“Sugar is a drug, a... dopamine enhancer that works
along the same lines as caffeine, nicotine and alcohol – all substances that
people love to indulge in, even though it is well known that they aren’t good
for the body...”*
My mother’s
preoccupation with the sugar has existed for decades. Yet, recently, I have experienced
more of her junkie ways.
In 2009, my mother had a stroke. And while hospitalized, her
Type II Diabetic diagnosis was made.
Now, she resides in a care facility and spends most of her
time in her wheelchair. She is on medications to keep her blood pressure, blood
sugar and assorted health issues stabilized.
There is a
scene in the 1983 film, “Scarface.” In it, Tony Montana, a scrappy drug lord, has
risen to power and has gigantic mounds of cocaine on his desk. His entire face dives
into one of the mounds and he snorts away. When he finally lifts his head, telltale
white powder covers his nose and mouth.
If Mom had
her choice concerning sugar, there would, likewise be, similar piles at her
disposal.
She joneses
for her sugar fix.
Brown
bananas, crackers and packets of peanut butter and jelly accumulate on her
nightstand and in her dresser drawers.
And Mom schemes.
My mother
ordered from a candy catalogue for years- and that continued into her care facility
residence. Therefore, candy orders showed up in her room and in her high blood
sugar numbers.
So, I called
the catalog company, informed them of her situation and cancelled her subscription.
I thought the issue was handled. But catalogs continued to appear in her room.
These catalogs, however, were different.
The addressee
was my late father’s name. Apparently my dad liked receiving candy from beyond
the grave.
So, I proceeded
with cancelation attempt number two. I asked the company to flag two addressee names.
The customer service rep was surprised by my Mom’s tactics. I was not.
She, again, wanted
her sugar fix.
“... We learn to associate the
taste of sugar with happy feelings... and we try to recreate those sweet
childhood memories...”*
Deprivation
is not healthy, even for my Diabetic mother.
So, yes, Mom
has special treats. We eat lunch with her once a month and buy a birthday cake
for her party.
And, since
her birthday is close to Easter, we also bring her the Cadbury Crème Eggs she
yearns for.
Two years
ago, we gave her an egg while prepping for her party. Seconds later, I hear a crinkling
noise. The egg was gone.
The sweet
tooth does not have an age limit or outgrow its need for pleasure. And, once
someone is elderly, having more restrictions on his/her life, cravings can
become even more all-consuming.
We may not
view our aging loved ones as addicts, but, when it comes to sugar, sometimes,
that is precisely who they are.
*The 4 Most Common Reasons Why You Crave Sweets by Shilo Urban
Copyright © 2017 by Sheryle Cruse
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