Depressed and discouraged....need help

Type 2
1

Hello Everyone.. I am pretty new to the site- (but already know the people here are wonderful). I do apologize for what will probably be a long post, but I am in great need of support.

I was diagnosed a few months ago with Type 2, and although I had already been taking metformin (for a different endocrine disorder), had metformin adjusted and been given glyburide which had been working great....too great. I was so motivated to finally lose weight, exercise, and had made a few other excellent changes to my diet...basically I was getting too many very low readings, and my doctor adjusted my meds again. He took me off the glyburide, and lowered metformin. 2 weeks ago I had my gall bladder removed, and ever since then, I just can get back on the ball. It may have something to do with going to see my surgeon post op--- as he basically said all he could make me want to lose weight which he didn't have to)... I took what he said as a challenge, and vowed by this time next year, I would have a significant amount of weight lost (if not all) through medication, exercise, and diet. The problem, is that I have so many other issues and things that are barriers to me- other dietary restrictions, and physical problems that hinder my progress....or maybe those are just excuses...I don't know.... I am just sitting here at the computer.. and for the past few days, going out of control with eating. My blood sugars are back up again...probably due to me not caring anymore what I put in my mouth....I just don't know what to do except cry and eat...... Has anyone felt this way?, how did you get out of it?

2

I don't want to pry, but would you mind sharing some of what you think may be barriers? What many other issues do you have? Your feeling depressed may be due to several things, including the recent surgery. Also, whenever your body is stressed, whether physiologically or psychologically, your blood sugar will rise. Every single patient in our unit usually ends up needing some hypoglycemic after bypass surgery, as their blood glucose increases in response to the trauma of surgery. Your stress is not doing your blood sugar any favors.
Do you have any friends who are diabetic? Know anyone who manages his/her diabetes successfully? Understanding friends that you could talk with?

You say that you've been going out of control with eating; depressed people often will overeat or oversleep, lose interest in most things, etc. What type of diet were you following? Can you exercise or do you have some mobility problem?
I apologize for all these questions, it's the nurse in me, lol.
I was diagnosed in May of 2012, put on metformin (500 mg BID), plus 150g a day of metoprolol for hypertension. At diagnosis my A1C (of which I have great reservations) was 7.6. In May of this year it was 5.6; not outstanding but an improvement.

I no longer take metformin, in fact I quit taking it in November 2012. Metoprolol down to 25 mg. a day (from 150 mg!). Made BIG changes to my diet, and although I have always loved bread and pasta, those just had to go, for my health comes before my cravings! Though my back is in very bad shape, I try to walk at least 3-4 times a week, keep my carbo intake at around 30mg a day. My glucose readings are very good, considering. This morning, however, the reading was nothing to brag about, mainly because around 4 a.m. I decided to treat myself to mashed potatoes and stuffing (hey, it was Thanksgiving!), so my morning sugar reached 128. Did not stress over it, within an hour went down to 106 and then 86.

You can turn things around, you will. There are many caring members here who, I'm sure, have experienced similar situations; lots of help here. So stay tuned; we all want to help you overcome this hump! Together we'll do it :-)

3

Sure, Ill share more- believe it or not---I just graduated and passed my NCLEX- RN!!! So there is a lot of good and bad stress going on in my life--; the barriers that I was referring to- I have plantar fasciitis on my left foot- I wanted to start a walking routine- and was only able to walk about 5 minutes before being in extreme pain..so walking- the easiest thing is not a good way of exercise for me. The best for me, that I love- is an elliptical machine- but due to financial woes- I can't afford a gym membership right now- looking for a cheap used one currently. Also, a couple of months ago, because of certain other gastrointestinal issues I was having, I gave in to trying a gluten free diet. I did think that it was just a fad..but to my surprise, after about a week of it, I felt so much more energy and my IBS symptoms had decreased. So I continued with it. A week or 2 later, I had a no sugar added fudge pop- I didn't know that it had malt in it at the time I ate it- which is gluten--- and my symptoms returned--- fatigue, depression, IBS, etc..... so ever since then, I've decided to continue with a gluten free diet (without being diagnosed as having a gluten intolerance). That to me is a barrier because while I feel better not eating it, It is a challenge in itself- with the holidays- and all of the yummy treats this time of year. Anyway-- so I changed my diet radically- which means that I haven't been eating anything out- fast food- restaurants....and made some really good changes...but I have not lost weight.....that's where I guess I started feeling depressed. And then when the doctor scaled back my medicine I saw high numbers again- which made it even worse. Sorry for the ramble....

I do know a lot about diabetes- and treatment- for I am also a registered dietitian...this is a sensitive thing for me because I know I don't "look" like one. I actually had experiences where medical professionals would judge me and be like....you are obese and you are a dietitian!!!! (very sarcastically).
Along with this- I am currently seeing a hematologist for chronic anemia and chronically high WBC- which he is saying can be due to a high level of stress but is doing bloodwork on me to be sure. So that's my story....I have a lot going on (including going through a divorce) and I know that I tend to eat when I get stressed, and then after losing control, I am too hard on myself.

