This has been bothering me...

[Megan_J]

I work with somebody who has diabetes and who eats a lot of food that she isn't supposed to. She'll eat a peice a cake and then complain about how her blood sugar is too high. Duh, you ate a peice a cake! She's pretty clueless even after I told her of things she should probably avoid. She has a brother in law who just got stints put into his heart about two months ago and he sits there talking about how he eats fried chicken and mac and cheese.

All of this has got me thinking about whether or not people should be allowed the same medical procedures over and over again even though they are not changing their habits. For example, should somebody be allowed to get stints in their heart yet again even though they still eat crap?

 

[happygirl]

I work with somebody who has diabetes and who eats a lot of food that she isn't supposed to. She'll eat a peice a cake and then complain about how her blood sugar is too high. Duh, you ate a peice a cake! She's pretty clueless even after I told her of things she should probably avoid. She has a brother in law who just got stints put into his heart about two months ago and he sits there talking about how he eats fried chicken and mac and cheese.

All of this has got me thinking about whether or not people should be allowed the same medical procedures over and over again even though they are not changing their habits. For example, should somebody be allowed to get stints in their heart yet again even though they still eat crap?

Is it smart, No!! should they do that sort of stuff NO. Is it your business NO

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I prefer to leave that decision up to the medical professionals.

You can't fix stupid.

 

[Megan_J]

Is it smart, No!! should they do that sort of stuff NO. Is it your business NO

I have to hear her complain about it every single day. It's driving me a bit batty!

 

[happygirl]

I have to hear her complain about it every single day. It's driving me a bit batty!

It would drive me batty as well. There is nothing you can do

 

[FireDancer]

I have to hear her complain about it every single day. It's driving me a bit batty!

It would drive me nuts and I would tell them so but there really isn't anything you can do about it. When they lose their feet or go blind they will only have themselves to blame.

 

[Megan_J]

It would drive me nuts and I would tell them so but there really isn't anything you can do about it. When they lose their feet or go blind they will only have themselves to blame.

One of her sisters has problems in her legs and her one brother in law has almost lost a foot. The whole family is a mess. I live in the 'diabetes' belt, can you tell?

 

[FireDancer]

One of her sisters has problems in her legs and her one brother in law has almost lost a foot. The whole family is a mess. I live in the 'diabetes' belt, can you tell?

How little many people care about their health really baffles me. I really do know how you feel, we have some of these people here at work. They complain about how they can't lose weight but they drink a 2 liter of pop (soda for the rest of you) and eat fast food every day after taking the elevator up one floor to the lunch room. Some people just need a little tough love. In the end though you really can only control yourself.

 

[kirbydog48]

They are in serious denial. We went through this with my MIL, who ended up on dialysis 3 times a week and ended up having horrible diabetes-related dementia. It's a horrible disease but it can be managed. My DH has it, but is really trying with proper diet, daily exercise, etc. There's not much you can do if they aren't willing to make the changes, so in order to save your sanity, you have to detach. Maybe even say that you can't listen to this anymore, to create a boundary. Frustrating situation.

 

[luvsJack]

I have two or three co-workers who are diabetic. They eat cake and other things that I wold have thought was a complete no-no but they count their carbs and keep it all in balance. (sometimes their count is off but not regularly).

One for instance loves fried fish and eat it every Thursday night with her family, so she keeps her carb count low that day so that she can have the fish.

At first I was kind of stunned about the things they eat but if they are in control, I guess its ok. because they all check it regularly and don't have any problems. I know that they all have to eat at certain times but have to stop eating before too late at night.

OTOH, my sil died at age 52 from complications of diabetes and it was because she didn't take care of it. She didn't control any eating habits, she smoked and she drank.

Around here the doctors send you to a class that teaches you how to eat and what to avoid and such.

 

[Megan_J]

How little many people care about their health really baffles me. I really do know how you feel, we have some of these people here at work. They complain about how they can't lose weight but they drink a 2 liter of pop (soda for the rest of you) and eat fast food every day after taking the elevator up one floor to the lunch room. Some people just need a little tough love. In the end though you really can only control yourself.

I exercise every day and she thinks I'm nuts because of it.

 

[tlbwriter]

All of this has got me thinking about whether or not people should be allowed the same medical procedures over and over again even though they are not changing their habits. For example, should somebody be allowed to get stints in their heart yet again even though they still eat crap?

Should she be denied care just because she's not taking care of herself. No.

I'm sure it's frustrating to listen to her, just like it's frustrating to listen to people complain about being broke as they pull a debit card out of their Coach bag to pay for a large Starbucks latte, but all you can do is try to make yourself a non-sympathetic ear, so maybe she'll stop whining to you. Stop trying to tell her what she shouldn't eat. She already knows. Put it back on her or change the subject.

"My blood sugar is so high!"

"So, what are you going to do about that?"
"You should talk to your doctor about that."
"Oh, that's too bad. So, what about that crazy weather/sports team/local celebrity?"

 

[DISvirgin1]

One of her sisters has problems in her legs and her one brother in law has almost lost a foot. The whole family is a mess. I live in the 'diabetes' belt, can you tell?

Speaking from experience I would ignore her to save your sanity. I had a similar situation and I understand how frustrating it can be.

 

[luvsJack]

I do think that some of it comes from how hard it is to change habits. Its also hard to eat differently than everyone else. Whether you are diabetic or trying to lose/control weight--if everyone else is having a hamburger, its hard not to want one/eat one too. Whether a child or an adult, you want to be "part of the group" and if "the group" is eating out, you want to eat out too. If "the group" is eating junk food, you want to eat junk food too.

