I cannot live without sugar & caffeine, what am I going to do?

Question

Everyday I have to have lattes, cappucinos or mountain dews, the regular kind of mt dew & coffee drinks, and I don't like diet coke or regular coffee very much. I am diabetic but am able to keep my blood sugars normal. I know this is bad for my body but cannot stop. What am I going to do?

Answer 1

You can still have these things, but in limited quantities. My husband has type 2 diabetes, and he substituted popcorn for chips, and if he DOES eat chips, he just has a few. He takes only one piece of pie, one piece of cake. Lots of times, I make things from scratch, and put 1/2 splenda/saccharin in there. If you're young, maybe saccharin has an aftertaste. Other carbs, like bread, try to switch to whole wheat and make that end of things a bit better.

Coke Zero tastes an awful lot like regular coke, much different than diet coke. Give that a try. You can sweeten your coffee with splenda, that is a yummy sugar substitute.

Sometimes, though, you just need to suck it up and hang tough.

Answer 2

I've had Gran Mal seizures due to caffeine (induced by stress, brought about with too much caffeine in my system etc.)
EVERYTHING in MODERATION
I drink 1- 2 cups coffee a day, I use Zero sprite (THE ONLY Lemom/lime soda that DOES NOT taste DIET) in my alcoholic drinks.
You'll have to reduce S L O W L Y, cut back 1 drink (or 1/2) a day for 2 days, then another small cut back, so on and so on.

Good Luck, only YOU can help yourself

Answer 3

All the above answers are great. This is a little different, though--

You are dealing with an addiction and withdrawal problem. And it's probably not limited to just the two items you mentioned. All national food brands put additives in their food designed to increase appetite, and make us crave their processed foods. On the label, they are called 'spices', or 'broth'. And to add insult to injury, in the processing they destroy the enzymes and other nutrients necessary for our well-being.

This isn't a matter of just giving up a couple of unhealthy items--your health can only be kept by a MAJOR CHANGE in lifestyle and diet.

You MUST drop most of your simple carbs (processed sugar, bleached flour) and start eating complex carbs (veggies and beans). You MUST balance your intake with 65% complex carbs, 20 % or LESS fats, and about 15% protein.

Or you can have limbs removed due to diabetes-induced gangrene, or go blind or suffer cardiovascular abnormalities. That is the fate of all who don't take this seriously enough to adjust their lives.

I remember the week I dealt with my addiction to unhealthy foods, and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. And I would have never thought I was addicted to anything. I really wish you the best of luck in dealing with your upcoming change in lifestyle--either toward health, or away from it. Your choice.

Answer 4

It's beyond me how you are going to deal with this. I can't believe that your sugars are in check if you are drinking regular (with sugar) pop. If you are diabetic, you need to stay away from the sugar and caffeine. It's an addiction, but something that you will need to stop if you want to live a healthy and long life.

Good luck.

Answer 5

It is ridiulous to say you cannot live without anything. Of course you can. What you mean to say is, I won't live without what I want. Well, continue to abuse your diet and your body will stop you. Then you will be crying a new tune. Start using some good old fashion will power and realize that a diabetic destroys other organs and flirts with blindness when they abuse themselves.Start by tapering off and learn to adjust. The diabetes is not going away, but you might.

Answer 6

I cannot agree that your blood sugars are normal. Maybe your morning numbers are - but today try testing 30 minutes after each "latte, cappucino or mountain dew". You're going to get a shock when you see those spikes.

I'm unconcerned at the caffeine - but the sugars and carbs (there's also the milk in latte and cappucino) will kill you slowly. If you're really lucky you won't go blind, get kidney disease or lose a limb first.

Suicide by mouth.

"I don't like diet coke "??

It's amazing what I learned to like once I realised that my life depended on it.

Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia

Answer 7

Hi WhiteVelvet

Quick Action Plan for Diabetes


1. Nutrition is the key to getting rid of the cravings. Once you learn about nutrition (#6) and also cleansing out the toxins in the body by doing a colon, liver, and kidney cleanse. You'll be on your way to a healthy life.

2. Keep in mind that the goal of diabetic treatment and self-care is to restore blood sugar levels close to normal and to correct related metabolic disorders. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by eating small, frequent meals throughout the day that emphasize fresh, organic foods that are low on the glycemic scale, such as raw and lightly steamed vegetables, low sugar whole fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains and legumes, yams, wild fish, poultry, lean cuts of beef, bison meal lamb or veal.

3. Minimize or eliminate your intake of simple carbohydrates and all sugars, as well as tobacco and processed "junk foods." In addition, reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Both alcohol and caffeine could be enjoyed on special occasions, rather than daily or even weekly habits.

4. Remain hydrated; drinking adequate quantities of pure water is essential for all aspects of your health. Must drink a gallon of water a day to maintain health. Your body is craving this much more than caffeine and sugar.

5. Engage in regular light exercise and stress reduction because they are keys to maintaining lower levels of blood sugar.

6. Consider supplementing with nutrients such as B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, chromium, magnesium, potassium, essential fatty acids, CoQ10, alpha lipoic acid, and vanadium. Stabilized rice bran supplements can also be helpful.

7. Herbs such as astragalus, bitter melon, fenugreek, raw garlic (one of the best for blood pressure), ginseng, Gymnema sylvestre, and huerque can also provide significant benefits.

8. If you have already developed Type I or Type II diabetes, combine the above self-care natural cures with professional care from a holistically oriented physician or other alternative health care practitioner. Particularly useful professional care therapies for treating and preventing diabetes include chelation therapy, food allergy testing, parasite testing and if necessary, cleansing, oxygen therapy, and professional dietary and nutritional counseling. Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine can also be helpful.

9. Prevention, if you are pre-disposed and managing a diabetic condition, is a life-long commitment. By committing to the guidelines above, you can significantly improve your symptoms, and, if you suffer from Type II diabetes, quite possibly reverse them altogether. Implementing diet and lifestyle changes can help improve your energy levels, and your confidence in your ability to experience greater health.

Best of health to you

Answer 8

Simple..if you have a death wish, continue drinking them. I suggest you stop whining about it and discipline yourself for your health. Just stop drinking them.