@dorisena One thing we have to decide is if we want to live healthy for as long as we can or just die. This change did not start with my Diabetes diagnosis; it started with my husband's heart problems. After four catherizations and a heart attack and surgery to replace arteries and the aorta, the cardiologist and the surgeon told me that the Southern menu had to change. As a teacher, I researched everything I could find about heart disease. I tailored the menus to what he could eat. He is a wonderful man and knew he had to do what was necessary to control his heart problems. Then five years later, Diabetes came knocking on my door. So more research and checking and changing menus. My husband wanted meat and potatoes, but he found out he was going to get baked, not fried, and not beef every night or even pork. Because he is very agreeable, he started eating foods he didn't think he liked. We planned together, and if we didn't like a particular veggie, we omitted it. He has learned to eat more vegetables, but I do give him meat at every lunch. For us, it just works because we work together to keep each other as healthy as possible. We have no other family so we have to take care of each other, and eating healthy food is one way to do it. I am sorry you lost your husband, but one thing I have learned is that you cannot make anyone do something they are determined not to do whether it's food or some other part of their lifestyle. Don't blame yourself; the choices were not yours. If you want to talk, you'll find me on the Diabetes forum. Thanks for sharing your story.
Carol