Cake over Keto: Episode 15 - Diabetes, intuitive eating & weight inclusivity.
There is so much stigma around diabetes, particularly type ll. A huge blame culture exists with the idea that people give themselves diabetes, by being lazy and eating the “wrong” foods. But anyone can develop type ll diabetes; in any size body, at any age, eating any kind of diet.
Fatness doesn’t cause diabetes. Sugar doesn’t cause diabetes.
But weight loss and carb cutting continues to be pushed with the promise of prevention and cure which opens the door to an increased risk of disordered eating and developing an eating disorder.
In this episode Mel gives insight into the numerous factors that affect blood sugar, sheds light on the money making behind pre-diabetes and how diabetes management recommendations and eating disorder behaviours look very similar.
And make sure you listen to the end as the pick n mix contains 9 shame free nuggets to help you look after yourself.
Extra Resources
Pick N’ Mix Tips
The difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes is not who “caused” their diabetes and who didn’t. To explain;
Type 1: is autoimmune – the immune system attacks the pancreas, so the pancreas stops making insulin.
Type 2: pancreas makes insulin, but the insulin can't connect with cells properly to do it’s job.
Either way, that's not your fault. Someone can be diagnosed with any kind of diabetes in any size body, at any age, eating any kind of diet.
Insulin does not cause weight gain. Saying it does to induce fear into patients is fat phobic and problematic. Yes, Type 1 diabetics may experience weight loss when they can’t make insulin – this is because there is something wrong, it’s not a good thing to happen. Reintroducing insulin helps keep you alive and may enable weight restoration, it doesn't mean that insulin causes weight gain in the way people tend to talk about it.
Chuck your scales away. They are likely causing more problems than they are solving and Your weight tells you so little about your health and nothing about your worth.
Eating ‘to be good’ at the expense of your emotional health is not healthy.
Restricted eating is not healthy eating. If you are feeling all consumed by food, if you’re hyper focusing on your body and what you’re eating; that it’s taking over all your thoughts and life, please seek help – this is not what’s needed and it’s not normal.
You can learn to eat intuitively and manage diabetes. It brings improvements in blood glucose independent of weight.
Revisit your boundaries – stay away from anything and anyone who reinforces the idea that larger bodies are wrong, and we should do everything in our power to keep our bodies small. This further perpetuates disordered eating behaviours and body insecurity.
Remember you deserve help. It might well feel uncomfortable to ask but it’s it.
Check out the HAES health sheet for type 2 diabetes https://haeshealthsheets.com/type-2-diabetes/
