The pressure to be thin can feel overbearing in our society. Research suggests that eating disorders are probably more common among women with diabetes than women who do not have diabetes. Eating disorders are common among women and girls in the general population. However, those with type 1 are twice as likely to suffer from disordered eating patterns. There is no data on eating disorders in men and boys with type 1 diabetes. However, disordered eating does occur among men and boys in the general population, so don’t ignore warning signs.
Bulimia is the most common eating disorder in women with type 1 diabetes. Among women with type 2 diabetes, binge eating is more common.
Because both diabetes and eating disorders involve attention to body states, weight management, and control of food, some people develop a pattern in which they use the disease to justify or camouflage the disorder. Because the complications of diabetes and eating disorders can be serious or even fatal, responsible, healthy behavior is essential.
Eating disorders are illnesses with a biological basis modified and influenced by emotional and cultural factors. While eating disorders are serious, potentially life threatening illnesses, there is help available and recovery is possible.
Types of Eating Disorders
Anorexia (or anorexia nervosa) is an eating disorder centered around an obsessive fear of weight gain. Anorexia involves self-starvation and excessive weight loss. Although anorexia is a psychological disorder, the physical consequences are serious and sometimes life-threatening.
Bulimia is characterized by recurrent binge eating (the rapid controlled consumption of large amounts of food). Purging may occur with self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, insulin omission or reduction, fasting, severe diets, or vigorous exercise.
Binge Eating Disorder (also known as Compulsive Overeating) is characterized primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge.
Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) is a range of other disordered eating patterns that doesn’t fit the other specific types. These conditions are still serious, and intervention and attention are necessary. EDNOS, or other types of eating disorders, may include:
Eating problems or disordered eating with some, but not all, of the characteristics of an eating disorder; for example, people who severely restrict food intake, but who do not meet the full criteria for anorexia nervosa.
Chewing food and spitting it out (without swallowing).
Bingeing and purging irregularly, such as at times of increased stress.
Warning Signs of Eating Disorders
Unexplained increase in A1C Levels
Repeated episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis
Extreme concerns of body size/shape
Excessive exercise and related hypoglycemia
Very low-calorie meals
An absence of menstruation
Eating Disorders and Pregnancy
Women with eating disorders have higher rates of miscarriage than do healthy, normal women. Also, your baby might be born prematurely, meaning that it would not weigh as much or be as well-developed as babies who are born full term.
Women with anorexia nervosa are underweight and may not gain enough weight during pregnancy. They risk having a baby with abnormally low birth weight and related health problems.
Women with bulimia nervosa who continue to purge may suffer dehydration, chemical imbalances, or even cardiac irregularities. Pregnancy heightens these health risks.
Women who are overweight due to binge eating are at greater risk of developing high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and overgrown babies. Low birth weight babies are at risk of many medical problems, some of them life threatening.
Your teeth and bones might become weak and fragile because the baby’s need for calcium takes priority over yours. If you don’t replenish calcium with dairy products and other sources, you could find yourself with stress fractures and broken bones in later years. Once calcium is gone from your bones, it is difficult, if not impossible, to replace it.
Diabulimia
Unexplained weight loss is a symptom of diabetes that often alerts a person that something is wrong. This, along with other symptoms such as excessive thirst and frequent urination often lead to a diagnosis of diabetes. Treatment for type 1 diabetes is insulin. “Diabulimia” is an eating disorder characterized by intentionally withholding insulin to result in weight loss.
The insulin restriction results in high levels of glucose in the blood that spill over into the urine, leading to the excretion of the calories from glucose. The repercussions can be severe, including dehydration, loss of lean body tissue, and, in extreme cases, diabetic ketoacidosis.
Diabulimia is shockingly common; as many as a third of women with type 1 diabetes report insulin restriction, with higher levels among those between the ages of 15 and 30.
Getting Treatment
Once insulin restriction or other disordered eating behaviors become engrained, a cycle of shame, guilt, and other negative feelings can make it difficult to get help and the condition difficult to treat.
A team-based approach is the gold standard. The team should include a mental health professional along with other team members such as an endocrinologist, nurse educator, nutritionist, and others as necessary. In very severe cases, hospitalization may be needed until the person is more mentally and medically stable. Ongoing therapy at least monthly or more frequently with care team members may be needed.
Personal Story from The Type 1 Diabetes Self-Care Manual by Jamie Wood, MD and Anne Peters, MD
I Knew How to Play the Game
As a type 1 diabetic from the age of 7, I just knew I was an expert on this disease. I rolled my eyes at countless nurses, endocrinologists, and educators who lectured me endlessly on ways to manage my diabetes…I was invincible. No doctor or nurse or anyone could tell me any differently, especially if they didn’t have to live with it. How dare they?
