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  Neil Synnott (Exercise Physiologist, Physiotherapist)
  Health Professional

  I am qualified as a PHYSIOTHERAPIST and ACCREDITED EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST. I primarily use the McKENZIE METHOD for assessment and management of musculoskeletal pain disorders. The ... View profile

  Hi Jen,
  
  
  
  I appreciate your honesty regarding YOUR management of YOUR diabetes. Having a diagnosis of diabetes is different for every individual. Every person with diabetes has their individual challenges with management of their diabetes. The people around you - family, friends, health professionals - are resources to help you understand yourself and manage your health. In the end, you are in charge of how you manage your health.
  
  
  
  You included two important personal pieces of information which can be helpful with your food dilemma:
  
  - your daughter is currently 8 years old and you want to see her have kids
  
  - you don't really want diabetes-related illnesses
  
  
  
  Separately these personal comments are great motivators for you to make some changes to your diet. Seeing your daughter grow up and have children of her own would be lovely… Being a grandparent has rich rewards! (so my mother and father tell me - my mother has lived with type II diabetes for 25+ years, has insulin with meals and mobility concerns). My mother regularly has the same eating dilemma that you mention - yet she follows a healthy eating plan and regularly gets a good report from her GP and endocrinologist. At last review, my mother had a reduction in her insulin due to good efforts in maintaining a healthy eating plan and walking regularly. 
  
  
  
  Given that at the moment you are limited by your knee as to how much exercise you can undertake, watching what you eat is very important. If your doctor is talking about having insulin with meals - this is not necessarily a good thing. It tells me that your blood glucose management is not ideal! Accepting a few small changes to your eating plan can make a significant difference to YOUR management of diabetes…
  
  
  
  All the best with your eating plan!
  
  
  
  Regards, Neil Reply to this post  |  Report
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  misskate
  Healthshare Member

  I understand how you feel. I have also been diagnosed as Type 2 and struggle with it.   Your thread made me think of my parents, both of whom were diagnosed Type 2 many years ago.  My father changed his habits to include some exercise and he modified his diet a bit  whilst my mother lived in denial for many years eating as you do.  The difference in their outcomes is incredible.  It is not so much that my mother will live a shorter life but the complications and obstacles she now faces is far greater and her quality of life is reduced.  It is hard but I think it is worth it. Reply to this post  |  Report
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  Dung Pham (Diabetes Educator, Dietitian, Health Coach)
  Health Professional

  Dung is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who currently works in Community Health and Private Practice as a HACC/CH dietitian and Health Coach. She has also ... View profile

  Hi jan,
  You sound like alot of the clients i see and i think it is totally normal to feel this way. We often call it diabetes fatigue when people are sick of thier diabetes so don't be too hard on yourself!!!
  
  There are alot of reasons why your sugars can be high. Yes food is an important part of the equation but its not the only thing. Stress, medications and physical activity are other important players as well.
  
  I just want to emphaise that “THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A DIABETIC DIET”. My colleagues and also Diabetes Australia promote the idea of healthy eating. Just because you have diabetes DOESNT means that you cant eat potatoes or  pasta. They can be incorporated as part of a healthy eating plan in MODERATION. and sweets. I generally teach people to think of foods as “everyday” and “sometimes” food as opposed to “good” and “bad”. Also we tend to find that people tend to crave or want the foods that they “ can't have”. If you allow yourself to have these foods every now and then you wont feel deprived or resent your condition.
  
  Also you dont need to change your DIET COMPLETELY. I am sure that there are aspects of your eating pattern that are healthy. As dietitians we work with peoples current diet and negotiate ways which we can improve this without having to change your diet completely. So if you havent seen a dietitian i would highly recommend you see one-preferably one with an interest in this area.
  
  Diabetes is a condition that can be managed and it does sound like you are trying. it does seem like you are overwhelmed with it though. You can take control of your condition as opposed to letting your condition control you.
  
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