Kitchen

[RedTop]

I would just like to know everyone goes to bed at night with food in their bellies, period.  I'm not getting hung up on what people eat, how much they eat, and whether their food choices are "healthy" for them.   

At 61, I am responsible for my food choices, and while I am aware of the choices I make, I absolutely, positively will not restrict my eating habits to the point of being paranoid about my food, and what goes in my mouth.

I watched my 62 yr old aunt do exactly that when she was diagnosed with diabetes.   She let it consume her daily life to the point she could not function and make decisions regarding her meals.  Ultimately she killed herself because she couldn't cope with being diabetic.   Life is too short to overthink anything to that degree.  

[AuntG]

@RedTop, she really took her life?  That would be so sad if just a few sensible changes in her diet were needed.  I have a strict food budget and I know my choices aren't as healthy as they should be because I buy what is on sale for the week.

[momtochloe]

I'm not sure why this thread from a few years ago has been resurrected but I will say one thing.  I worked as a temp for a call center during a holiday period and boy if my eyes weren't opened before that they were then.  Virtually all of the folks working there had two if not three jobs and did not have a day off, period.  Ever.  Please know I am not happy with fast food at all but I completely get how folks lean on this in order to shave a few minutes off of their day for other priorities.

[RedTop]

@AuntG,

Yes, my mother's sister took her life 6 months after her diabetes diagnosis.   She was totally paranoid about "eating the wrong thing", and just couldn't deal with being diabetic.   

[suzyQ3]

@momtochloe, good call about this being a very old thread. I didn't catch that. :-(

@RedTop, how sad about your aunt. I bet that she had underlying mental health issues that were compounded by the diabetes diagnosis.

[RedTop]

@suzyQ3,

Yes, the situation was quite sad, and left a big hole in my heart.   My aunt was very smart; high IQ, and I always saw her as a strong, determined woman.  

My aunt had just lost her husband to lung cancer a year before her diagnosis; he suffered a horrible, painful death, and passed at home.   She had a very hard time moving ahead after he died, due to the haunting memories of his last weeks.   My aunt had seen what diabetes did to people she knew and was close to, and just couldn't face the possibility of becoming a burden to my mom, and those of us who would be helping her.   Her blood sugar was well under control in the weeks prior to her death, but she had this mindset about food, and was so afraid to eat anything that might be "bad", and raise her blood sugar.  

This was in the early 80's, before our area had diabetes educators, and classes to help people understand how to live with this health issue.