To The Editor:
I really enjoyed the article "Granny Was Right" (Parshas
Vayigash). I found it interesting and practical. I was
suffering from some minor problems and infections that the
conventional methods didn't seem to help. I found immediate
relief and improvement from the recommended kitchen remedies
such as onion, garlic, olive oil and — chicken soup, of
course.
However, I was disappointed to read another article about
"Diabetes and Obesity — a Moral Issue" (Parshas
Vayechi). I know a wonderful woman who is clearly obese
but this is a direct result of her malfunctioning thyroid
gland. Her obesity causes her much pain, difficulty and
embarrassment but there is little she can do about it.
Diabetes, even adult-onset, is not always a result of
obesity; often it has a lot to do with heredity, other risk
factors, conditions or medications being taken, such as
steroids, which are sometimes necessary. Diabetes sometimes
appears first during pregnancy as gestational diabetes and
puts the woman at high risk.
People who eat too much, or the wrong foods, such as over-
refined, etc. are not only high risk for diabetes, but also
for high blood pressure, heart attacks, arteriosclerosis,
etc. or almost any disease. So why focus on diabetes? And why
be so harsh on diabetics? Have you ever tried sticking to
their very strict diet? Or the time schedule, blood sugar
checks, insulin shots or pills, doctor visits? Try going to a
simchah and not even being allowed a dip for the raw
vegetables because it probably contains sugar . . .
Educating the public in preparing foods from scratch from
fresh, nutritious, natural ingredients would be a great
benefit in preventing most diseases. Most people are
accustomed to eating junk food or using preservatives,
monosodium glutamate, artificial sweeteners (or sugar, for
that matter), white flour products etc. It is not easy to go
back to the basics but we did it because our baby was
extremely allergic.
I was diagnosed with diabetes after many years of
hypoglycemia, then pre-diabetes. I've been taking steroids
daily for a few years for another condition and was told that
it may speed the onset of diabetes, but my very careful
adherence to the diet has delayed the onset of the disease by
years. I've been to countless elegant simchas, never
dreaming of tasting a piece of cake.
The impression I got from the article is that diabetics are
overindulgent. Perhaps you should encourage and help them
rather than point a finger at them.
A.S.