I can only speak as someone who is trying to lose weight, changing eating habits is really hard. Especially when everyone around you is eating the things you are trying to avoid.

 

[Megan_J]

They are in serious denial. We went through this with my MIL, who ended up on dialysis 3 times a week and ended up having horrible diabetes-related dementia. It's a horrible disease but it can be managed. My DH has it, but is really trying with proper diet, daily exercise, etc. There's not much you can do if they aren't willing to make the changes, so in order to save your sanity, you have to detach. Maybe even say that you can't listen to this anymore, to create a boundary. Frustrating situation.

One of her sisters told me that she doesn't care what happens to her and that she'll eat what she wants to eat until she dies. I think she may be eligible for a Darwin award.

I have two or three co-workers who are diabetic. They eat cake and other things that I wold have thought was a complete no-no but they count their carbs and keep it all in balance. (sometimes their count is off but not regularly).

One for instance loves fried fish and eat it every Thursday night with her family, so she keeps her carb count low that day so that she can have the fish.

At first I was kind of stunned about the things they eat but if they are in control, I guess its ok. because they all check it regularly and don't have any problems. I know that they all have to eat at certain times but have to stop eating before too late at night.

OTOH, my sil died at age 52 from complications of diabetes and it was because she didn't take care of it. She didn't control any eating habits, she smoked and she drank.

Around here the doctors send you to a class that teaches you how to eat and what to avoid and such.

She can't grasp what carbs are and never counts them.

Should she be denied care just because she's not taking care of herself. No.

I'm sure it's frustrating to listen to her, just like it's frustrating to listen to people complain about being broke as they pull a debit card out of their Coach bag to pay for a large Starbucks latte, but all you can do is try to make yourself a non-sympathetic ear, so maybe she'll stop whining to you. Stop trying to tell her what she shouldn't eat. She already knows. Put it back on her or change the subject.

"My blood sugar is so high!"

"So, what are you going to do about that?"
"You should talk to your doctor about that."
"Oh, that's too bad. So, what about that crazy weather/sports team/local celebrity?"

The problem is that I am alone with her most of the time, and the only way of escape is either going to the bathroom or calling my boyfriend. LOL

 

[njmom47]

I had a co-worker who had had a couple of heart attacks, was extremely overweight, and was diabetic yet ate Cheesedoodles and drank diet soda all day. She was checking her sugar and giving herself shots right at her desk (in clear view of 7 other workers). Needless to say, she suffered some sort of attack and crashed into a tree on her way to work last year. I guess her health didn't matter much to her.

 

[Magpie]

I would just learn to tune your friend out and change the subject. Food is such an emotional issue for people!

My MIL is diabetic. She's been slooowly losing weight for years, mostly because of my cooking when she comes down to live with us over each winter. But the thing is, sometimes she feels that she deserves a treat. She's old, or she's not feeling well. Or she's convinced herself that my food is doing terrible things to her innards and the only thing that'll fix it is a muffin.

Other times it's the long suffering, "I guess, I'm just a picky eater. What can you do, eh?"

I love her. She's an AWESOME person. But sometimes, where food's concerned, she turns right back into a child. "I've been a good person! I deserve a reward!" "I've had a hard day. I need some ice cream!"

My husband is the same way. I work hard to keep his blood levels good and his weight down, but when he's had a bad day, he's as likely as not to pick up a huge bag of chips on the way home to share with his family. And he gets irritable and sulky if you challenge him on it.

I think there's very few people who can manage their weight all on their own. Food just gets right under our defences. After all, it's not like you can go cold turkey on the stuff!

 

[brockash]

Is it smart, No!! should they do that sort of stuff NO. Is it your business NO

I agree, not to mention the fact that there's probably a lot more going on there than just hey, I shouldn't eat this, so I won't. Many ppl. choose food as their drug of choice, and if that's the case; breaking the bad habit of making bad food choices, ect. is much more in depth, than just saying, that's not good for you, so don't do it. I completely believe that ppl. that have these kinds of issues with food, are in the same boat as alcoholics/drug addicts ect.

Hopefully at some point, ppl. with those issues can get them truly resolved, but you saying, hey you shouldn't eat that piece of cake, is like you telling an alcoholic that they shouldn't have that drink.

 

[Nik's Mom]

It must be really hard to have to hear that almost brag about their lifestyle, even though you know it is slowly killing them. It's only going to get worse for them.

I have an 80 year old parent with diabetes. She does take good care of herself. She watches what she eats, is not overweight, has daily exercise, etc. But as she gets older, it gets harder to manage her disease. She's had it for almost 20 years and she is still in good shape. Once she found out she was diabetic, she changed her lifestyle. While she does eat "junk food" at times, it is very limited. She may have a slice of cake at a birthday party, but not eat the entire cake.

It is possible to manage your disease, but still live a good life. Portion control is key. It sounds like the people you are caring for aren't willing to do that. It's sad.

 

[NikitaZee]

Live and let live. When she complains about her blood sugar, do like a PP said and change the subject. My grandpa had diabetes, ate whatever he wanted to and had continuous problems with family members because of that. His attitude was - it's his body, his decision, and he enjoyed food enough to eat as he likes and face his own consequences. He lived to be 87. My father is diabetic also, and also eats what he wants. It causes friction between him and my mom. I can understand the frustration people have, but I'd let it go and not let it bother me. We all have our struggles, bad habits, etc - and we all need to vent about them, even if we contribute to the problem. If bad habits were easy to break, a lot less people would have them!