My A1C, however, was through the roof. I had multiple retinopathy surgeries to stop the bleeding in my eyes, I only had four toes left, and yet, diabulimia was still strong. I lay in ICU on an insulin drip thinking, “I have got to get out of here and off this drip; I’m getting fatter by the minute.” I was so focused on carbohydrates and food and insulin, all day, every day—but not for the right reasons. I knew how to play the food-medicine game. I could eat anything I wanted and then some, and lose weight. I would live at my threshold, taking the tiniest basal amounts of insulin just to skirt by, exhausted and thirsty. I could hardly function day-to-day.
I had all these complications and forgot what it meant to “feel good.” I was an angry and sad person. The ignorance of the public, my friends, and some of my family was frustrating and hurtful…
When I was pregnant, I was singularly focused on having a healthy pregnancy, bringing my A1C down to 5.6. But after Emmalyne was born, I didn’t want to gain weight, so I started cutting insulin again.
I was sacrificing my entire life to diabulimia, until my daughter was diagnosed at the age of 2 with type 1 diabetes. I was sick over it. And the comments: “If you just fed her right…” or “Maybe she will outgrow it…” Then it hit me. I cannot let her grow up feeling the same way I did: alone, frustrated, misunderstood, and judged.
More than anything, I wanted her to enjoy her life, which had just begun, and I wanted to be alive and well enough to get her to adulthood. I wanted to be a great mother but I was too tired to play, too sick to give her all the attention she deserved. She made toes for me out of Play-Doh so I could chase her at the playground. She looked up to me for guidance. Did she think this was her future?
We were a team. We would fight it together. I would not let her down. Screw this disease and everything it had already taken from me. I refused to let it now take her mother from her.
—Kathlin Gordon, RDN, 40, is a registered dietitian nutritionist.
3 – Write a paragraph about what motivates you in life (not just in blogging).
4 – Answer the 5 questions given to you.
5 – Nominate 2 – 6 blogs that you feel would enjoy receiving the award.
6 – Create 5 questions for your nominees.
I was given these questions!
OK, now for my five questions (anyone else is welcome to answer them too. Pls link back to this post so that I can read them!).
If you could be a World Leader (living or dead), who would it be and why?
You have the choice of
a) living on your own island,
b) the house of your dreams in the country, or
c) a luxury penthouse apartment in the city.
Which would you choose?
If you could turn back the clock and change something in your life, how far back would you go and what would it be?
You hate your life and due to a technical glitch, you suddenly find yourself rich and famous with a new identity. What would be the first thing you’d do?
You’ve been asked to form a new pop group. From today’s artists, who would you choose for your lead singer and who else for backing vocals?
SO here are my answers
https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/14846827I would be Abraham Lincoln if given a choice of a world leader. I believe he impacted the world for generations and generations and his work as President was irrefutable and helped all of us in one way, shape or form. He died too early, I wish I could of seen the amazing things he could had accomplished, if he had lived.
I would love to live on my own island, free from others scrutiny. I would live in harmony with all that nature had to give oor show me while there. I would invite my closest friends and family to join me.
Age 21. I would do things a little different. I actually had part of my life that had been missing come into my life. I would however, want myself to take necessary time to heal wounds and determine a plan of action before introducing stressful people and situations into my life. I found my birth family, so to speak. Life was a chaotic time for me, trying to hide this revelation from my adopted family and trying to deal with it all. I was not prepared as i wish I had been.
The first thing, would be to open a shelter for homeless animals, and people. I think a place set up to have both would be great. People would love the pets and feel like kindred souls with the animals that were homeless. They could comfort each other and they could help run the shelter and have a place to live and thrive, both groups. If only!
It’s that simple, I promise! If you think about making any meal mostly veggies (at least 50% of anything that you’re having), you’re on the right track to better health and weight loss.
2. Build a better breakfast.
All meals are important, but breakfast is what helps you start your day on the right track. The best, heartiest breakfasts are ones that will fill you up, keep you satisfied, and stave off cravings later in the day. Aim to eat anywhere between 400 and 500 calories for your morning meal, and make sure you’re including a source of lean protein plus filling fat (e.g., eggs, unsweetened Greek yogurt, nuts, or nut butters) and fiber (veggies, fruit, or 100% whole grains). Starting your day with a blood sugar-stabilizing blend of nutrients will help you slim down without sacrifice.
