Diabetics
By blueangel51
@blueangel51 (94)
United States
March 8, 2008 2:19am CST
can someone explain to me how do you tell a diabetic they had enough sweets for the day? if the dr said only 10 grams of sugar a day but they don't listen and you try really hard to watch what you buy for them. my husband is diabetic and once he starts something he does not know when to stop and he never thinks about the next day, and we can't go out and buy the diabetic things they cost alot to buy and you don't get your moneys worth to buy that kind of food so what do you do?
7 people like this
7 responses
@anonymili (3138)
•
8 Mar 08
Erm I'm a diabetic and firstly I'll tell you that my doctor said not to buy sweets labelled as being for diabetics. They're still no good for you. As for telling your husband how much he can have. Well I'm afraid you need to back down somewhat on this. Telling a diabetic not to eat sweets is like telling a smoker not to drink or a child not to be naughty. The need to be sensible has to come from within. My husband does not try to stop me having sweet things - sometimes I have ridiculous cravings which I find hard to resist. But I am gradually getting to realise the after affects of having too much sugar, mood changes, bouts of depression, etc. It really doesn't help having someone nag you about doing something (or not doing something), you just need to trust that he can make his own decisions and has his own willpower. If you keep on telling him not to do stuff, he will eventually start doing in behind your back and that will be worse because he could go out and buy 10 boxes of chocolates and eat them in secret!
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Mar 08
anonymili, that is what I think about the foods that say they are for diabetics. I replied here to check it out first, but stevia that is in health food stores, isn't that if not completely safe, but safer than sugar and he can use that occasionally?
And you are so right about taking sweets away like that. I think that is what happened with my sister, she was told not to eats sweets, and so she got a job and would buy packages of the peanut butter cups and eat the whole package to herself..
The idea should be to eat just a little once in a while..
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
8 Mar 08
That would be a tough one. Maybe you can try some sugar free things. My grandma was a diabetic and she always had to watch what she ate also. Maybe you both can eat helathy foods that aren't actually made just for diabetics. I know I sure wouldn't be able to afford separte foods for my household either. I would love to diet but it is expensive to buy those foods.
I would just tell your husband you really care about him but something has got to change or the result will not be very good and you want to keep him around a long time.
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I had to go through this all the time with my Husband, if he is stuborn no use.
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Yeah. Sometimes if they are that stubborn, there is little we can do to make them change. He has to realise it is not doing him any good and be willing to sacrifice to make the change happen.
@ebberts (784)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Unfortunately even though we are trying to help the ones we love by telling them enough sugar, they see us as naggs and dig their heels in even farther. There are also alot of hidden sugars in food, such as catsup, its loaded. so you need to be watchfull of these. You might try switching him slowly toward things such as dried fruits, you can dry them yourself and they tase very good. Make them readily available, as well as fresh fruit. Try to ween him off of the other snacks. Maybe you could get him interested in a hobby that might get him out of snack food mode, something you can do together. If you can do the shopping by yourself.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I wouldn't buy any sweets for him initially. Stand firm and tell him no. It's for his health and welfare as well as yours.
There are some really good sugar free bags of candy out there. I've tried various kinds because I do need to watch my sugar intake although I am not a Diabetic. It's in my family and I was warned to watch the carbs and sweets.
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Mar 08
I hear you blueangel. I would ask my sister if she should be eating a certain food and she would say that it's ok..I was only a teenager and thought she knew best, but now that I look back, I would have been a little more encouraging for her to eat better.
When you say you can't afford the diabetic stuff, are you talking about food? I don't know how bad off he is, but I hear that a treat once in while is ok as long as he is checking his sugar levels and taking his medication. And a good treat would be fruit instead of candy, or angel food cake instead of doughnuts, etc.. Those diabetic foods they sell not only are very expensive, but I still am cautious, even with splenda because it still is very new, even if it does come from the sugar cane itself..
The best is stevia that you get from health food stores, a sweetener that I THINK, (check it out before investing into), is safe for diabetics. It is costly, but if you use it sparingly and for special occasions, then he won't feel deprived..
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Well, just a word of caution, I would still take it easy on the splenda.. You don't have a health food store near you? Because even with me living in a small county and small town, it is just a 15-20 minute drive to the mall in the next state where there is a GNC..
@oneidmnster (1384)
• United States
8 Mar 08
You can nag him all you want,but until he wants to stop,it will do you no good.Unless he gets his blood sugar under control,he is going to have serious problems.
I'm a diabetic,too.I know other diabetics who have had body parts cut off because they wouldn't take care of themselves.It's possible,that could be the only thing that will make him stop.
Do a search to find diabetic recipes.some of them are very good and don't cost any more than regular foods.Also,look for sales and clearance items when you go to the store.I've gotten many of my favorite diabetic candies and other foods this way.
Also,DO NOT buy him sweets!If he wants to kill himself,let him buy the junk himself.If and when something bad happens to him,you don't want to sit around and blame yourself.Good luck.
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
8 Mar 08
Hello, How are you I just added you for a friend, and now it is up to you. My Husband is a Diabetic also, you can't tell him, anything, But I think you should give him, 5 small portions a day, Does he have a Specialist? If don't have one he should get one. My Husband has one but it doesn't stop him from eating what he wants. tell him to drink a lot of water too, that will keep his sugar down if it is too high. Get you a lot of friends here, That is what you will need.