BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Diabetes Low income diabetic on Healthcare reform

When a social worker tells a 67 year old diabetic that he can't get his SNAP food credit increased ( even though dietic food costs 35% more on average), you know something is terribly wrong:
My husband and I just got turned down for a SNAP Food credit increase ( He's diabetic and we live on SSI). Which would you prefer: An extra $100 for dietic food, or $180,000 a month for Hospital costs if or when John has a Diabetic blackout or slips into a Coma? You already pay for his SSI and VA, so you decide. If Obama wants to prevent complications associated with diabeties, obesity, heart disease and other ailments, wouldn't it make sense to issue specified food vouchers/ Dietic foods/Care boxes to VA clinics,Food pantries and other institutions that address the needs of Low income Americans? Why is it that Government Commodities ( often delivered to Non Profit Organizations) are extremely high in Sodium and Carbs?
Worst of all, not ONE version of the Healthcare proposals include tax deductions or incentives to encourage responsible, healthy lifestyles: Therefore, Costs will skyrocket.

I am sorry, I don't know what SNAP is. But one of the first things I learned when I went to the Dietician was not to rely on special foods.

1) It is very possible to eat good nutritionally balanced meals without the extra expense. Choosing a healthy lifestyle does not mean higher cost. As far as food is concerned it often means lower cost.

2) If you learn to eat real foods you can eat more comfortably when you are away from home - at friends or restaurants.

Check out the Low Carb forum here for help in making foods lower in carbohydrates. Sodium is used as a preservative in most canned or packaged foods, so it is better if you start from scratch to prepare your meals and that does save a lot of money.

Cindy, being diabetic myself I know how challenging it can be at the grocery store. Over a year ago we started ordering from Angel Food Ministries. Their meats are very lean and their veggies are frozen.

There are no income limitations to participate and they also donate food to those in need. We have been very satisfied with the quantity and quality and are saving about $100/month.

Please check out their website to see if there is a distrbution center in your area. It's well worth giving it a try.

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My husband and I requested a SNAP Food credit increase, we've been turned down twice. A week ago we received notice that our account would be changed from $102 a month to $101. I see this as a subtle threat; or prehaps a warning to stay quiet. ( He's type 2 diabetic and we live on SSI Have you ever tried eating healthy nutritious meals with only $25 a week for 2 people? No wonder there's so much anger toward the government in Southern Kentucky! If The Government Commodities
( often delivered to Non Profit Organizations) are extremely high in Sodium and Carbs. I have no choice, however; because of the high demand, I'm only allowed to visit the foodpantry once a month, so it's that or go hungry.
John and I will continue to suffer in silence, So, Please tell our story. Tell DHS to stop the mindgames against diabetic clents who are only trying to feed themselves properly.