Diabetes/Weight/Mood

[Algernon]

So. I basically have a horrible diet. And I need some insight.

My family has many people who have diabetes, most of them are overweight, but a few of them were thin when they were young, but got fat when they got older. I'm afraid that if I keep eating like this, I might get diabetes.

My mood isn't good all the time. And I'm starting to think... Could it be my diet? I mean, I've been sad, having real problems. My boyfriend used to be thin, and when we started having sex he suddenly gained all this weight, he's about the same height as I am, and he noticed that he's "heavier" such as it's harder for him to move around. Crazy thing is I feel the same way!

I hate the way my body looks. I'm not fat to the point where the problem is evident, but I think if I don't change something, it's going to get worse. Honestly, it's embarrassing to say... I looks like cellulite is forming. My roommate says the scale must be wrong because the number that comes up seems crazy for a person of my height.

What do you guys think, and suggest?

[drowningangel]

Blood sugar and mood: any connection? - Mayo Clinic
Managing Mood Swings Naturally - Bella Online

Blood sugar can affect moods. You don't have to be a diabetic to have fluctuating blood sugar and to have it affect your moods. Some people become depressed, lethargic, anxious, angry, short-tempered, so you're definitely not alone.

Maybe try doing smaller meals and snacks, especially if you start feeling moody. Just to see if it helps you. If it does, it may help you realize where you're at with your sugar and what helps.

Graze. The best meal schedule to maintain blood glucose levels as near to normal as possible is three small meals and two to three snacks evenly spaced throughout the day. Try to be consistent with when you eat and take your medications each day, and avoid skipping meals or overtaxing your body with belt-busting meals.

Count your carbs. Foods rich in carbohydrates (sweets, starchy foods, fruits and milk) cause the biggest increase in blood sugar levels, so carbohydrates need to be spaced throughout the day. Simple carbohydrates (sugars) and complex carbohydrates (starches) both cause blood glucose levels to rise.

Boost your fiber. High fiber foods help blood sugar levels to rise more slowly than do refined carbohydrates such as cookies, white bread, or white rice. Get a majority of your carbohydrates from whole grains (oatmeal, bran cereal, brown rice and whole-wheat breads); beans and legumes; and whole fruits and vegetables.

Choose healthy fats. Use monounsaturated fat (olive and canola oils) and cut saturated fat to lower blood cholesterol - individuals with diabetes are at higher risk for heart disease.

Opt for Lean Proteins - Choose meatless meals, seafood and poultry more often than meat - they're lower in fat and calories - good for weight and cholesterol management.

Source: Meals.com

[Algernon]

Wow. That was some really good information. I read up and you might have hit the problem on the head...

[The Patron Saint]

Hey, do you exercise often? A lack of exercise can lead to feeling down and like you have no energy.

Major thing though if you want to change your diet or lose weight, don't feel bad about yourself. That's the reason why a lot of people I know don't stay on their diets or exercise plans. They start to feel bad because they aren't getting the results right away and just give up. So try to stick to whatever you try, and good luck with it.

[InSovietRussiaORGASMGotU]

Originally Posted by xHolyValorx

So. I basically have a horrible diet. And I need some insight.

My family has many people who have diabetes, most of them are overweight, but a few of them were thin when they were young, but got fat when they got older. I'm afraid that if I keep eating like this, I might get diabetes.

My mood isn't good all the time. And I'm starting to think... Could it be my diet? I mean, I've been sad, having real problems. My boyfriend used to be thin, and when we started having sex he suddenly gained all this weight, he's about the same height as I am, and he noticed that he's "heavier" such as it's harder for him to move around. Crazy thing is I feel the same way!

I hate the way my body looks. I'm not fat to the point where the problem is evident, but I think if I don't change something, it's going to get worse. Honestly, it's embarrassing to say... I looks like cellulite is forming. My roommate says the scale must be wrong because the number that comes up seems crazy for a person of my height.

What do you guys think, and suggest?

One's diet can easily affect your mood. Certain neurotransmitters are synthesized based on your dietary intake. Also, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can cause aggressiveness, confusion, sadness, etc... . It's more common in people with diabetes mellitus (not diabetes insipidus, hence, why saying "diabetes" is very vague, and diabetes mellitus has various sub-classes), however, it's not exclusive to only them.

Without knowing what your diet is, it's hard to suggest what to do. Granted, as others have done, they can give you a general outline but it's not as good as seeing your current diet then giving suggestions. That being said, how much and what do you eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and how much do you exercise?

Just as a little tip, if you think you may be diabetic and you happen to be consuming sugary foods and your vision gets blurred, eat less but don't panic. It causes temporary distortion in the lens of your eye. Either let it be or take insulin if you have it, however, for you, I'd say leave it.

I'll admit, my diet probably would make a dietician shoot him/herself (plus I'm not a fan of dieticians, father had some in the past and each one I don't believe passed high school biology due to their lack of intelligence and in some cases, immense ignorance), however, I could help give a theoretically good diet. If you wish, you can see a dietician, however, as I've said, I've met the ones my father had and I think talking to my shoe is more useful. Although, I have heard of great dieticians, so if you consider seeing one, you may get a lousy one, mediocore or amazing one.

From knowledge from my aunt with diabetes mellitus, she introduced me to "carb counting", which is looking at amount of carbs for whatever it is minus amount of fiber. There's physiological reasons for this, however, those can be discussed elsewhere or you can look it up on Google.