[nono87]

hello there,

i haven't posted in awhile but yea things haven't been as great i have fallen off the wagon so to speak.....after my review in April i have sort of gone off the way side.....my sugar levels are running high again i have lost motivation!!!!i need motivation....ahhhhhhhhhh i have been going to the gym i have lost the weight now its a matter of curbing my eating habits and counting my carbs properly...

i just have some questions;

1. when i inject my morning dose should i include the carbs that i will take in from the 3 or so other cups of coffee that i will have in between before lunch time?

2. is it wise to put some juice into my drinking water for flavouring or is this likely to increase my sugar levels through out the day....

3. whats the best way to keep motivated?

[shiftzor]

As someone has said before on these forums, it’s not how far you fall that counts, it’s how quickly you get back on.

1: no I wouldn't predict the number of coffees your going to drink, you might have 5 one day and 2 the next, which will only cause more trouble than its worth. Inject n' Drink (if you can)

2: i wouldn't personally put juice into water as it will raise your bg very quickly (simple carb). Drink filtered water or bottled or herbal teas or something.

3: Get some accountability, get some software to give you graphs and trends (to predict those bumps ), Get a friend to keep poking you or ask you how it going once in a while, someone to report to. Take your time and count every carb. Hang on tighter and don't give up, all is not lost.

[NoraWI]

I find it very helpful to keep a small spiral bound notebook in which I write my BGs, time of testing, what I eat and how much I dose. You could also include your exercise and anything else relevant. Good reference point.

Your immediate problem is your young & tender age ;o). At twenty one does not feel mortal. Might a bit of contemplation add motivation?

[Stuboy]

if you put cordil in the water for flavour, just make sure it's no added sugar, and the type of natural fruit in the cordil (if it's robinsons) isn't naturally HIGH in sugars (like orange an pinapple for instance).

I drink Summer Fruits cordil all day long at work and it doen't affect me. I tested it and it read 2.3 on my glucometer so it's quite low in sugars from the fruits in the cordil.

Then you should be ok. But we are all different afterall so make sure you test lots.

[Subby]

Good on you nono for gathering up your energy and looking at improving your control... I think most of us can relate completely to wanting to come back to better control!

I second the diet cordial instead of juice, but do carefully monitor even diet cordials, I find they can spike me even though they are "no added sugar"... I believe some artificial sweeteners can affect some people's blood glucose regardless. So double check a brand before relying on it. Water is even better for you And herbals teas are great.

As far as motivation, I don't know if this helps but I tend to think we look at (and get depressed by) things like HBA1c, other long term indicators, how the doctor judges your progress, etc...

Try completely forgetting all that stuff - and instead concentrate on getting some progress day to day, within a few days or a week or so at a time. Eg, crack your coffee problem (and get help from a dietician to do so). Then look at your night-time BGs and improve them over a few days. Then onto another small puzzle...

It can be motivating to make progress like that, where you see small, meaningful improvements, rather than a disconnected 3 monthly test result. (and by the way, your questions show that you already know this: trying to solve each little mystery, that's the way to go!) Remember too, that you will feel better in yourself mentally and physically with better control... and if you look out for it, you will notice the difference with improvement.

To make progress though does mean you need to be willing with the BG test strips, otherwise you just can't keep track of progress/lack of. How many tests do you tend to take?

[Jan B]

You need to put yourself and your diabetes in front of everything else in life. Then when you have good health habits, I promise you can get on with life. You don't have to be obsessed and abnormal! A good reason for this is that you will feel better: be less moody, recovery from colds or aches and pains will be faster, and you will develop the habits you need for the rest of your life (frequent testing for one). I think the more you test, the better control you will have. Many of us slipped up pretty bad during our youth, and are likely paying for it today with annoying complications, even if minor ones.

Since it's hard to worry about 20 years from now, please understand your current quality of life can be much better (emotions for sure) if you get control of this thing. Stick around DF, sign in daily if possible, and that alone will probably help you!

[kgm0612]

As someone has said before on these forums, it’s not how far you fall that counts, it’s how quickly you get back on.

I totally agree! So.......pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on the horse! You CAN do it!

Karen

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by nono87

hello there,

i 1. when i inject my morning dose should i include the carbs that i will take in from the 3 or so other cups of coffee that i will have in between before lunch time?

I do. I think bolusing well in advance of consumption is an important and effective technique.

2. is it wise to put some juice into my drinking water for flavouring or is this likely to increase my sugar levels through out the day....

No. Juice is evil! Drink the water. Enjoy it ****it!

3. whats the best way to keep motivated?

Interaction with others: DF or a support group that meets regularly.

[notme]

Welcome back! Everyone falls off the wagon at some time.

My best motivation is my family and this site. So no matter how you are doing at the moment, you come here and you talk about it. It isn't always going to be good news.

As for juice in your drinking water???? Bad idea unless you bolus for it. I would suggest adding fresh lemon to your water if you can't stand it plain and forget the juice. No need to take more insulin than needed.

Welcome back!

[davef]

Clamber up here in the wagon, we'll all help you hang on!

It's not fun falling off, but the important thing is you want back on again, posting here proves that. I find that my family, the forum and my meter keep me motivated. And, believe or not having the odd slip also motivates me, it reminds me that I'm human and that I will slip, just last weekend I had a bad time on Sunday night and Monday, I just wanted a day off being diabetic, I wanted to eat what I used to eat. I should have switched on the PC and logged on, but I just wanted a day off.

I was sitting there, my daughter was munching a lovely looking hotdog on a soft roll, mayo, ketchup yum, my wife was enjoying some chocolate. This normally would not bother me, but for some reason it was really getting to me. Even though I got really close to giving in,I even had a take away menu in my hand ready to order, something stopped me, I don't know what, I left the room (there may have been a few curses from me at this point ) and lay on the bed watching TV, had a nap, came back, had a mini-pitta with cheese, frankfurter, onion and mayo, it was a Dave hotdog, followed by a small chocolate bar, not as nice as what my daugther ate, but I felt proud of myself for resisting going the whole hog.

You can do it, you are back with us and we will help you!

[viranth]

I only drink water, and the occational juice when I've taken too much insulin (like now).

But sometimes I do get sick of water, so I have a little bit of lemon or lime in it. It gives you a little taste and can get you through times when you're tired of the plain water.

You should also only take insulin for what you know you will eat/drink, find your basal dose and then always inject when eating. It works very well for me and you get good control.

You're the best person to motivate yourself, all of us can help. but you're the one that have to take the wheel.

My personal motivation is that diabetes isn't going to get me, and I want to live for a very long time so I can see my son grow up.

[CrazyGramma]

Hi
Talk to us anytime, been there, done that!

[KCP]

Is ok! I really think that everyone falls at least once Luckily you have this wonderful forum to help you jump back on..
I myself have fallen recently, but its funny, cos IM reluctant to jump back on! I have to tho.. simply must there is no two ways about it...How do you you get back to tight control after a few weeks of not so good control.. I really want to know!

[Subby]

Originally Posted by KCP

How do you you get back to tight control after a few weeks of not so good control.. I really want to know!

There's no quick fixes of course. Slow steady, get-there-in-the-end improvement will do, right? Because that's the most foolproof way to better control/better life...

To progress, the only way I know is one step at a time, one foot in front of the other, one issue at a time, one managable bit at a time, and taking it easy on yourself (ie, not setting up unreasonably expectations, not letting things stress you too much).

To make a little progress, and stick with it and build on it, is far better than setting unreasonable goals and expectations and it all collapsing when life inevitably gets in the way.

[KCP]

Yea i thought that would be the answer. Ill just keep going then