It’s quite ironic that the very things that excited us as tourists are now considered almost taboo. Yes, I am a diabetic, but I used our Gatlinburg vacations to let loose. I threw my diet out the window, gladly throwing caution to the wind with my health, resulting in elevated blood sugars for…oh, about five days or so. Definitely not an ideal decision, no matter how brief the disruption to my well-being. So how in the world am I even handling living here with temptations tickling my senses with every daily walk downtown? It’s easier than you think. Let me explain.
I was diagnosed as a diabetic almost 30 years ago. Math would compute that the year was 1994. It was a routine physical that forever altered my lifestyle—one that would involve daily insulin shots and monitoring blood sugar readings. It definitely wasn’t something any teenager wanted to hear, but there was nothing I could do about it…except do my best to control it.
That was hard. Looking back, I didn’t really do a good job of it. I followed the food pyramid (loaded with way too many carbs) my doctors said was vital to surviving a long prosperous life with the disease of the pancreas. For years, I ate way too many carbohydrates and tried to limit my fats. It was, in fact, the 90s, and only later would research prove that whole grains and starches weren’t so great for people, much less diabetics. And yeah, eggs are good for you again. Who would’ve thought! (LOL!)
The complication arises when people who have no maladies do just fine on a diet high in carbs. Those are usually people who are athletic, burn loads of calories, and work out regularly. Being a warehouse worker, who perspired plenty, I could be fine with all the carbs I was consuming… to a point. But I was always baffled by high blood sugars when I was only following doctor’s orders. Looking back, they were so wrong, and it should’ve been so obvious to them—and to be fair, myself as well.
My doctors should have known better. I didn’t do enough research myself but, your body turns carbs into sugar, which elevates your blood sugar. Too many carbs will put a diabetic into a dangerous situation with high glucose readings for a longer period of time. The long-term effects of high blood sugar will affect every major organ in the body: kidneys, heart, brain, etc. As I’ve aged, I’ve learned to try and control everything from sodium intake, to breads, and of course, sugar itself.
This leads to the present day, I am much more sensitive than ever before to these foods. I ain’t no spring chicken at 47. Factor in I’ve been a diabetic since I was 17, and you can understand why I just can’t eat whatever I want here in Gatlinburg. Donut Friar trips are rare, while fudge and ice cream indulgences are non-existent for me. It sucks, but I want to enjoy life. I get a high just by smelling the amazing food scents as I walk down the Parkway. That’s enough for me.
Would I love to go off on sweets at times? Sure. Ever since I was a child, I had a big time sweet tooth. They were always around. I remember a “nutritious” breakfast of pop tarts and sugary cereals that we all enjoyed as kids. Snacks during the day were any Little Debbie or Hostess treats I wanted. Candy bars? Of course! Reese Cups, Twix, Whatchamacallits and whatever I could get my hands on were favorites. Sugar, sugar…aw, honey, honey…
Those days are done. Sadly, I have to resort to ChocZero to get my sugar fix—even though they’re sugar free. I love them!. Without a doubt, they’re the best company to order sugar free chocolates from. If you need to curb sugar cravings, this is some amazing guilt-free grub. They have helped me so much! Note: I am not a paid sponsor.
Because of this acceptance, I have the ability to walk by The Donut Friar without walking in anymore. I would be lying if I said this was easy. It’s not. However, I think about how terrible I would feel after a single donut, one sliver of fudge, a piece of chocolate, a scoop of ice cream… it’s simply not worth it. I want to enjoy as much time on this earth as I can, and being in Gatlinburg only reinforces that. Sugar would literally be the death of me, and I’m not even close to throwing in the towel.
I prepared myself for it on recent trips here before we moved. If I could succeed during our 5-day visits, I could certainly manage living here avoiding all the temptations and urges that would arise daily. In almost six months, I think I’ve had about three or four donuts, which maths out to about one every two months. Pretty good for a guy who grew up with a massive sugar infatuation.
I hear many people tell me to grab a donut, or any sweet they can think of. I know I take many pictures of Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen, and of course, The Donut Friar. That doesn’t mean I frequent these fine establishments. I will always recommend them though. They are awesome for those who aren’t here as often. I used to be a tourist too, and they helped fill a void, no matter how fleeting the moment was. I understand it’s the little things that can bring you happiness. By all means, take what you can get!
Thanks for reading and subscribing to my publication! I hope you enjoyed another look at how I’m dealing with life in a tourist town with tremendous temptations. Be sure to subscribe if you are new to this platform, so you can stay updated on everything Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains. As always, stay tuned!