Ideas for Improving Diabetes.org

[#1]

I was checking out the homepage and was shocked to see a cookie jar advertised for sale to raise money to stop diabetes.  Wait a minute! Wait a minute!  HOW COULD THIS BE?   We are trying so hard to curb diabetes, decrease obesity, lower cholesterol and you are selling cookie jars?!!!!  and you are selling cookie platters?!!!!  That is the last thing anyone needs on their counter to remind them of snacks and sweets.  But that is not all- ADA also sells a cream and sugar set. and a wine topper. Hey ADA, you need to add a holiday deep fat fryer and  a doughnut maker in your store stock. 

After all we do to teach clients about the effects of alcohol on diabetes, high fats (cream) on blood sugars, &  etc, you encourage this behavior.  This is no different than if a non drinker attended an AA meeting wearing a Coors Beer shirt with a wine cooler in their hand. 

We Americans have a love affair with sweets and fats- please don't help anymore with justifying this addiction by selling items like this in the diabetes store.  Remove them immediately- your message to Stop Diabetes is compromised.  (Oh, maybe these items were donated by the Baking industry and we wouldn't want to hurt their feelings.) 

I do appreciate the salad spinner and the various gardening items.  Now that sends the message of growing  & eating healthy foods.  For the other items, you should have know better. 

This is an example of how ADA misses the point of  how does one  STOP diabetes.  Check out a program that reverses diabetes found at Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine by Dr. Neal Barnard (pcrm.org)  It is time to renew my membership with ADA and this has convinced me that you don't know what you are doing to truly STOP DIABETES so I will not be renewing.  

[#2]

There is nothing wrong with the ADA selling these things. We eat cookies made with Splenda. We also drink wine. As far as the cream and sugar set, almond milk and any artificial sweetener that is poured from a box can be put in those.

You have no right to tell the ADA what it can and can't sell on line. Only demand for those products will do that.

James

just a diabetic

[#3]

"We Americans have a love affair with sweets and fats- please don't help anymore with justifying this addiction by selling items like this in the diabetes store.  Remove them immediately- your message to Stop Diabetes is compromised."

**************

My oh my, a wee bit testy aren't you? It is not compromising any message the ADA is putting out. Diabetic folks just happen to maybe be buying those products - for family or friends -diabetic or not. Or even for their own kitchen. Nothing wrong with that.

Most diabetics can eat anything they want to. Portion control and knowing what their meter shows them, is a very good way to know, if you can eat something or not.

Yes, I am sure that it is hard on new diabetics, Type 2's moreso than Type 1's. Where Type 1's are not restricted on foods, Type 2's are. But with careful planning, learning what you can or cannot eat, taking more responsibility for your diabetes, it does get easier. After awhile, you will be able to add a cookie or two, back into your snacks and meals. Visit the Type 2 board, they'll help you along, if you are Type 2. Otherwise, come join us on the Type 1 board if you are Type 1, we'll also help you.

I'm sorry that you are having a difficult time with this.

Trisha -Type 1 almost 30 years

[#4]

Thank you for your feedback. The other commenters have mentioned how I'd respond to this request. Does diabetes mean that someone never gets to enjoy sweets? Of course not. But it does mean that intake needs to be cut back if people are overweight and that consumption must be monitored closely. We take very seriously our charge to encourage healthy living and eating in the people we serve. That should be evidenced from our site's robust sections on food and nutrition.