Help me to understand...to help diabetic sister.?

Question

My sister is type 2 and she does not watch her diet like she should. She lives with me, so I see how she eats. I don't like to remind her that she shouldn't be eating that, because when I do she flys off the handle and tells me to myob. But she is living in MY house and I love her so much, I know what she is eating is hurting her. She is borderline right now, her dr told her might have to start insulin bc her sugar levels are so high - 315 at highest. I am even following the diabetic diet - I am not diabetic - just to eat right, and she turns her nose up when I make us dinner.
What should I do? Let her make her own meals? She just isn't watching her diet. I'm worried about her.

Answer 1

As worried as you are about your sister, and as hard as it is to see her screwing herself up when she has an illness, you have to allow her to make her own choices and live with the consequences. You can't make those choices for her. And you can't force the issue.

When someone is newly diagnosed with a disability or an illness, you go through a period of denial where you just can't believe it's true. You grieve the person you lost. And you may get so depressed for a while, you don't care. If she's still going to her doctor and she ends up having to take insulin, eventually reality will sink in and she may decide she really doesn't like having to do that.

But at the moment, for all your good intentions, you're coming across like a nag and that will just push her away from doing what she needs to do for herself.

Answer 2

You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.

I know it is very hard to see your sister damaging her body the way she is. But sometimes you just have to step back and let her be responsible for what will surely follow with her actions. It will be hard for you to watch her deteriorate over the years. Maybe once her sugars get high enough and she has no choice but to go on insulin t herapy, she may wake up. But then again, she may not. Some people look at insulin as an outlet. Thinking that they can have that piece of pie and then do a correction dose.

Hopefully she will wise up before she starts experiencing some of the serious side effects of Diabetes.

I feel for you hon!

Answer 3

The only thing you can do, is avoid worrying about her. One of the hardest lessons in life is learning that just because you care about someone, it doesn't mean you can change the way they think. It may take a hospital visit to pull her out of her denial or whatever her mental blockage is. She may never pull out of it. Focus on you. Worrying will only take away from your health. You are doing all you can and that's commendable. Just being there for her ought to be plenty.

You could get her this book:
http://www.diabetesimprovement.com/diabetesbook.html
But getting her to read it is another story. It does provide a thorough understanding of the causes and treatments for diabetes.

In the beginning, I went through that phase for a full year. Hopefully, she'll wake up before it's too late. Either way, it's best for you to not get frustrated or too worried. Focus on keeping yourself healthy... that's all you can do.

Answer 4

she is in deniel. that is sad. but it can happen. she need to start exercising or moving around and she needs to stop pop or using too much sugar she is doing too much eating for the sugar to be that high and its way too high. she has to want to help her self. if she does't she can lose her leg site or whatever tell her this.

Answer 5

If she is over eighteen she is gonna eat what she wants. You cannot force someone to take care of themselves. No amount of whining, moaning, kvetching or talking will help. She is going to do what she wants and all you can do is live your life and let her live hers. Sad, but often it takes someone to really get sick to take care of themselves and sometimes even then they don't.