What do you learn in Diabetes Education Class?

Have you noticed T2D Adventures has been focusing heavily on sugar?  Sugar as discussed in our last post is the ultimate weakness for virtually all T2D Patients.  It is kryptonite to our Superman!  So, what do you learn in Diabetes Education class?

My Trip to the Diabetes Educator

Let me tell you about the first time I went to see a Diabetes Educator. I had just been diagnosed. As part of the process for newly diagnosed diabetics, one of the first things you need to do is visit with a Diabetes Educator. The way that our local health system handles this is that you participate in a group class.

I was quite down on myself about becoming diabetic but was very hopeful I would learn something important in this class. At the time I weighed somewhere in the ballpark of 290lbs. Because I knew to get the most out of the changes I would need to make, I brought my significant other at the time to the class, since she also had a weight issue.

We get to the diabetes clinic and are brought to a small conference room.   Like any typical conference room there is a white board, television for video and multiple tables. Sitting at these tables are the other people participating in the program. While I considered myself to be rather large, I was pretty shocked to realize, other than the instructor and my companion I was the smallest person in the class.

Diabetes Education

This was many years ago and I certainly hope that diabetes education has improved but I was sorely disappointed with what was provided. The class covered many of the essentials for what the recommended diabetic diet should consist of, primarily using the food pyramid. The Dietician leading the class was a slender woman probably in her early 60’s who admitted to never having an issue with her weight. I was offended she stated that she never struggled with her weight, it made me feel she had little or no empathy for our struggle.  

The advice consisted of portion control, and a balanced diet based on the food pyramid:

• 6-11 servings of grains
• 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies
• 2-3 servings of meats
• 2-3 servings of dairy
• The tip of the pyramid consists of:  Fats, Oils and Sweets… to be used sparingly.

Looking at that, that’s a lot of food! Yet we are supposed be exercising portion control?!?  Talk about mixed messages…

Here’s where it gets Interesting…

Here comes the most interesting part. Our educator begins talking about cravings. If there is one thing overweight people know about food, its cravings.  Like a pack of lions who have just taken down a gazelle, we eagerly await the words of wisdom to be spoon feed to us.

What happened next left me stunned and speechless. She reaches under her table and pulls out a bag of fun-sized snickers. My jaw dropped.

This woman proceeded to tell a room full of obese diabetics it was “OK!” to have just ONE fun-sized candy bar. She went as far to say we should keep them in our freezer for those weak moments when a craving hit.

I glanced around the room… I was clearly the only one who was not visibly excited. Everyone else appeared as though they had won the lottery. JACKPOT!  The Diabetes Educator, whose job was to help us improve our diet, just told us it was acceptable to eat candy. 

I was revolted. My companion appeared mesmerized by this revelation. What, she could have candy? 

Seriously?

I raised my hand to speak. 

“Did you really tell us that it was “Ok” to eat a fun-sized Snickers?”

She replied, emphasizing with one finger extended, “But just ONE!”

I let out a brief chuckle. “What makes you think any one of us is capable of limiting ourselves to JUST ONE fun-sized candy bar? Don’t you think candy and other sweets are what landed most of us here? I know if I ate one, I would likely finish the whole bag without blinking an eye…”

I know she answered, but all I heard was the sounds of Charlie Brown’s Teacher.

She was telling a room full of sugar addicts  it was “Ok” to have one fun-sized candy bar.

Let the sink in for a minute… Isn’t that like telling an alcoholic they can have just one drink?

A cocaine addict it is “Ok” to snort just one line?   

Or any addict they can occasionally indulge in their substance of choice?

Conclusion

This was a joke, I wasn’t going to learn anything of value from this class. When the educator turned to the whiteboard to write, I stood up, began to walk out and quietly whispered to my companion “It’s time to go…”

As we walked back to the car she asked me “Why did we leave?”

My simple answer was: “If their idea of diabetes education is telling obese diabetics it’s “Ok” to eat candy, then that is a complete waste of my time.”

I knew at that moment I would have to solve this myself.

Other than her callous remark about never struggling with a weight issue, I can’t fault the Diabetes Educator, she was only teaching what she was taught to teach.  But it was terrible advice.  This sparked my quest that has brought me to where I am today.  the last 11 years have been adventurous with many challenges and setbacks, however, far more successes than failures.

-Todd

Please check out our other posts:

1.  A-Ha! Moment #1
2. The Mirror Tells No Lies
3. The College Years…

And our Recommendations Page!