I was at the laundromat and began talking to a truck driver (a woman). When you sit for hours doing your wash you get to talking.

She is 39, weighs 239 pounds and is diabetic since she's 29. She said "you're diabetic, what do you use?" I said "well, initially, 20 or so years ago, they put me on metformin which KILLED my stomach, I never got out of the bathroom"

She said "Oh my god, no wonder my stomach always hurts" "So what do you take". I began talking about Lantus and how it worked for me but of course I told her about my diet.

She then exclaimed "You don't drink beer???" I said "Beer, BEER???"
why on earth would I drink beer it's LOADED WITH CARBS. And diabetics have to watch carbs"

She said "I have to have my beer". I said 'what do you mean you have to have your beer?" She said "Well, I like the way it makes my FEET FEEL!!!"

I then said "have you noticed any problems with your feet?"

She said "Oh, yes, my feet are numb" and she took off her sandals and she pointed to certain areas of her feet (toes, down the side of the left foot), and she said "completely numb"

I then said (very kindly and without any pushing). "Do you realize that this is a side effect of uncontrolled diabetes, you most like have neuropathy"

I then asked gently "do you test your blood sugar"?

She replied "Oh I can't be bothered. I only test myself when I don't feel good"

??????????????????????????????????????????

I then said: 'You do know that beer is full of carbs, but what did you mean that you like the way it makes your feet feel"?

She responded "Oh I get a buzz in my feet and I love it"

She was asking me questions and I honestly answered her without any prejudice, without any interrogations, etc.

I simply shared my experience with diabetes and after listening she laughed and said

"I find this whole diabetes thing very annoying and I like my beer on the weekends"

I said: "Oh, you drink on the weekends, so how much does it take for your feet to get a buz, two or three cans of beer?"

She looked at me like I lost my mind and she burst our laughing and said:

"Two or three cans, are you nuts, I DRINK 18 CANS"

Since I do not drink, I don't drink beer, never have, so I don't know anything about a person's capacity to indulge, I just stared at her and said: "you're kidding right??"

She called the owner of the laundromat over and said "Maria, can I put away 18 cans of beer at one time or what?" The owner laughed and said "Easily"

I then immediately knew that anything I said would be to no avail so I just enjoyed her company for the next hour while we folded our clothes.

Now would someone please explain this way of thinking to me because I DON'T GET IT AT ALL!!!

Melody