[ZTAngel]

I watched a family member die because of her own stubborness when it came to her obesity.

My great aunt was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes while in her thirties. At first, she watched what she ate and exercised everyday. She found this lifestyle to be restrictive and stopped caring for herself about 5 years after her diagnosis. My family would tell her that she needs to lose weight; obesity alone is bad but to mix it in with Type II Diabetes is a death sentence. In 1994, she had an infection in her leg; the doctors had to amputate it (it's common for diabetics to grow infections that lead to amputation). My family and I begged her to eat better and take care of herself. Her answer was that she wanted to enjoy life and didn't see how eating salad or low-carb foods would bring her happiness; she was a diabetic with an addiction to sugar. Fast forward to December of 2001. Once again, she ends up in the hospital with infection; this time in her other leg. The surgeons amputated her leg. At this point, her immune system was shot from years of neglecting her health. She caught pneumonia. April of 2002, she died at only 53 years old. Her reasoning for eating unhealthy and not exercising were because "she wanted to enjoy her life and be happy". I'll bet she wasn't enjoying her life as she laid dying in her hospital bed while in excrutiating pain.

I watch as my boyfriend's roommate, who has Type I Diabetes, drinks every night and eats some of the worst food that I (someone who doesn't have insulin problems) wouldn't even touch. I told him what happened to my aunt but he still insists that eating healthy would be restrictive and that he wants to enjoy life.

It is so sad to watch people do this to themselves. My aunt put our family through hell and back again. Seeing a such a bright and talented woman (she was a lawyer turned advocate for orphan rights) lay there helpless and dying in the hospital was one of the saddest sights.

I wish people who are overweight would think of the future before they put that McDonald's hamburger in their mouth. Salads might not be "fun" to eat but they'll keep someone much more healthy. It's this type of attitude that causes so many overweight, diabetic Americans. My aunt never realized the consequences of her actions until it was too late. I also think that if she realized how much pain her obesity and unwillingness to change caused her family members, she would done things differently and she may still have been here today.