How to help someone who doesn't control their diet

[pendragon99]

Hi Everyone,

I've been getting more and more worried about my dad recently, who is type 2 diabetic. He doesn't seem to believe that he needs to worry about sugar as he is taking metformin and will regularly eat white bread, cereal, biscuits, slices of cake etc. He doesn't eat breakfast and after dinner will often go on a hunt for something sugary (as there was nothing in the house, today he disappeared out to the shops and came back with not one, but 3 cakes!)

Myself and my mum have tried to talk to him about limiting the sugar he eats, and remind him when something does have a lot of sugar in it, but it clearly hasn't made any difference. He said his HbA1c was ok last time it was checked and luckily he hasn't had any complications but I can't see that his diet can be doing him any good (especially since he also smokes).

I'd really like some advice on whether I can do anything that might help. I do a lot of the cooking at home and have a lot of input into the weekly shop but its difficult knowing what advice to follow. Thanks!

 

[NicolaB70]

Hi Pendragon

You are not the only one with a parent with T2 not eating properly. My mother is exactly the same. She doesn't eat meals at regular times which results in her taking her metformine and gliclazide whenever. She eats white bread, crunchy nut cornflakes, oats so simple with the different flavourings, has a couple of biscuits or so and a bag of crisps sometimes for a late lunch (2-3pm). I don't think she has many sweets or chocolate but her downfall are cakes or donuts. She says by having them once maybe twice a week its a "treat". In my eyes maybe once in a blue moon, not weekly. She also eats a lot of potatoes cooked in all ways. Her sugar levels are always high and she has regular hypos. I was diagnosed in June with T2 and I am the complete opposite to her. I've learnt an awful lot from this site and have tried to advise her about not having too many carbs but she won't listen. In fact she once said I "was being silly" and "it won't hurt you" to have a slice of birthday cake that I had turned down when offered. Needless to say she had a big slice! I haven't said anything lately because it falls on deaf ears and she don't listen. I know where your coming from and I wish you luck with your father


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