Since salt is a preservative, packaged and processed foods are often highest in sodium – something to keep in mind when planning your meals. When it comes by buying snacks, a “low sodium” product has to be 140 mg or less per serving – so if you’re REALLY in a bind, you can follow that guideline for what to put in your cart.
4. Drink more coffee.
Start your day with a cup of joe. Caffeine is a natural diuretic and an excellent source of antioxidants, which protect your cells from damage. You can have up to 400 mg – about a venti Starbucks coffee – daily, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
Not much of a coffee drinker? Tea is also a natural diuretic, and types of herbal tea such as dandelion or fennel root can also lend a hand. In fact: When a recent study compared the metabolic effect of green tea (in extract) with that of a placebo, researchers found that the green-tea drinkers burned about 70 additional calories in a 24-hour period.
We just don’t feel full by liquid calories in quite the same way as we do real food. Drinking a juice or caramel coffee drink just isn’t as satisfying as eating a bowl of veggie- and protein-packed stir-fry. So monitor your intake of juice, soda, sweetened coffee and tea, and alcoholic beverages. If you consume each of those beverages during the day, you’ll have taken in at least 800 extra calories by nighttime – and you’ll still be hungry. (Incidentally, alcohol may suppress the metabolism of fat, making it tougher for you to burn those calories.)
It’s a one-time investment you’ll never regret. Here’s why: Strength training builds lean muscle tissue, which burns more calories – at work or at rest – 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The more lean muscle you have, the faster you’ll slim down. How do you start strength training? Try some push-ups or a few squats or lunges. Use your free weights to perform simple bicep curls or tricep pulls right in your home or office. Do these exercises three to four times per week, and you’ll soon see a rapid improvement.
7. Eat spicy foods – seriously!
It can actually help you cut back on calories. That’s because capsaicin, a compound found in jalapeño and cayenne peppers, may (slightly) increase your body’s release of stress hormones such as adrenaline, which can speed up your ability to burn calories. What’s more, eating hot peppers may help slow you down. You’re less likely to wolfed down that plate of spicy spaghetti – and therefore stay more mindful of when you’re full. Some great adds besides hot peppers: ginger and turmeric.
There’s tons of research that demonstrates getting less than the desired amount – about 7 hours – of sleep per night can slow down your metabolism. Plus, when you’re awake for longer, you’re naturally more likely to snack on midnight munchies. So don’t skimp on your ZZZ’s, and you’ll be rewarded with an extra edge when it comes to losing weight.
9. Keep a food journal.
Loads of research demonstrates people who log everything they eat – especially those who log while they’re eating – are more likely to lose weight and keep it off for the long haul. The habit also takes less than 15 minutes per day on average when you do it regularly, according to a 2019 study published in Obesity.
Start tracking on an app like MyFitnessPal or use a regular notebook. It’ll help you stay accountable for what you’ve eaten. Plus, you can easily identify some other areas of your daily eats that could use a little improvement when it’s written out in front of you.
10. Take a walk!
Don’t get me wrong – exercising at any time is good for you. But evening activity may be particularly beneficial because many people’s metabolism slows down toward the end of the day. Thirty minutes of aerobic activity before dinner increases your metabolic rate and may keep it elevated for another two or three hours, even after you’ve stopped moving. Plus, it’ll help you relax post-meal so you won’t be tempted by stress-induced grazing that can rack up calories.
11. Resist the urge to skip a meal.
Skipping meals will not make you lose weight faster. If a hectic day makes a sit-down meal impossible, stash a piece of fruit and pack of nut butter in your car or purse and keep snacks in your office desk drawer – anything that will keep you from going hungry!
Going long periods of time without food does double-duty harm on our healthy eating efforts by both slowing down your metabolism, and priming you for another binge later in the day. (Think: You’ve skipped breakfast and lunch, so you’re ready to takedown a whole turkey by dinner!) Make it your mission to eat three meals and two snacks every day, and don’t wait longer than three to four hours without eating. Set a “snack alarm” on your phone if needed.
12. Eat your H2O.
Sure, you certainly need to drink plenty of water to help combat bloating, you can (and should!) also consume high-water content foods. Reach for cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelon, asparagus, grapes, celery, artichokes, pineapple, and cranberries – all of which contain diuretic properties that will also help you stay full due to their higher fiber content.
Potassium, magnesium, and calcium can help to serve as a counter-balance for sodium. Foods that are rich in potassium include leafy greens, most “orange” foods (oranges, sweet potatoes, carrots, melon), bananas, tomatoes, and cruciferous veggies – especially cauliflower. Low-fat dairy, plus nuts, and seeds can also help give you a bloat-busting boost. They’ve also been linked to a whole host of additional health benefits, such as lowering blood pressure, controlling blood sugar, and reducing risk of chronic disease overall.
