One of the most difficult things people living with Type 1 Diabetes experience is how to have a balanced relationship with food.
Food is either destructive for us as people living with T1DM, or it is life-saving. We have to be careful how many carbohydrates we eat in any one sitting in order to avoid hyperglycemia, and yet, at the same time, when our blood sugars drop too low, we are scrounging for carbohydrates to keep us from having a hypoglycemic reaction! How difficult is that?!?
We are rarely at ease throughout an entire meal, often wondering what caused our blood sugar to spike or drop too low. The Type 1 life is an ongoing mathematical equation, and can often take a lot of the enjoyment out of food. The ongoing analytical piece is why we also choose to neglect our diabetes care at times. Can’t we just eat and enjoy something without thinking about how many grams of carbohydrates is in it and how much insulin we need to take?
This is where the war continues. Food offers us sustenance, and at the same time gives us pleasure and comfort. But, for the Type 1, restrictions have also been placed around food, which puts us at higher risk for eating problems and disorders, because it makes us want to rebel. And, for those of us that do, we then experience feelings of guilt, frustration, shame, anger, etc. which can lead to a vicious cycle of low self-esteem.
Believe me, you are not alone in your battle against food. I can’t say I have met one person living with any form of diabetes that doesn’t struggle with their relationship to food in some way, including myself.
So, how can we come to a peaceful balance with food (moreso carbohydrates/sweets)?
Honestly, taking the time to plan certain carbohydrates in to our daily meals is a good way to prevent more extreme blood glucose excursions. If we continue to deprive ourselves of certain foods, they will have more power over us, which then often leads to overeating those foods when other areas of our lives are out of balance.
Also, tapping in to our body sensations are key. Always ask yourself if you are actually hungry before you go to grab some food. If the answer is no, then pause, take a deep breath, and go deeper. Is there an underlying emotion that you are stuffing down with food? Is there something sweet that is missing in your life that you are trying to fill with sweet foods? Or, are you tired and need nurturing in a different way? Ask yourself what you actually NEED in that moment.
Begin writing down what you truly NEED; this will bring so much awareness to you moving forward, and you will begin listening to your body’s needs more and more until it becomes natural, and you stop overriding.
Since the time you were diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, you were told you must limit your carbs. But, YOU don’t have to feel limited. If you eat too many carbs in one sitting, that was YOUR CHOICE. YOU can also be conscious enough to make a healthy CHOICE that will be respectful of YOUR body and leave you feeling good about your whole Self.
YOU CAN create new healthy habits that serve you in every moment that YOU CHOOSE to implement them. Not all habits have to be bad! You will find your own power in creating healthy limitations for yourself, because these nourishing boundaries are truly your highest expression of SELF-LOVE!
So, go on, and start loving yourself! Treat yourself in new ways you never thought of before. Be creative. Choose something different than food.
And remember, any new choice and/or lifestyle change means baby steps; these life-long transformations don’t occur overnight. Be gentle with yourself. Be compassionate.
I am here to support and guide you in any which way I can.
Please consider my offerings at The Holistic Type 1.
With love,
Amy Jean
