A Miracle Cure!!!

Two years ago Husband was diagnosed with diabetes. Fortunately his sugar levels were borderline. He received a blood sugar monitor to record the readings of his blood twice a day, a requirement for his next doctor’s appointment. He spent an afternoon with a diabetes dietitian who informed him of the ideal foods and diet. During this conversation it became clear to the dietitian the meals at home fulfilled these requirements. On further investigation the nurse unveiled the diet culprits. He finally admitted to the junk food, biscuits, ice-cream and crisps etc. he ate on the sly.

The doctor's diagnosis frightened him. He needed to exercise, cut the excess and bad foods from his diet and lose weight. Everything I nagged him about for years. According to the doctor it was still possible to get his blood levels under control with diet and exercise, eliminating the need for medications. That very evening we headed to Sears and bought an Elliptical exercise machine. On getting it home and set-up he started a daily exercise regime. The first few days he managed five breathless minutes of exercise working up to ten minutes and then to fifteen minutes. He was delighted with his progress. The junk food went by the wayside. He started reading food labels, checking the sugar and fat content. The sugar filled biscuits were replaced with ginger snaps. Processed sandwich meats were replaced with home cooked meats and ice cream became a stranger to our freezer.

On his return visit to the doctor, he had lost over ten pounds. He was looking and feeling great. More importantly the sugar levels were down. He held fast to the plan for the next six months and lost another ten pounds. He continued regular checkups with the doctor, his diabetes health nurse and dietitian. Then it happened. The doctor informed him he was one of her success stories. She gave him a virtual clap on the back. Big Mistake. Arriving home from the doctor’s he told me his blood levels were under control and he was cured.

I was delighted with this good news but pointed out he wasn't cured. He needed to stay with the regime to insure his continued health. I might as well have been talking to the wall. Slowly the junk food and ice cream made its comeback. Granted the ice cream was a low fat variety. He has not gone back to the processed meats; I still roast meat each week for his sandwiches. Sweets are still banished from the house, but whenever shopping he plops a Twix or Kit Kat amongst the healthy groceries. The Elliptical machine is gathering dust and all the weight he lost last year has returned. He hasn't checked his blood sugar levels in months and when I ask him about it, he indignantly informs me he is cured. He hasn't seen the doctor in ages, but today I made an appointment for him. It is not that I want him to be ill, but I do hope the doctor gives him a stern talking too! Because only that will put him back on track. He only hears what he wants to hear. If he is told he is doing well, in his mind it translates to you are cured. As I explained to the doctor when I telephoned this morning, years ago he had his gallbladder removed and I told him he would have to watch the fat intake in his diet. He asked the surgeon as I sat there beside him, if he needed to exclude anything from his diet. The surgeon said "No, you can eat anything within reason." My heart sank as I heard these words fall from the surgeon’s mouth because as I feared all he heard was He Could Eat Anything. I think this doctor got the picture! He is in for one big surprise!!!