Concerned for diebetic mother.

Hi,

My mother, who is in her 70s, does not seem to be sticking to any kind of diebetic regime. She had the type that is controlled by diet, but as that was not working her nurse is now trying her on insulin. She is overweight, has a history of heart trouble, high blood pressure and has very little energy, otherwise I would not be posting this. She is divorced, and my wife and I live with her so know what she eats on a regular basis.

She seems to live on white bread, butter, jam and potatoes. I feel her health could be improved if she changed her eating habits.

It seems as if she's just given up, and the taste of nice food is more important than losing weight/getting healthy. She comes down almost every night in the small hours and eats bread and jam and tea. She's always complaining about not feeling well and her appetite is getting worse lately.

She sees a diebetic nurse on a regular basis, but she must be fibbing about her dietary routine. I can't understand how she would be allowed to stay on such a diet. She keeps a record of her blood sugar levels. I don't know if she's making up the figures, perhaps I should check. But to be put on insulin when all she has to do is eat sensibly is crazy. Maybe she want's to be able to eat a bad diet and get away with it.

I've thought about throwing out all bread, jam, etc. and only allowing her to eat sensibly.

My sister tried that before and my mother lost weight and felt much better. Should I be more proactive and restrict her intake of bad food?

What are the consequences of having diebetes and not adhering to a strict diet?

Any advice would be appreciated.

:?

Thanks Hanadr. I appreciate your comments.

I think I'm wasting my time though. I suggested to her she try a new diet this week, which she half heartedly agreed to, but then last night, Monday, she had takeaway and buns in the evening thanks to my sister, who is always eating junk food and giving it to her, and she's off to the town today and to M & S no doubt to buy lots of sugary/bread goodies as per usual.

I only buy healthy foods, lots of salad, meat, fish, brown rice, etc...which she has little interest in and I can't stop her from going shopping and bringing home 'bad' foods.

I'm very reluctant to go a lot of trouble cooking her special meals unless she is not going to respect my efforts by not cheating, etc. She's quite weak willed, as I am sometimes. I take after her.

She has become more and more unsociable since her divorce over 30 years ago, but she does seem keen on joining a crochet class, so I'll try to find one for her.

Your suggestion about accompanying her to her next diabetic nurse appointment was tried before and she got very upset when I mentioned it, so I abandoned the idea. She's obviously hiding the facts from her nurse and is afraid her nurse will find out the truth and I'd embarass her.

It's difficult to try to help someone who has no interest in being helped. I can only try to encourage her. Maybe I can start her on a new diet next week and get through to my sister to stop offering her junk. At the end of the day, though, she is an adult and must by now be aware of the risks involved in continuing the way she is.

8)