February 17, 2003
Daily Care
Question from Glendora, California, USA:
I had to take insulin for the first year after I was diagnosed, and it’s now been a year since I last had to inject insulin. It really was so easy for me to control my diet and exercise appropriately in the beginning, but for the past six months or so, it really hasn’t, and for the past week, it’s really gone out of control. My life revolves around food, and even though I know I should, I can’t stop eating. I eat way more than I should and I’m terrified as to what it’s going to do to my health; long term, short term, physically, and emotionally. I want to know if this is a common problem and if there’s anything I can do about it without confessing my embarrassing secret of my obsession of food and lack of control for my intake.
Answer:
First of all, if you really don’t need to take insulin then you do not have type 1 diabetes but probably have type 2. Nonetheless, sensible eating is at the centre of blood sugar and weight control, both of which are crucial to maintaining good health.
You should not feel in any way reluctant to discuss these matters with your doctor and diabetes professionals because they will already be fully aware that you are finding things hard. Diabetes professionals spend most of their working day helping people develop strategies to help them manage to stick to healthy eating and exercise patterns. I would urge you to discuss the issues fully — they will welcome your honesty and it makes their job much easier if they don’t have to try to work out what your problems are.
KJR
