My mom has diabetes. My brother has diabetes. One of my sisters is diabetic too! We are 6 in the family and 3 of us has acquired the disease. Its very ironic that for a diabetic family, we still own a stake on a sugar cane factory. I have been very vocal on how hard it is living with half of your family with diabetes. But people who knows me knew that even once, I never complained about it. In fact, I have learned my way to live with it, harmoniously.
I was the youngest in my immediate family. And although I am very fortunate to have never acquired it, I am still as cautious as anyone who wanted diabetes out of their lives.
The disease runs in the family. Now you got the idea its not because of the sugars that we do for a living. Actually, you can never find any sugar (sugar canes) based products in our house. We use sweeteners. I have also learned to despise any soft drinks in the market. That's why Coca Cola and Pepsi do not profit from me. My mom is insulin dependent for almost 10 years while my siblings are not. They maintain a diet that really amazes me. They eat foods almost everyday that is the same day by day and never grew tired of eating it. Maybe that's the consequences you have to face having that silent killer.
Though my family can afford medical treatments they usually turn down any proposals alike. They never wanted any surgical operations, taking chemically based medication. They also do not like the idea of facing the scary doctors regularly. But if you have to ask me, I would like those idea. But I do not hold their minds, so I must abide to my elders.
Instead, my family members who has diabetes rely on herbal medicines. In Asia, particularly in the Philippines, bitter melon or locally known as Ampalaya is the most famous remedy for diabetes. It is a green bitter vegetable that reduces the glucose content of the body thus reducing the risk of diabetes. Nowadays, it is packed manufactured as tablets and sometimes also comes in teas. However, there is a very limited scientific claims about it.
Living in a family with diabetes is never really easy. But achieving perfect sync with the rules that results for a healthier day to day outcome is always an achievement I always be proud of.
