Sister thinks she's safe because she's thin

[Jeanne Marie]

My older sister has controlled her weight her whole life with excessive exercise and by eating huge portions of bulky vegetables but now I notice that, although she is still quite thin, she eats a fair amount of sugar. I'm pretty sure she's a high carb person because her husband has heart problems and subcribes to the low fat diet his doctor recommends.
Lately I suggested to her that she get her blood sugar tested, as she hasn't had any tests in years, and she told me that she thought she had to be fine, because she was thin and fit, (able to exercise easily).

Any thoughts on how I might persuade her to check this out? I don't believe one has to be overweight to get into trouble with too many sugars and carbs.

[Songwriter]

If she smoked, would she think she should be okay because she is thin?

[laughingW]

Any thoughts on how I might persuade her to check this out? I don't believe one has to be overweight to get into trouble with too many sugars and carbs.

All you can do is share you're worried about her health. In my family, no one, but no one, listens to unsolicited health advice. We all think we know it all. ha ha

However... a fair amount of sugar could lead to malnutrition in other ways than making her fat or unable to exercise. If it was my sister, I'd challenge her with a smile on my face, to check these things, and tell her mine are great even while overweight:

triglycerides
homocystecine levels
C reactive protein (inflammation)
bone health
loss of lean body mass

Those can all get bad when the diet tilts to excess starch and sugar and not enough protein and fat. Especially if her exercise is 'cardio' to burn off sugar.

[Jeanne Marie]

My sister sent me her test results, all good! Her triglycerides are almost as good as mine (50).
She is still waiting to do her fasting blood glucose.
I've got my fingers crossed for her.

[Songwriter]

What were her other lipids? Give us her numbers! 50 LDL is great. I think.

[Gaelen]

Lately I suggested to her that she get her blood sugar tested, as she hasn't had any tests in years, and she told me that she thought she had to be fine, because she was thin and fit, (able to exercise easily).

Any thoughts on how I might persuade her to check this out? I don't believe one has to be overweight to get into trouble with too many sugars and carbs.

So now that you know that her blood values are good and her tris are around 50, if her blood sugar is okay, will you be willing to just let your sister follow her own path?

And even if her blood glucose is NOT ideal, will you be prepared for the eventuality that she may not be willing to alter the things she believes are correct choices for her?

Seriously...people (especially our family members) will change only when *they* want to change. What works for one person (for your sister, lots of exercise and a high-bulk diet...for you, carb control) won't automatically work for someone else, especially if they're not willing to make the lifestyle commitment that a new way of eating usually requires. So, if despite what you know to be the benefits of controlled carb eating, your sister chooses not to do that, will you be able to stop worrying about something which you can't change (her lifestyle choices), say 'live and let live' and let her make her own path?

[Jeanne Marie]

Good point, you can't make anyone want to change.

I think my sister is listening to me, though. I sent her the link to Taubes lecture at Berkeley. She told me that she notices that if she eats alot of suger she gets dizzy unless she goes and works the glucogen off. I told her I didn't think that stopped the insulin surge.

[111john111]

I agree to you,

Balanced diet and regular work out helps maintain body shape

[Belfrybat]

I have a good friend around my age (60-ish) who eats anything and everything she wants, usually high carb, pops a vitamin pill each day "just in case". She is normal weight, normal blood glucose, normal blood lipids, routine heart scans all normal -- actually was told she has the pipes of a 30 year old. Me, on the other hand, who has tried to eat healthy most of my adult life ended up with diabetes and high-ish cholesterol and heart problems. I really think it gets back to the "nature vs. nurture" debate. Some folks just seem to have a built-in immunity to "lifestyle diseases" even when they are practicing poor choices. Others of us get an overdose of them even when "doing the right thing". Life just ain't fair. :rolleyes: