Hi Mindy,
I also have issues with my Mil forgetting that she has recently eaten and claiming to be starving. She has a dreadfully sweet tooth too, and never remembers that she has diabetes, and I've actually had to deal with some really angry tantrums when I've had to refuse her the cakes/biscuits/sweets she frequently demands. Christmas was really hard, as obviously, there are more 'treats' at that time of year and I felt awful having to say 'No' to her - especially as all 3 of my kids were home and regularly tucking into things that she can't have too much of. Its not just the diabetes, either - she has arthritis in her knees and the pain gets worse with weight gain - and she also has COPD with excess weight also affecting her breathing and causing her distress. She, of course, is unable to link the cause and effect and continues to want to eat excessively
At one stage, she did gain a lot of weight and I found out that she was having a second breakfast at day care, plus being given cakes/buiscuits on demand. During her first weeks respite at the sister home to where she goes for DC, she put on 4.5lbs, because of this sort of attitude. I've raised the isuue in reviews, spoken to managers and senior staff - and yet I still know this is happening. One day, a week or so ago, I dropped her off after an appointment, rather than her getting the mini bus in and as we walked through the door she was offered 'tea and toast' - its clearly a regular thing. Its also a regular thing for me to find biscuits and sweets stuffed in her pockets, because they are left lying around for people to help themselves at DC or because sweets are often given as raffle or bingo prizes there - and also because she isn't above helping herself from residents bedrooms, I'm afraid! In response to this, I have stopped doing any sort of pudding for her at home, I've cut her breakfast portions of porridge and toast in half, she gets only a small eveing meal and she is never, ever given any biscuits or cake. I feel mean, but because I know she is getting so much extra in DC, I don't think -for the sake of her health - that I have much choice. I hate that this - in her eyes - often makes me the 'bad guy' too
I've managed to keep her at a fairly stable size 16 for several months now - but getting her any lighter, when I know that DC (brilliant in most other respects) are not helping, feels like an impossible task
Its a really hard one to deal with!