I am sorry for the length of my rant- but that is what is going on with me now- I know this site is wonderful- and I am thankful for having found this community.

4

Oh dear, those who have been certified dieticians, or registered dieticians have a tough road ahead. Why? Because the medical profession do not see the reason for diabetic high blood sugar. Whichever organizetion you choose, they give the "supposed" amount of carbs, if you can't control your b.g. then you increase the meds and/or insulin. Some of us have functioningt pancreas, and can control our b.g. with much less than the recommended (ADA) nutrient intake.

WHEN oh WHEN will the medical profession get with the program and realize that diabetics (no matter which type) are carbohydrate intolerant? It is such a sad tale, and so on-going that it is depressing.

I was diagnosed in 2003, my dr. said it would progress and I would be on insulin within a year. Ten years later, I am not on insulin, I am not on meds. My carbohydrate intake is 30grams or less (sometimes much less). I am not losing minerals or nutrients, carbs are the one source of nutrients that are not essential. My a1c (although not as low as I would like) is 5.7, when diagnosed, it was 6.3, not much of a drop, but not progressing as the dr. said:)

Reducing the carbohydrates in a diabetics menu will help them lose weight, control blood glucose and not have to worry about complications. It is not a difficult decision.

Check out Dr. Richard Bernstein's book "Diabetes Solution", it is (in my oppinion) a mandatory addition to any diatetics reference library.

Blessings to all.

5

Thank you for your response and suggestion. I will look for the book. I have had success in the past with a low carbohydrate diet- its time I look into that again.

6

Kill the pity party.....

Every type 2 diabetic has felt this way at one time or another. You feel helpless. You feel your body is in control of you and not you controlling it. The best medication in the world is a box of chocolates and pasta/..... sadly. what you do is this... go ahead and grieve the lost of your old self. Give yourself a time limit of about a week. During this time talk to a counselor or therapist. I would tell you first hand stay away from family because they tend to be close to the situation to give good advice. Then start your maintenance all over. You have to incorporate exercise and a food regime. Now i didn't say train for the Olympics nor did I say become vegan. Find a diet that is reasonable and try it. Challenge yourself. I have cut out coffee and sweets from my diet for the past to months. Now I am trying to walk 2 miles every 3 days to start. Most importantly educate yourself about your conditions. Don't rely on doctors and t.v.. These are the worst places for information. If you give yourself excuse then you get to keep yourself as is. There are all different types of exercise to do if you can't walk, bend or stretch. You will have to research this...

7

Well, first off, congratulations on passing the NCLEX-RN!

You do not need to join a gym to get some exercise. Walking, as far as I'm concerned, is the best form of exercise, easy on the joints, out in the fresh air, not a stale, stuffy gym, lol (just my opinion, for all that's worth). There are good exercises to help relieve the discomfort/pain of fasciitis. You may want to ask your doctor for some medication, use some type of insole, etc. You get it, right? Plantar fascitis may be a nuisance but you can work around it. If you believe you cannot, how about one of those small, floor exercise "bikes"? I bought one because I just cannot tolerate walking in the extremely high humidity and heat conditions in this part of the Country! I could have used the excuse that I don't exercise in the summer because of the heat/humidity, but getting the bike blew that excuse away. If you have back problems (like I do), that floor bike is great. Mine came from Amazon.

Also, and please, please, don't take what I'm about to type as an insult, but dieticians do not necessarily make for diabetes experts; same goes for "diabetic educators" (ask me how I know, I used to be one, before the T2 diagnosis!). The ADA recommendations on carbo are ridiculous; whole wheat bread is not good for you after all, etc. Like us (health professionals), many/most dieticians simply repeat what they were told by the "experts" in their field, and we usually do not question their "facts".

I understand that holidays are particularly trying because of the abundance of foods that can really do a number on us! There is no other way of saying it, but you must exercise self-restraint. You can eat a tiny piece of pumpkin pie, but that's it. Don' eat a small piece of everything that's spread out on that table, lol. And if you think that after eating a morsel you may end up eating the whole enchilada, then stay away from it completely.

You may find it hard to believe, but as you numbers improve, your energy returns, your mood lifts, you will no longer see that as depriving yourself; you will view the decision to say "No" as an act of love to yourself.
Don't give in to diabetes; we'll be here for you to support you, but you also must do some work :-)

8

Thank you so much, and you are right, after finding this site- and learning from a few other resources, I am seeing now how much the medical/healthcare professionals have it all wrong about carbs, an they need to learn about nutrition and diabetes- myself included. Thank you all for your encouragement.