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Help and support with pre-Diabetes

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Posted 11/24/2019 6:11 PM (GMT -5)
Hi,
I normally post in the depression forum, but I desperately need some help and support with my prediabetes. For months I have been overwhelmed with everything going on in my life and my depression, more dysthymia than major depression, has gotten bad. I am still functioning in everything but my diet. Basically, I am having a real hard time cooking for myself. I am living on graham crackers , McDonald's chicken nuggets and sausage egg burritos, prepackaged salads and frozen dinners (I try to choose lower carb ones.) When I eat out, I go to Panera or Noodles where I can have veggie heavy meals. When I am really stressed, I drink a lot of diet coke and eat surgery foods, which boost my dopamine levels for a short time.

I live with my mother in law, who needs a lot of care and just went on a pureed diet. I tried the ADA pre-diabetes forum, but the moderators just don't get it. I feel like they would really like to tell me to just "snap out of it". When I look online for articles about dealing with prediabetes when you have depression all I get are articles about dealing with the depression that can come after you have been diagnosed. This is strange to me as depression is a risk factor for diabetes.

I have a therapist and am on antidepressants, and she does her best but I only see her twice a month. I live in a rural area. So essentially I am alone in this.

I guess I could just start taking metformin, but I really don't want to.

Any ideas?
Posted 11/24/2019 8:47 PM (GMT -5)
Hi again and very sorry you're having a bad time getting your depression under control. Yes, there are several health issues that affect others: anxiety, depression and also diabetes. I'm not an expert in these associations but I have had my share of health issues the past year that were made worse (and even created!) by my anxiety, I sympathize with you.
First, as far as the blood sugar, I would suggest talking all of this over with your doctor. My opinion is that you should be testing your blood sugar and keeping a log so you know how the food you're eating is affecting the blood sugar. Please read the link in my signature for Blood Sugar 101. You will learn many important facts about blood sugar levels and why it's important to keep blood sugar as near normal as you can.

I know that for myself when I am going through anxiety, I would prefer to reach for the nearest food that I shouldn't eat and that's not good but it's hard to control. I don't have answers for you in that regard other than to make sure you have the proper foods available to you and not the ones that will raise your blood sugar. Complications from high blood sugar (whether or not you are prediabetic or have diabetes) can lead to serious health problems after a period of time.

Are you on medication for depression? Sometimes side effects for meds include increased hunger and that can really throw us off!
Posted 11/24/2019 10:56 PM (GMT -5)
Hi Lani
Thanks for your reply.

Yes, I am on antidepressants, as I mentioned, and have been for about 20 years, many different ones.

My doctor is not too helpful in the diet arena. The dietician I saw is sympathetic but didn't know what to tell me so she steered me to a macrobiotic diet website.

I do not have the luxury of interrupting my work day to check a one or 2 hour post prandial glucose. I am in a clinic situation and I can't just duck out in the middle of a visit.

So I will soldier on alone with the depression/diabetes dilemma.

Thanks for caring
Posted 11/25/2019 10:50 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Buena, I think I understand the situation better now. If testing is not possible, forget that. In that case, if you eat the best way you can for keeping the blood sugar 'normal' then that would be one less thing to worry about. I'm not sure what you know or don't realize about food and blood sugar so I'm just going to write some suggestions.

Any food made with flour will raise blood sugar. That includes bread, cereal, crackers. Sugar in any form: honey, molasses, agave will also raise blood sugar. Vegetables like potatoes, corn, carrots, yams will do that, too. In general, root vegetables are high in carbs so if you do eat any please don't eat a lot. Eating any of the following is fine: meat, cheese, nuts, eggs, leafy greens, and other veggies like: celery, zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, all kinds of peppers, tomatoes (careful with the sauce), cucumbers. I'm sure there are other veggies but can't think off the top of my head.

Good snacks that you can put in baggies to take with you would be pieces of cheese, olives, celery, hard boiled egg, mixed nuts. Natural peanut butter is great on celery or smeared on pieces of dark chocolate. I buy the 72% dark chocolate. Cream cheese (the 1/3 fat package) is also good on celery.

I'm glad you posted. I hope you're doing well today. I know it's hard to change what you might have been eating but following what I've posted above will help you keep your blood sugar lower. One less thing to worry about.
Posted 11/30/2019 3:26 AM (GMT -5)
All my brother in laws and brother and friends are taking metformin. My family doctor even told that non-diabetic people are taking Metformin because of its anti aging effects. For type II diabetic people, it is very easy to get your blood sugar low - Just don't eat carb. Eat fish or meats first, then eat vegetable, finally have only a single piece of toast. This way, your blood sugar will always be low. In between meal, have a small apple.

A1C is three month average blood sugar. AT 6.5, it mans 140. Generally, at 7 which is 160 that it starts to attack your organ. If you are at pre-diabetic at 5.8 or 6.0, there is nothing to worry. It will take many more years to advance to 6.8 or 7 to start taking metformin.

The bottom line, even you start taking Metformin, there is no big deal - as long s you don't abuse taking carb irresponsibly .
Posted 11/30/2019 9:04 AM (GMT -5)
Good morning, Pneuco, and welcome! Yes, I've heard of metformin being used off label for reasons other than diabetes. I don't know about the accuracy of some claims but I know it helps with insulin resistance and it's an inexpensive drug.

As far as diet, you are correct about carbs. Vegetables low in carbs are always best to eat, along with some protein.

You might be interested in the website BloodSugar 101 which has lots of info about these things but also studies and research. Click on the link in my signature.

Glad you posted! smile
Posted 11/30/2019 8:45 PM (GMT -5)
Thank you for the replies. I think my main issue is with motivation rather than knowledge. When I get depressed my diet is the first thing to go. I use to weigh/portion out low carb snacks, count carbs, check my AM blood sugars, exercise, but I am having a hard time doing that now. Every day is a new day though and I try to start again.
Posted 12/1/2019 5:15 PM (GMT -5)
Oh gosh, do I know what you mean! I tend to grab the first food available if I'm hungry and just not patient enough to make something that I should eat - so, I will end up eating something I shouldn't. That's me. The only way to stop that is to make sure I've done my preparation to have food I CAN eat readily available. That means making sure I've bought it in the first place! So, I hope you can get back on track, too.

I have never measured or weighed any food since I don't eat any pure carbs, I don't have to. If we go out to eat we tell them not to bring bread to the table - fortunately my husband doesn't like the typical bread served like that. But there is ONE restaurant here that serves artisan bread, made in house, that I will eat with butter! Haha but since we might go there once or twice a year, I don't feel that's an issue.

Good luck! Wish I could help you more. sad
Posted 12/15/2019 8:04 PM (GMT -5)
Buena, I've had depression for over 50 years and I absolutely know that my 'go to' food for self treatment is CARBS. Because carbs raise the serotonin levels in the brain we eat them to feel better. As a diabetic I have to limit them so I try to choose high grain/fiber carbs and for me that is home made sourdough bread. It has a lower glycemic index that regular white bread and I take it even lower by adding oatmeal, ground flax seed, chia, bulgar and corn meal to the dough. Peanut butter on it adds protein and fat to further delay glucose absorption. Works for me.
Posted 12/15/2019 11:05 PM (GMT -5)
Keep strong all. Great sharing and compassion. HT
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