At any given time, there are dozens of weight-loss hypes in the marketplace that claim to take off 10 pounds in 10 days, or whatever. Desperation can tempt us to try anything – from “clean eating” to cutting out food groups entirely. Keep in mind: Just because an avocado-kale-salad dripping in coconut oil is deemed “clean” by a so-called “expert” on your Instagram feed does not make it an unlimited food. Moral of the story? Avoid fads, eat real food, watch some Netflix, and unwind (perhaps with a glass of wine in hand). Now that’s my kind of detox.
15. Let yourself off the hook.
You already know that a perfect diet doesn’t exist, but many of us still can’t resist the urge to kick ourselves when we indulge, eat too much, or get thrown off course from restrictive diets. The problem: This only makes it more difficult, stressful, and downright impossible to lose weight. So rather than beating yourself up for eating foods you think you shouldn’t, let it go. Treating yourself to about 200 calories worth of deliciousness each day – something that feels indulgent to you – can help you stay on track for the long haul, so allow yourself to eat, breathe, and indulge. Food should be joyful, not agonizing!
16. Look for our emblem on food labels.
Ultimately, long-term weight loss requires some short-term behavior change and healthier habit formation. That’s why we created our Good Housekeeping Nutritionist Approved Emblem, which exists to help turn smart food choices into healthier eating habits. All GHNA foods and drinks make it easier to find – and eat – good-for-you foods without additional time, effort, and cost. We target the lifestyle-related factors that make healthier eating hard, and find simple but creative solutions that actually work! Look for the emblem on labels wherever you shop for food.
Making small, specific goals is key to losing weight long-term – but how can you get motivated now? Check out our favorite, no-fail jump-starts below, then find more tips inTake It All Off! Keep It All Off!, a smart and effective guide to losing weight. You’ll be feeling like your old self (i.e., back in your skinny jeans) ASAP.
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
pinch of sea salt
3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup blanched almond flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
For the Vanilla Layer:
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons blanched almond flour
1/3 cup powdered erythritol
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3 large eggs, yolks and whites separated
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk or coconut milk
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Setting up:
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a loaf pan (8 x 5 x 3.5 inches) with parchment paper.
Separate the egg whites from the egg yolks, setting aside 3 yolks for the chocolate layer and 3 yolks for the vanilla layer. Place the egg whites in a large mixing bowl, and using a hand mixer, whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
For the Chocolate Layer:
Set up a double boiler by placing a heatproof bowl on top of a saucepan filled with about 1 inch of water. Make sure that the bowl is not touching the water and is suspended above the water line by the rim of the pan. To the bowl, add the chocolate chunks and coconut oil, and whisk to combine until melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan and set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks, erythritol, almond milk, vanilla extract and salt, and whisk until all ingredients are well incorporated. Slowly fold in the melted chocolate. Once the chocolate in mixed in, gently fold in half of the whipped egg whites.
Add the cocoa powder, almond flour, and baking powder and slowly mix until smooth. Be careful not to over mix and deflate the eggs.
For the Vanilla Layer:
In a mixing bowl, mix together the almond flour, erythritol, coconut flour, and baking soda.
In a separate large mixing bowl, combing the remaining 3 egg yolks, almond milk, coconut oil and vanilla extract. Gently fold in the remaining whipped egg white.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until all of the ingredients are well incorporated
Putting it all together:
Spoon 1/3 of the chocolate mixture into the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Top with half of the vanilla mixture. Layer 1/3 of the chocolate mixture on top of the vanilla layer. Top with the remaining vanilla mixture. Finish by layering on the last 1/3 of the chocolate mixture.
Using a knife, gently swirl the layers together a bit to make a marbling effect, but without completely mixing them together.
Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out mostly clean, but with a little bit of cake stuck to it. It will continue to firm up as it cools.
Place the loaf pan on a cooling rack and let cool before slicing.
I see trees of green, red roses too I see them bloom for me and you And I think to myself What a wonderful world
I see skies of blue and clouds of white The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night And I think to myself What a wonderful world
The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky Are also on the faces of people goin’ by I see friends shakin’ hands, sayin’ “How do you do?” They’re really sayin’, “I love you.”
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know And I think to myself What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself What a wonderful world
I hear babies cry, I watch them grow They’ll learn much more than I’ll ever know And I think to myself What a wonderful world
Yes, I think to myself What a wonderful world What a wonderful world
Mws R Writings 