Eating all the wrong food. Any thoughts?

It isn't just your opinion, NHWM - sorry, didn't mean that to sound so disparaging! - there is a good deal of research going on into the effect of artificial sweeteners on the gut biome and its relationship with other body systems, with some extremely interesting questions being identified. No answers as yet, I don't think.

But then again, why eat something that is nutritionally valueless if you don't have to and it's got a question mark over it?

Seems like sugar gets a bad rap for a lot of stuff. I think artificial ingredients like fake sugar (sugar substitutes) may even be worse. Just my opinion.

Sugar is an issue for diabetics. Other than that I feel moderation is the key to everything.

On the dementia-related point, what I meant was that maybe the dementia could be affecting his appetite and triggering cravings. I blame sugar for lots of things, but not for causing dementia! (as far as I know...)

Blessings to all of you. My thinking is in line with all this - and I really appreciate the support!

I am not aware of a dementia link to excess sugar consumption. But have you had his blood sugar levels checked by his doctor?

If you do the shopping you control the food in the house. If the doctor indicates there is a reason to be concerned about his consumption, then you can shop accordingly. Sugar free Jello, low sugar jam. Buy multi grain, or oatmeal bread, so he is getting additional nutrients with his jam on toast.

My neighbour Al, had diabetes and chose to eat himself to death. His wife had left him and he did not feel like he had anything further to live for, so he drank regular coke, ate loads of sweets and died in his early 60's.

If you dh's doctor says his blood sugar is ok, then you can worry less, but still replace some of the sugar filled snacks with lower sugar ones. Be mindful that too much sugar substitute can lead to diarrhea. My former mil found this out when she ate an entire jar of sugar free jam I had made her in 2 days. Served her right for being so greedy.

If eating sugar makes him happy, I say let him have his sugar.

My husband was 37, the picture of health, diet conscious, exercised, etc. He felt bad a couple of days, went to the doctor. Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Dead less than a year later. If he were alive and wanted sugar I’d go buy it for him. One never knows what the future holds. Have some pleasure while you’re able to enjoy.

There is some evidence that sugar substitutes may be worse for you than sugar itself. Splenda (sucrolose) can be very hard on your digestion, there are questions about aspartame as well. Saccharin can have a slightly bitter aftertaste, but is reasonably safe. Stevia is the least hard on your body; it is derived from a south American plant. Sweeteners may not satisfy a "sweet tooth", however. If you can add fruits and proteins to his meals, that might help fill him up.

When we take my 92 y/o mother with dementia out for a meal, my husband always tells her, "Eat dessert first. That's my motto."

Lives are already destroyed by dementia. Why destroy what's left of them with restricted diets for no good reason?

Best of luck as you navigate this difficult road.

If you’re worried about his weight & him being able to maintain mobility, that’s one thing. But trying to restrict sugar just to keep him healthy? His mind is only going to get worse along with the other physical issues dementia brings. He should have some food he really enjoys. Even at hospitals & nursing homes patients get dessert with lunch & dinner everyday.

If I get dementia I sure hope someone still brings me doughnuts!

My situation is a bit different. I too love sugar although I try to keep it in moderation. After a difficult move where I found it hard to diet I was planning to drop it and resume exercising. Well that is not happening because after several months of complications from a root canal I was told my jaw was fractured. Last week I had surgery on it which was fairly major. I have a large scar,alot of swelling,a distorted mouth,and am on a PICC line for 6 weeks. I can only eat soft food. I try to keep it healthy but some of the choices involve sugar such as custards and some other soft items. With all i have recently endured I could not give up sugar.

I think you should not worry about this for your husband. You might try and reduce some of what he consumes. Make the jello yourself in controlled amounts. Try the sugar free choices and see if he notices the difference. He is suffering and no doubt is aware all is not right. If this brings him pleasure why deny it. I think the best you can do is control certain amounts. Hopefully this might cause you less frustration. I wish you the best. It is very hard to live with a serious health issue. At 63 I never thought this disaster would happen to me. Yesterday I had to show my 89 year old mother my face. She suffers from memory loss. The look on her face was heartbreaking. I know she loves me and there is nothing she can do. I hope it won't consume her thoughts.

