Busy-Bodies for Health (Continued)

Print Email Share

But the woman (let’s call her Shirley) didn’t nurse such worries.

“I hope you’re diluting that juice,” she said. “That’s way too much sugar.”

“But it’s good sugar,” Sam protested, setting down the weight. “Complex carbohydrates. They’re the good kind.”

By now I was all ears. Sam was right. Complex carbohydrates were all for the good – but in small amounts. And Shirley was also right, that fruit juice – which I reserve in my own diet for those times when my sugar drops too low – was probably playing havoc with his sugars. Diabetes and juice just don’t play well together on a daily basis.

Once again, though, Shirley didn’t hesitate.

“You’re going to kill yourself with that juice,” she said. She stepped towards Sam. “We gotta have ourselves a talk.”

“Since when did you become an expert on diabetes?” and juice?” asked Sam.

“Since I was diagnosed myself,” she said.

Sam looked up. I wondered if he might finally tell her to mind her own business, or if we’d have to get an fitness instructor in to break up a fist fight, but instead, to my amazement, Sam rose marched over to the water fountain in the opposite corner of the gym and poured the juice down the drain. He refilled the bottle with water, walked back to where he had been working out and said, “Thanks.” And then, “You sound just like my wife.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said.

When I finished my workout and went into the hall, I saw the two of them talking. Shirley was patiently explaining to Sam the information she had gathered from her nutritionist: the ins and out of fiber, fruit, and fat, an impromptu consultation that might keep Sam from a diabetes and juice induced high.

Passing them, I drew a deep breath and opened my mouth.

“I’m type 2 as well,” I said. “Listen to her. She’s right.”

Both of them looked up. I waited for them to ask how I knew what they had been talking about and what business it was of mine. But instead, they both smiled.

“Thanks,” Sam said. “I guess we’re all in the same club.”

I nodded. He was right. Next time, I thought as I left the gym, I might take a tip from Shirley and turn my hearing superpowers into a force for good. Or, at least for good health.

Click here to read more of Ilene's Second Chances columns here.

Read Ilene's blog.

Disclaimer
dLife's Daily Living columnists are not all medical experts, but everyday people living with diabetes and sharing their personal experiences. While their method of diabetes management may work for them, everyone is different. Please consult with your diabetes care team to find out.

PREVIOUS: Read more of Ilene's article Busy-Bodies for Health.