessary hormone replacement in their life.

Even Bernstein himself (the ultimate low carber), would in no way suggest painting any insulin use as leading to weight gain for a type 1. He suggests very low levels, yes, but not blanket "insulin leads to weight gain". The subject is complex, and deserves to be treated with feet firmly on the ground.

[Gangrel]

I've always thought the only way insulin makes a person gain weight is by increasing hypo episodes, forcing us to eat tons to get back to "normal".........

[foxl]

It's really unfortunate that you, who have shown yourself to be extremely disciplined, have lost weight, modified your diet, jump up and down at any BG excursion and do what needs to be done, have in your mind that insulin use is SUCH a threat, such a hard thing to manage and such an automatic precurser to weight, you can only cast a vote of complete non-confidence in using it sensibly. I think it's an unfortunate lack of confidence in yourself and a very unfortunate sentiment to be showing here. I also think it's quite illogical if you do lose further insulin function in the future and need to supplement it in order to have closer to normal insulin levels in your body, that insulin will automatically lead to weight. It may, it may not. Certainly in the camp of type 1s, you can get very overweight people, but you get a whole bunch of pretty "normal" kind of people, like me a bit heavy, or sticks, or...

Take that for what you may. You can obviously hold this fear, you can obviously share it, but consider in context of the OP and the thread it may not be helpful for others who have no choice but to integrate insulin into their life, to have the fearmongering that "just thinking about insulin" might make someone fat - the example to cave so easily to affordable fear. Those who are insulin dependent do not have this luxury. I do not quite see how it is useful or relevant or kind, here.

Aw Subby I do not see insulin as a threat ... it is the use of it to "cheat" that I see as a threat! And it is MY capacity to abuse it that is the real threat ... but to put it more simply ... I am just feeling fat right now. :mad: I don't think I even gained any weight -- just this crummy infection bumming me out.

[Maddogg]

I do. But, as many others here have said, in moderation. I think nothing of grabbing a chocolate bar once in a while now that I know MDI and carb counting. But would I do it every single day? No.

But, compared to some on here, i'm a loose cannon..... so your mileage may vary. I try to eat healthy, do all the right things.... stay in shape.... My average A1c over the past few years has probably been 6.6-ish, which compared to what I see in some signature blocks here is a full point higher.

But, this disease has already taken things from my life like career choices, and time, and energy........ I'm not going to give it anything extra.

I keep myself heatlhy, my endo is pleased, so voila. A piece of chocolate cake or a bag of M+Ms once in a while it is. ;)

I'll drink to that! Cheers! :D My A1c has also been similar to yours

I'm also finally glad to see another member of this forum who's been a member as long as I have (same month and year too). Pre 2004 members are a pretty rare thing :)

[musique913]

Aw Subby I do not see insulin as a threat ... it is the use of it to "cheat" that I see as a threat! And it is MY capacity to abuse it that is the real threat ... but to put it more simply ... I am just feeling fat right now. :mad: I don't think I even gained any weight -- just this crummy infection bumming me out.

Foxl, I was 274 pounds at diagnosis..I understand your pain. I'm on insulin now for two months, after being on just pills for a long time. I'm 141 right now, and still losing. For me, insulin actually kick started me to exercise more and eat better..go figure.:)

I don't use it to cheat, for sure..it wouldn't work like that for me either..:)

[strack350]

I eat pretty much what I want when I want, with the exeption of candy. I have growen up with diabetes and was never allowed candy, so I don't have a "urge" to eat it. I eat lots of pasta, potatoes, fries, pizza, etc.... and carby stuff like that with the exeption of breads, rolls, muffins, cakes, and the like, I tend to stay away from alot of that. I have great control, and don't pack on the pounds. I attribute that to my exercise/gym membership, and my very active lifestyle.:cool:

[Subby]

Aw Subby I do not see insulin as a threat ... it is the use of it to "cheat" that I see as a threat! And it is MY capacity to abuse it that is the real threat ... but to put it more simply ... I am just feeling fat right now. :mad: I don't think I even gained any weight -- just this crummy infection bumming me out.

That's no good about the infection Linda. One of those lovely gifts of diabetes, that illness tends to be more problematic... I know what you mean by "feeling fat". While I don't have any kind of runaway weight issues with insulin, for the last couple of years I do find it hard to lose weight easily (no idea how much it's the insulin's fault, really). I'm at a weight where I am heavier than I used to be, and it is easy to feel fatter and bloated some days, I'd love to be about 5 kg lighter because I know it doesn't happen there...

[Gangrel]

I'll drink to that! Cheers! :D My A1c has also been similar to yours

I'm also finally glad to see another member of this forum who's been a member as long as I have (same month and year too). Pre 2004 members are a pretty rare thing :)

Well, I have taken a few "breaks" over the years I've been on this site, for one reason or another....... I'll call them mental vacations. ;)

[foxl]

That's no good about the infection Linda. One of those lovely gifts of diabetes, that illness tends to be more problematic... I know what you mean by "feeling fat". While I don't have any kind of runaway weight issues with insulin, for the last couple of years I do find it hard to lose weight easily (no idea how much it's the insulin's fault, really). I'm at a weight where I am heavier than I used to be, and it is easy to feel fatter and bloated some days, I'd love to be about 5 kg lighter because I know it doesn't happen there...

I have several times had a problem with ONE sinus ... before the D. I just called in for a second antibiotic, for this one, though! I hate antibiotic resistance!!!

Yes, I agree -- we never CAN know how much of it is insulin's fault, and how much of it is simply metabolic or storage-efficiency as we age.

[michelby]

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for all the advice, bickering ;), insights, etc. I went to the doctor today and he suggested we discuss the pump...my morning numbers are ridiculous at the moment.

I had no idea insulin could make you gain weight! I learn so much every day...

Thanks again!