Jamison, as we age we will tend to lose our sense of taste. Healthy food items we once enjoyed are now blah tasting. So hello to sugary foods which one can still taste.

My parents [90+] would have on their grocery list a few healthy items until I would come to the Hostess Cupcakes, the vanilla fudge ice cream, the chocolate chip muffins, blueberry pie, several cans of whip cream, Little Debbies snacks, etc.

Yes, I am from the school that believes if one reaches a certain age, if they want ice cream for breakfast you ask "one scoop or two".

You could try organic foods, example I found that Nature's Path makes really good tasting cereals.

No. The dementia didn't come from Sugar. Please don't buy into food conspiracy theory. We all want a REASON. Most of the reason is in our genetic makeup. Why are you trying to keep him going into his 90s with a diagnosis of dementia? What does he have left now but some few things he loves, like his food.
I hope others will tell you how to make carrot shreds in a jello salad mold, how to incorporate some things like the natural sugars of sweet potatoes with a little brown sugar, how to trick him into a wonderful dish made of potatoes, cheese and cream. An Italian meatball sandwich dripping with cheese? Must be something. Manwhile, keep some sugar free jello stuffed with great fruits and veggies on hand at all time.
Wishing you luck. I am an old RN and I don't much believe in deprivation at this point. Why? For what? As Dr. Dean Edell used to say "Why. For another year in the nursing home?" You might want to find an old copy of his book "Eat, Drink and be Merry".

As long as he is competent, it's really up to him what types of food that he eats. If he wants to eat things he enjoys, knowing that they may not prolong his life, it's his decision. (And, your post says that he has told you this.) My dad is 82 and for the last 10 years, his doctors don't harp on his diet. They may say try to keep ice cream to one bowl a day, but, they aren't very concerned about it. And, he's a heart patient.

Does husband have diabetes or pre-diabetes? How is his weight? Has he gained or lost lately? You could have Dr. get his A1C checked, which is a measure of the body's glucose control. You could also get a home blood glucose monitoring device. If all looks OK, I guess I'd just let it be and let him eat as he wants. If he was formerly a very active guy, his body may have the kind of metabolism that allows him to burn up sugar and carb calories easily. You could of course get low/no sugar substitutes for things such as jello and jams/jellies. Does he like yogurt? You could buy or make plain yogurt and put in your own fruits or berries, whihs would be alot less sugar than in off the shelf flavored yogurts. Homemade puddings can be made with sugar substitutes. Instead of sodas, flavored seltzers with some real fruit juice added. Someone we know has a "sodastream" device that makes carbonated water to which you can add flavoring or juice; lots less expensive than buying bottled seltzer.

Was he diagnosed with dementia? Excess sugar consumption is terrible for one's health, but how would it correlate to dementia exactly? If he was so active and well before, I don't see how sugar would destroy everything.

You could stop buying sugary foods (or try sugar free alternatives) but if he has access to transportation or money, he'll get it himself if you don't.

I'm no medical expert, but this "Nah, I'd rather just eat sugar and die earlier" doesn't sound like dementia. It sounds more like depression. When someone is depressed, they don't care about themselves or how they hurt others. Doesn't mean they're bad people; just not mentally well.

It's been proven that sugar 'lights up' the brain much like cocaine does. It stimulates the feel-good chemicals. The resulting insulin spike that leads to the sugar crash just drives the person to eat more of it again, and there's the vicious cycle that's quite difficult to break. Main thing I've seen sugar do is contribute to diabetes. If he hasn't gotten that by now, don't guess he ever will?

16 years may not have seemed like a big gap when you married, but now you are middle age with an elderly husband. Unfortunately, he will be "done" mentally and physically before you will.

Did he eat the seafood salad as well?

The thing is, as sugar goes, jam and jello are not big league stuff. If you really want to cram pure sucrose down yourself, drink original Coke or coat everything with frosting. He's eating sugar with fruit in it on bread, and sugar with protein in it, and if he's eating the good stuff too maybe it's not so simple to understand as a sweet tooth.

Do you have access to a dietitian? Preferably one with a good insight into dementia-related eating/appetite disorders?