Family Love Affair with Diabetes
How do your family respond to the news of your diabetes when you’ve told them? Or have you not told them? Why do you think I’ve always invited my patients’ family members to come? Some patients were resistant to this idea at first and had said something like “Why would they care? It’s not their problem. We’ll have to cook different food.” Really? Have you asked them? I’ve found that people are more than happy to help if I ask them nicely!
Just to be clear, there is no such thing as “diabetic diet”. I’m amused how many times people ask me for the “diabetic diet”. I don’t like the word “diet” anyway, so I never used this word. It has “die” in it, no wonder all the fad diets don’t work because they “die” in the long term!
First, I help my patients figure out WHY they come to see me and WHAT they REALLY WANT in LIFE! Then, I teach my patients how to read labels and how to choose healthier food from each food groups. I even teach them (or whoever is in charge of cooking in the family) how to do meal plans as a Nutrition and Food Coach. What’s good for my patients is good for their partners, their children and grandchildren regardless of which type of diabetes!
I encourage “Family Love Affair with Diabetes” in all my clinics. Trust me, when you make it as a new journey for your family, they will help or even take over the meal planning and shopping for you. When you use physical activities as games to play with your children or grandchildren, they will wake you up for the morning walks! You also get the bonus of additional family bonding time and fun! Come on, joining us to invite your family!
♥ University Lecturer & Meditation Practitioner
♥ Credentialled Diabetes Educator
♥ WEIGHT & PAIN Management Consultant
♥ Consultant Clinical Pharmacist
