I have been diagnosed with type II diabetes since l999.

I have not paid too much attention to that diagnoses.
I eat sweets when I want and have not watched my carbohydrate intake at all...........
I am very sick today. I started taking glucophage 3xday (500mg) and am attempting to not eat sweets....

I just have no clue on how to eat with diabetes. I dont sleep very well so when my family is gone I go back to bed to catch up on lost hours...so basically my day begins at 12pm....this is when I have breakfast....but then I eat supper with my family around 6pm....the horrible part is that around 9pm I crave sweets....Im just having a horrible time with this......I also feel very bad because I feel that I have passed my horrible eating habits onto my children..they have sweets everyday.....I just dont know where to start....how to manage this awful illness.....I need to find and follow a guideline...can anyone help with how to start taking care of this awful illness???

For me, the best thing I did was to see a nutritionist. If your insurance covers it, it is worth your time. Also get a diabetic cook book. I think they are available on the American Diabetes Association website. Actually the ADA has alot of valuable information. Check these message boards because there are alot of posts with links to helpful information. There is also alot of support on these message boards from people just like you. One thing re info off of websites-make sure that any info you get from the net is coming from a credible source. Keep us posted.

Ok, this is NOT really difficult at all. It takes no will power or self control. Trust me--I've been diabetic for 38 years! Take ALL the sweets in your house-- cookies, candy, soda pop with sugar, sweetened canned foods like fruits, all fruit juices, pies, cakes, ice cream, granola & other sweet cereals, junk foods such as Poptarts, Yoohoo's Twinkies--Ok, you get the point--take ALL that stuff, sweep thru your house and THROW IT ALL IN THE GARBAGE!! Cross that crap off your shopping list and never allow it in your house again--if it's not there, you won't eat it. Ok, then go out and buy stuff like carrots and celery to snack on, fresh fish and skinned chicken breasts for dinners, low-fat cottage cheese for lunch, and, in extreme moderation items like pasta, rice, potatoes, whole grain breads, plain cereals, skim milk, fresh fruits and nuts. An old Zen saying regarding food suggests that you leave the table with your stomach 1/3 full of food, 1/3 full of water and 1/3 full of air--empty, in other words. NEVER eat until you feel full--break that habit and your stomach will begin to shrink until you no longer want to eat much. Your family will howl and scream bloody murder if they are used to eating a steady diet of crap, but don't let them dictate the food. They'll come around eventually, and when they do, they will also be healthier for it. Tell them if they want you to live a long life they will encourage and support this new family diet for ALL your benefits.

Good luck, eat healthy, and, oh, one more thing--once a month, NO MORE--go out for a pizza or a scoop of ice cream. :-)

Michael
type 1 since 1965

Yep, do what michael said 1st thing. Then follow up with deedee's suggestion on finding recipes and such. Learn to start counting carbs and following meal plans. Good luck

The book "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution - A Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars" is an excellent resource. He recommends a diet low in carbohydrates as the first step in controlling diabetes.

Alan

Well...do you want to lose a leg? Do you want a kidney transplant...do you want eye trouble? If no...you will do something about it...BTW...i have all three of those problems...

saskia

You need to get on a regular schedule with your eating and sleeping. If you have difficulty sleeping then do some searches on the web for tips on how to sleep better or talk to your doctor about this. You need to eat your 3 meals a day and be sure to have your snacks in between meals as well as at bedtime. Be sure to carry some sugar with you at all times in case of a hypoglycemic attack and a medic alert bracelet is another good idea. There are glucose tablets you can buy to carry with you as well as any regular hard candy. The effects of not taking care of your diabetes are devestating to see. As mentioned in the other posts .......infections take longer to heal and if they don't heal you wind up losing a limb. Poor diabetes control causes you to loose your eyesight and you eventually can wind up legally blind. Your kidneys start to fail and if they get too bad you wind up on dailysis which is not a fun thing. Be sure to check your blood sugars as often as the doctor has recommended and get you lab tests done routinely per your doctors orders. Be sure to get plenty of excercise and if you have any excess weight to loose try to loose it since this can also be a big factor. Get regular eye exams and examine your feet and legs often for any sore or signs of pressure areas. Diet was already covered by the other posters but yes ask your doctor for a referral to your clinic or hospitals dietician or diabetic nurse for suggestions and help with meals and diet. Good Luck.

Sometimes you have to take small steps to get on right the road. Try staying away from food that is WHITE. IE: Sugar, White Flour, Bread, Potatoes. My husband also snackes on Cheerios when he is having food cravings. Veggies aren't his favortie thing. Food is his crutch and if it's in the house he eats it. Good luck and don't beat yourself up when you slip. Just do better the next time you crave something sweet. Your body will let you know you've been bad. Feeling rotten is no fun...