Paula Deen: From Extreme to Mindful Eating with Diabetes

By Michelle May, M.D.

A common reaction to a diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes is "Oh no! I'll never be able to eat the foods I love again!" Now imagine that you are Paula Deen...a woman whose entire brand is built around food - and not just any food, but food that symbolizes extreme eating.

In this Huffington Post article, Paula Deen: From Extreme to Mindful Eating, I explore the reaction to her diagnosis and share my thoughts about the need for a more balanced approach.

We'd love to know how you've dealt with your diagnosis and how you've managed to find a balance between "all" or "nothing." Please share your thoughts!

 

Comments

[Kerry J. Cater]

Hi, I recently came across your site via a Twitter post, and I'm so glad I did! My name is Kerry and I am a recovering compulsive overeater who uses mindful eating. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (my late mother had been a type 1 diabetic most of her life) at the age of 39 when I reached an all time high, doubling in size from what I had been in 2005. I was placed on metformin 1000mg by my doctor and broke down in tears in her office. Up to that point, my focus had been on weight loss through 13 unsuccessful years of OA relapses, which had done a real number on my self-esteem. Exasperated, I gave up on OA and searched for a residential treatment program that would meet my needs. I found Timberline Knolls in Chicago and spent 2 1/2 months there learning that what I had been doing was dieting restriction and that one of the keys to recovery was in an approach called mindful/intuitive eating, which I began May 15th, 2011. Within a week all of my previous ideas about "good" and "forbidden/binge" foods, "abstinence", and the like were challenged and I was able to finally find freedom from food obsession and eat sugar and all other foods moderately for the first time without being "triggered"! Surprisingly, I found I enjoyed my daily frozen yogurt as much as I enjoyed NOT feeling "guilty" for eating it! Upon returning home, I found an early challenge: I had to leave my pro-dieting/OA friends behind due to their out-and-out rejection of my new approach as "a path to the grave." Like many people in AA before me, I eventually had to focus on the present, one day at a time, advocating for my recovery. It's been a hard, imperfect road, but well worth it. I am still enjoying my daily dessert, maintaining healthy blood glucose levels (between 80 and 120), exercising every other day, reading every IE/ME book I can get my hands on, going to EDA meetings, and regularly going to dr. appointments. My medium range goal is to have my meds level reduced. And the focus is no longer weight loss! Mom would be proud.... Anyway, thanks so much for your blog and site, and I can't wait to read the book!

[Michelle May MD]

Kerry, I am SO happy to read about your journey and your discovery of mindful eating! It can be difficult for people to recognize that abstinence can drive overeating - even when you have diabetes.

You might enjoy another article I wrote called, "Am I Addicted to Food?" Please consider posting your story as a comment there too because I think you are really inspiring to others!

http://www.eatwhatyoulovelovewhatyoueat.com/2012/02/am-i-addicted-to-food.html