Fight against diabetes inspirational

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Posted By

Posted 2 months ago

(Re: 'Healthy rebound' in the Nov. 13 edition of the Examiner)

Congratulations Nancy Reti.

What an inspiring story. It just goes to show that through shear will, determination and a lot of hard work and support, a person can go from weighing 320 to 155 pounds without gastric bypass surgery.

You and all your family should be very proud.

Last year, when I was struggling with my weight, a nurse living in the same townhouse complex as me told me to ask my doctor about gastric bypass surgery. She said that she simply ate a dozen doughnuts every day until she weighed more than 300 pounds, then asked her doctor about having surgery.

The surgery is paid by OHIP if you weigh more than 300 pounds and your health is compromised.

She had the surgery and is now at a healthy weight.

Has she learned anything by this experience? I don't believe so. Last week, I babysat her two children. She told me she had packed snacks in their backpacks for them.

When I got the snacks out, the six-year-old had a can of Five Alive beverage (mostly sugar and water) and a box of Smarties, and the four-year-old had a package of two Oreo cakes.

I figure that in about 25 years they will be having gastric bypass surgery as well. This woman works in health care and should know to set a good example.

Nancy Reti has set a good example for all overweight people and anyone living with Type 2 diabetes.

I hope that I never feel desperate enough to ask my doctor about surgery for weight loss. I am going to do my best to follow Nancy Reti's example.

Susanna Millar Barrie