It isn’t just the economy that worried me. This year the holidays seemed thrust upon us and I wondered how my sister, a diabetic working mom of five, would handle it. What gift would be enough for a woman who constantly gives of herself, yet often forgets to care for herself?
Exploring the EmpowHer.com website, I decided to ask my “virtual sisters” if they had any ideas about diet. I simply asked, “What is the suggested diet for diabetics?” And so began the flow of knowledge.
One woman recommended a cookbook offered by the American Diabetic Association, plus links to 6 Diet Tips to Help Manage Diabetes Nerve Pain and The Basics of a Diabetes Diet. Another suggested Chromium Picolinate supplements because of their relationship to insulin, plus explicit foods and nutritional balance information. A complete meal plan was offered by a contributor with tips and tools for managing the task of keeping the right combination of foods. And, to boot, she threw in a recipe for lasagna that would please the family and even holiday company.
There is much that is bad about our economic situation right now but perhaps this is a time for us to think about what we really value. Being a long-term survivor of cancer, material things are less and less important to me. But, finding information that could give my sister a better quality of life and give her children the knowledge to help support her is priceless. My search produced truly useful, practical information that will empower our family to show our love for this remarkable, selfless woman.
And, isn’t that what this holiday should be about after all?