My dad just recently found out that he's diabetic. Even though diabetes can be serious if it's not treated properly, he still eats poorly and thinks that nothing is going to happen to him. He's also been smoking since he was 8 years old, and I worry even more about that. Now that I'm in middle school, I've been learning a lot about not taking care of yourself and what can happen to you. I'm so scared that something's going to happen to my dad, but he doesn't listen to me when I tell him about what can happen. Does anyone have any ideas about how I can get through to him?

Thanks,
Sarah89

Does your family have any friends or relatives who have lost their legs or have any problems related to diabetes? If you could point these people out to your dad subtley it may help a little. Perhaps you could do a research project on your own of diabetic complications and leave some of the pictures and articles lay where he would definately see them. If he should ask about them you could very casually tell him that you decided to research what happens to people who don't take their diabetes seriously. Remind him that you would like him to be around for a while and that you are worried that if he doesn't take care of his diabetes you are afraid that he might not be around to see you graduate, get married and have grandkids etc. Hope some of these ideas help.

I visited some website on diabetes. The basic
explanation that struck me to the core was: Sugar
sticks to the blood platelets, and circulates through
the bloodstream, and poisons the organs.
That's all I needed to hear was "why" I had to
eat low sugar and sugar free. Perhaps, you can write this down for him. I know some days I do not want to
even try to stick to the proper diet, but then I just
review that sentence.

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