RE: Diabetes and Intuitive Eating

[Guest guest]

Sara,The first thought that comes to mind... Does your mom *want* to change? If not, then I would think the best way for you to help her... is to be an example.... nothing more until she's ready and wants help.Just my 2 cents... reflectionmommy wrote: My mom has adult-onset diabetes. She weights about 300 pounds at 5'11. She has a very self-destructive lifestyle, smoking 3 packs of cigarettes a day. She is so out of touch with her hunger, she

doesn't even feel it anymore. She doesn't eat all day, then eats a whole bunch late at night. She says she doesn't even know why she eats that much at night, as she doesn't feel hungry. She has type II diabetes, because she's overweight. She tries to lose weight off and on by dieting, but is predictably unsuccessful. She needs intuitive eating, but would binge on sweets, which would be extremely unhealthy in the short-term. Her blood sugar is already very high, and poorly controlled. She doesn't take insulin. I'm trying to figure out a safe way for her to try intuitive eating. I was thinking, she could work with her doctor in the short- run, and possibly use insulin to control her blood sugar at first. Then, hopefully, over time, her blood sugar would normalize. I'd love to get the book for her (IE). But I"m really afraid she would try intuitive eating without consulting her doctor, or

overseeing her blood sugar. As I said, she has a very self- destructive track record. Any information or advice? Thanks, Sara

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[Guest guest]

Hi Sara,

This is a great question. In my professional experience and discussing

this with other professionals, it is generally thought that Intuitive

Eating is an appropriate way to eat for diabetics. If a diabetic is truly

in tune with her body, she should be able to tell when she needs food and

what kind (carbs, protein, etc.). But since she isn't, your concern is

quite valid.

I would recommend that you get your mother in touch with a dietician who

knows Intuitive Eating. While I coach clients on this, dealing with

diabetes is beyond the scope of my practice. My mentor is an expert and

dietician who knows all about this situation. She is in Los Angeles, but

she may do work by phone, as I do. If not, I am sure we can try to find

someone to help by using our resources.

It is important that her doctor is aware of how she is eating, but

chances are high that he/she won't know anything about Intuitive Eating.

I would be concerned that a " diabetes diet " would be given to

her, and while she needs education on controlling her blood sugar, there

is clearly some emotional stuff going on.

Feel free to email me privately, or on this list to let me know how I can

help.

Thanks,

Gillian

Gillian Hood-son, MS, ACSM

Healthier Outcomes

It's not just about losing weight!

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At 10:17 AM 9/7/2006, you wrote:

My mom has adult-onset diabetes.

She weights about 300 pounds at

5'11. She has a very self-destructive lifestyle, smoking 3 packs of

cigarettes a day. She is so out of touch with her hunger, she

doesn't even feel it anymore. She doesn't eat all day, then eats a

whole bunch late at night. She says she doesn't even know why she

eats that much at night, as she doesn't feel hungry.

She has type II diabetes, because she's overweight. She tries to

lose weight off and on by dieting, but is predictably unsuccessful.

She needs intuitive eating, but would binge on sweets, which would

be extremely unhealthy in the short-term. Her blood sugar is

already very high, and poorly controlled. She doesn't take

insulin.

I'm trying to figure out a safe way for her to try intuitive

eating. I was thinking, she could work with her doctor in the short-

run, and possibly use insulin to control her blood sugar at first.

Then, hopefully, over time, her blood sugar would normalize.

I'd love to get the book for her (IE). But I " m really afraid she

would try intuitive eating without consulting her doctor, or

overseeing her blood sugar. As I said, she has a very self-

destructive track record.

Any information or advice?

Thanks, Sara

[Guest guest]

Sara,

It sounds like your mother is

not living on a diabetic diet now. If that is the case, how much more

could it hurt if she was starting on IE by eating a lot of sweets?

Of course if she is watching her diet

already then it could hurt.

I think you are selling your mother

short. If she wants to truly eat intuitively then it wouldn’t be

long until she discovered how horrible sweets made her feel and knowing that

she could have whatever she wanted would cause her to make healther choices. I

wouldn’t be afraid to bet that once she was given the permission to eat

junk she probably wouldn’t bother.

But of course the real question is,

does she want to try IE? You can’t persuade someone to do it, it

has to be all up to them.

My two cents worth,

Vicki P.

From: IntuitiveEating_Support [mailto:IntuitiveEating_Support ] On Behalf Of reflectionmommy

Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006

12:18 PM

To: IntuitiveEating_Support

Subject:

Diabetes and Intuitive Eating

My mom has adult-onset diabetes. She weights about 300

pounds at

5'11. She has a very self-destructive lifestyle, smoking 3 packs of

cigarettes a day. She is so out of touch with her hunger, she

doesn't even feel it anymore. She doesn't eat all day, then eats a

whole bunch late at night. She says she doesn't even know why she

eats that much at night, as she doesn't feel hungry.

She has type II diabetes, because she's overweight. She tries to

lose weight off and on by dieting, but is predictably unsuccessful.

She needs intuitive eating, but would binge on sweets, which would

be extremely unhealthy in the short-term. Her blood sugar is

already very high, and poorly controlled. She doesn't take insulin.

I'm trying to figure out a safe way for her to try intuitive

eating. I was thinking, she could work with her doctor in the short-

run, and possibly use insulin to control her blood sugar at first.

Then, hopefully, over time, her blood sugar would normalize.

I'd love to get the book for her (IE). But I " m really afraid she

would try intuitive eating without consulting her doctor, or

overseeing her blood sugar. As I said, she has a very self-

destructive track record.

Any information or advice?

Thanks, Sara