Question from Jackson, Michigan, USA:

I have type 1 diabetes. For a long time, I was pill controlled because I started as a type 1.5. I am 5 feet, 10 inches and probably 180 pounds. Three years ago, I was 135 to 140 pounds. I started eating compulsively because of stress and everything went to you know where. Because of the weight gain, poor sugars, embarrassment and shame, I don’t want to see a doctor. I just keep gaining weight and I have become very insulin resistant. I understand that the binge eating/large amounts of insulin contribute to weight gain. How can I break this cycle? I do not believe Atkins is the way to go. I am tempted to just stop taking insulin altogether so that the diabetes burns my weight back down to where I was. I estimate this will take about four to five months. I seriously don’t think any long-term complications could come from four to five months! What can I do on my own, besides seeing a doctor? Sorry, but I hate doctors. I took great pains to learn diabetes backward and forward when first diagnosed and taught myself carbohydrate counting so I know I can do this alone. I wasn’t compulsive about my eating then, so the problem is a different one now. How can I combat the compulsivity and the huge amounts of carbohydrates I crave? How can I cut down the insulin I use? I already exercise.