Sugar addiction: is willpower enough to kick the habit?

Hello @JennaRra! How are you doing today?

Thank you very much for sharing your story with such honesty. It can be very hrd to beat addiction and I wish you only the best on your journey. I will tag some members who might want to share their thoughts on this topic.

@SteveAllnutt @Redrose47 @trevorbulmer @famis5 @NannasGirl1982 @Dollysandameliasauntietj @ScottyT277 @monday13 @healthcare8055 @epain01 @jinksy @robjmckinney @Pippadog @danabanana @henrick @trevorbulmer

Hello everyone! How are you feeling today?

Do you like sugar? Would you say that you have a sugar addiction? How do you keep your sugar cravings in check?

Take care,

Polina from the Carenity team

As with any addiction, the only real help is by helping yourself and coming to terms with the restrictions of what diabetes has brought on us. My bother and myself are both diabetic, he has mostly ignored issues and gone through quite severe experiences while I on the 'whole played the game' but no saint. We are both overweight and who does not like sweet things, giving up full sugar Coke for useless Diet Coke was a terrible experience in life for me. Lifestyle choice is the only option to resolve your issues as there is no magic pill. There is a injection around at the moment which can help you to loose a few pounds as well as control your diabetes, your GP may help.

But back to my brother, he like all us men ignored the issues and has had toes removed through infection, stapled stomach, 'shark fins' growing on his feet requiring special shoes, cattaracks, lost all feeling in his legs etc. I have avoided many pitfalls and not been a saint myself, I was put right by getting cancer and losing 6 stone in six weeks during treatment. Took me from injecting to diet controlled, although put weight on since so back on pills, oral medicine control. So evidence that diet is the key, just in the last six months I lost control with high blood sugars and extra pounds. Back on my individual choice of diet, no plans, I again lost half a stone getting my bloods and weight on track. So, a Yo Yo system that keeps me relatively safe, there are crash diets that work well with diabetes or missing out meals for a day that work, see your GP.

But it is clearly a individual thing to resolve your diabetes and finding a path that works for you. You might be the type that works well with diet plans or local club, finding the path is an individual choice that you must find. Ignoring diabetes can be a dangerous option leading terrible infections and massive surgical operations so watch your feet and legs. Food options is about reading labels and low priced food is usually low in sugar as it is an expensive ingredient, going to Aldi not M&S. One interesting avenue the government is forcing on all of us by reducing 25% of sugar content out of food including sweets by regulation. I spent my time in supermarkets finding unadjusted food as I find they taste awful these days. Good luck with finding your answers there is plenty of help from your GP or online!