Watching her kill herself

As someone who had type 2 diabetes for 13 years before I finally managed to do something about it, your relative has my sympathy. I had very little information given to me when I was diagnosed, the one gem of wisdom I remember was drink low calorie squash rather than juice! The thinking then was very different to now. But not all GPs and nurses are up to speed. Low carb/low sugar is the way I reversed my diabetes but it is bloody hard work! We are constantly bombarded with food adverts and I still don't think people really understand how addictive carbs and sugar are. I took action after seeing a programme where someone had a leg amputated and I was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy. It is a daily struggle, watching others eat whatever they like with no apparent ill effects. I haven't eaten cakes/biscuits/chocolate/rice/pasta now for 6 months. I have a jacket potato once a month and if someone else has chips I might sneak 2 or 3! My way of eating is tougher as well because I'm vegan. However I want to be around to see my grandchildren grow up so I will stick with this. If you want to help Anja you could try buying the Michael Mosely book, "The Blood Sugar Diet". Believe me no one chooses to be fat or diabetic!

Aepgirl she is in denial, and does not acknowledge there is risk.

But that’s the whole point edsnana she wouldn’t read the book because that’s been tried.

PS well done on your lifestyle changes. That must have been some struggle x

I have a friend whose DD is 4'11" and a size 24. She lives to eat (lots) but has tried WW to lose some, but when she does she rewards herself by eating normally. She's been on a yo-yo diet for years. She's now been approved for an NHS gastric bypass but I fear she will look on this as an easy way out and will cheat by liquidising the stuff she likes and craves.

grandetante- been pondering on your comment and trying to get my head around it:

"Would you be just as sad if she was a cancer patient refusing radiation therapy, or chemo?"

and I feel there is a huge difference. Huge differences even. One of the main ones being that this would not cost the NHS a fortune that could be used elsewhere (perhaps in preventing and treating cancer). It's hard and harsh- but treating Type 2 D is costing millions.

Thank you Anja, yes definitely a struggle, and one I have to live with for the rest of my life. My suggestion re the book was just that she might pick it up one day and decide to take some action, or it might inspire her to join some of the really lovely caring supportive groups on Facebook who are all people experiencing the same or similar to her. I do hope she finds a way to sort it out x

I am always perplexed when I see patients standing outside our local hospital in their dressing gowns trailing their mobile drips and puffing on their cigarettes.

OP as Momb said, she will have been told and advised many times and is making a lifestyle choice.

Unfortunately food like smoking is addictive.

It must cost the NHS a fortune.

I was diagnosed prediabetic. I gave up sugar, it was hard as it was my addiction. I lost 2 stones but had never considered myself vastly overweight.
I loathe the fact that people won’t help themselves. It’s all very well but when it falls to others as it ALWAYS does to step in and care people when things go wrong it very often could be avoided.
I recall being so disappointed in a friend saying they’d rather take a pill than getting ve up drinking coke and eating chocolate. I truly thought in your 60s you’re going to be more responsible.

I'm obese and diabetic.
I was diagnosed when I was 63.
I was obese for 63 years before I developed diabetes.
I am very active and always have been, lucky not to have a sweet tooth, so my diet as a diabetic is exactly the same as it was pre-diagnosis.

But, despite the fact that my diabetes is totally controlled, there are still health risks, even if your blood sugars are consistently low. Diabetes is an insidious disease.

About the same time as I was diagnosed, so was a slightly younger friend of mine. He would not give up his sweets and Coke and is now, just over 10 years later, in such poor mental and physical condition that he needs constant hospitalisation.

I have no idea if he would still be healthy if he'd regulated his diet but I do know his prodigality with sugar has caused his family endless distress. His time is now limited.