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I'm concerned about additional problems connected with my diabetes. I have found that stress and anxiety are major triggers in increasing my blood sugars. And we all know how stressful quitting smoking can be. I cannot use the typical hard candies and other sugary snacks. Any suggestions for that problem?
Welcome to the Ex. One of my main crave busters was chewing on straws. Zero calories!
Barb
Hi and Welcome to Ex’s Marigene6266
I am not diabetic, but I do have two brain aneurysm’s, one that had surgery and one that did not...Honestly, I am not allowed to get stress due to the one can burst if my Bp pressure goes up...if I chose not to quit smoking, I would die from the cigarettes, if I chose to quit smoking, I could learn to deal with stress other ways. Life is full of it...and smoking is truly not helping. Here are some stress busters, Breathing exercises, meditation, prayer, yoga, taking a walk, etc., You can do this...if you are really concerned, speak to your Doctor about his/her suggestions with quitting and your diabetes’s. We are here for you, keep close to the support site for help. Colleen 611 DOF
Be sure to read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX
Thank you for your suggestions. I saw my doctor yesterday and discussed everything. She did give me prescriptions to help with the cravings and anxiety. As the medication is also an anti-depressant I feel like she's given me a triple dose of help and increased my confidence. Depression is another of my problems, a few years ago I was suicidal and honestly that is probably my greatest fear: falling back into that dark bottomless pit. I was simply wondering if anyone found their diabetes to be a factor in the journey to be smoke free.
If she gave you Welbutrin, I took that also for this quit along with nicotrol inhalers. With the addition of the support from the site, I've finally quit smoking after many attempts.
Barb
One step at a time hon Marigene6266 so happy you spoke with your Doctor and received some help...keep close to us...~ Colleen
I have type 2 diabetes, controlled with Metformin. I do still need a little bit of sugar after dinner, and I've been quit over 2 years. I mean, you can't cut carbs out entirely, and sugar absolutely helps with cravings. Fake sugar will make your stomach blow up if you have too much.
I take 2000 mg of metformin daily as well as 15 mg of pioglitazone (generic actos). Added to that is 35 units of Levemir daily and a sliding scale(2-12 units three or four times daily depending on my reading) Novolin R. My last A1C was 11.2 and I'm due to retest next month. I am concerned that any progress I've made in lowering it will be lost with the stress and anxiety of quitting. Anxiety seems to add 25-100 points to my reading at any given time throughout the day. I'm not much of a candy eater anyway , i'm more of a cake and/or donuts person. Anyway having said all of that, if there is any advice or even a recipe you can offer I would appreciate it.
Sadly, I'm not a baker And since my A1C is significantly lower, I'm in no position to give advice about what you can eat, either. Have you tried gum?
Welcome 
I am diabetic too, diagnosed nearly 5 years ago, A1C was 9.5 at that time. I started walking 3-4 miles/day and watching my diet, and in 3 months I got it under control A1C was 6.5. Then I quit smoking, depression kicked it, not only from quitting smoking, but also I developed Hashimoto's which took over 6 months to diagnose. I could not walk anymore, so ever since, the A1C went up little by little. The reading in January was 7.6, and the dr added Glipizide to the 1500mg Metformin. It would be great, but if I am not eating on time, and that happened at least 10 times since I have been taking it, I go as low as 64, and feel like I am passing out. Like Annette, I would not know what to advise you to eat when the crave hits; despite the diabetes, I chewed on chocolate covered raisins at the beginning of my quit; many here recommended the sour patch kids candies, just look at the sugar content and limit to what your intake at one time should be. I am seriously considering working with a nutritionist, unfortunately they are usually not covered by insurance, and those who are, are really far from home, but I am thinking about it; maybe you want to do something similar.
Let us know how things are going; but please know, diabetic or not, you can quit smoking, and it is only going to prevent further damage to your liver and pancreas. Stay the course, you can do it!!!
I also have diabetes. I used sugar free mini Altoid cinnamon or wintergreen, and I also used cinnamon sticks. I still have some in my car. You can "draw" air through them, they give you a tiny little feeling on your lip like a cig, and they can be held like a cig. I used them a lot at first, then occasionally in the car. Two other tools in my arsenal were water and walking. Lots of both. Eat well and keep your blood sugar where it should be, sleep when you can, and take it easy. You got this.
Donna
Day 600
Welcome! Marigene6266 there are definitely other diabetics on the site. You can search diabetes or diabetic and you'll find others on the site who have posted things. Search is magnifying glass on the upper right of the page.
Mark
EX Community Manager