1. < Diabetes & Endocrine System

Intuitive Eating

Posted by jeanniem @jeanniem, Feb 17, 2021

Has anyone tried doing the Intuitive Eating program with diabetes? I am a type 2 diabetic for 15-ish years (no insulin, but I do take Metformin and Glipizide) and I need to cultivate a healthier relationship with food. the Intuitive Eating book and workbook were recommended to me. The whole idea is to listen to what your body actually wants and needs. This is done through trial and error and getting rid of the dieting mentality. That all sounds fine and good but is that even possible when concerned about blood sugars? Sometimes I eat because I have a mid afternoon sugar drop but am more shaky than actually hungry. Other times I feel truly hungry but will not allow myself to eat because sugars are already higher than I like. (My last A1C was 6.9 so my sugars are not sky high.) I know, many will tell me to force feed myself veggies and cut out bread and carbs. I eat salad but have an averse reaction to many veggies. On previous "diets" I just stopped eating because nothing I enjoyed eating was allowed so I just didn't eat. You can imagine that didn't end well - totally not sustainable. This is why I wanted to go the route of trying to build a new relationship with food. I know this is a rambling post. Feel free to respond if you can make heads or tails out of it. 🙂

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catstx | @catstx | Apr 19, 2021
In reply to @jeanniem "I learned to eat a lot of new things in college and while I was living..." + (show)
@jeanniem

I learned to eat a lot of new things in college and while I was living in Hawaii. Unfortunately, I still have a gag reflex to certain veggies. That does not make eating them fun - nor appropriate in public. I eat more veggies than I used to. I am happy with a salad. I cook with peppers and onion - even sometimes eat peppers raw. I can tolerate carrots. Corn I will eat if it is dry (juices in almost all veggies trigger the gag reflex - why?!). I have had good grilled asparagus but have not yet successfully made my own. I have been told I should try more grilled or broiled veggies. It just feels hard with so many other things I have to balance in my life. I just need a personal chef, right? ;-p

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Don’t we all need our own chef. I know exactly what you mean, and have for over 20 years but can’t seem to find my ground. Good luck

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Apr 19, 2021

This is a great topic. I spend winters in a small community, and once our families are raised, I am seeing that many adultsmdepart drastically from the old "3 square meals" - some with 5-6 small meals, others with intermittent fasting, patterns with few or no sweets, avoidance of certain foods, etc.
After a lingering illness and long course of difficult medication, I have learned that 5-6 meals-snacks per day works best for me to maintain weight and blood sugar. Like you, my diabetic spouse is not a fan of large amounts of vegetables and salads, so we incorporate them in chili, spaghetti sauce, stir fry... I have also added them to smoothies (only mildly flavored ones that puree well) Every little change helps.
Sue

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