How do you handle a family member who won't acknowledge they have diabetes?

[Debby]

When I say they won't acknowledge they have diabetes I mean, they won't change eating habits. My mother was recently diagnosed and I have found it completely impossible to get across the importance of this issue. Any advise on what to say or do? Or what not to say or do, for that matter..
(I've already turned into the grocery store nazi and try to cook dinner at her house as often I can, and I have given her more phamplets and articles than I can count.)

[sue]

HIGH ALERT!!! THE DIET POLICE ARE AT IT AGAIN!! FORCING MOTHER TO EAT THE AM. DIABETES FOOD PLAN JUNK FOOD!!

Ok, enough hystrionics! I will quit making headlines, but if you are watching the diabetes assn's thoughts on this, QUIT!! You can lead a horse to water but if he isn't thirsty, you can not make him drink!!

Go to the bookstore and find her a book entitled "Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year" it is an excellent well written book that answers most of both your questions and her questions. There is another book I recommend: "Atkins Diabetes Revolution" which is well written and gives the same info as the first one.

Did you go to the doctor's office with your mother and go into the examining room with her? How do you know what the doctor recommended her to do?

Each of us is an unique individual and this disease of Diabetes treats us each very individually. No two of us treats our diabetes, food plans, exercise plans, or any other part of our new existance the same way.

For instance, I eat butter on my toast with 2 fried eggs and 2 slices of bacon for breakfast every morning. Whether I have a little jam on the toast is dependant on what my reading at breakfast time is.

American Diabetic Association recommends a bowl of cereal with no fat milk, a banana, a glass of orange juice, and yogurt for breakfast. This would send my glucose levels to 300 for the whole day!!!

Try the Atkins phase 2 food plan or the South Beach Living phase 2 food plan. Do not try to go no or low fat on her!! Do not bring sugar free chocolates instead of real chocolates. The sugar free junk has sugar alcohols which give diarrhea to most of us.

Please QUIT being the Food Police!! You only will make her more stubborn!

My son last Saturday was trying to decide where I should go for dinner to fit my food plan! I told him that I could make do with anywhere that the chef or cook would change the plate for me so I didn't have to look at the potato or rice or pasta on it. I eat mostly meats and dark green leafy salads with REAL dressings on them.