Lenten rules and diabetics

[MorEphrem]

A person can be dispensed from fast or abstinence if they cannot do it. A diabetic could likely still abstain from meat, but may not be able to fast. it’s an individual situation they should discuss with their spiritual doctor.

Bolded word = my addition.

Anyway, I think it would be a fruitful conversation to bring up with your pastor. They might dispense you; they might tell you to exercise what you think is prudent. We don’t know how well you manage your diabetes nor do I claim any authority over the souls of the faithful.

 

[billcu1]

Bolded word = my addition.

Anyway, I think it would be a fruitful conversation to bring up with your pastor. They might dispense you; they might tell you to exercise what you think is prudent. We don’t know how well you manage your diabetes nor do I claim any authority over the souls of the faithful.

For the most part I eat and take my meds and I do pretty good. I am non-insulin dependent. The other day I took my meds and waited till the end of the day to eat and was pretty shaky. That doesn’t happen much.

 

[Bruised_Reed]

For the most part I eat and take my meds and I do pretty good. I am non-insulin dependent. The other day I took my meds and waited till the end of the day to eat and was pretty shaky. That doesn’t happen much.

Talk with a priest about being exempt from from the fast. “Pretty shaky” is your body telling you something is wrong, out of balance so you should talk to your doctor as well. I posted that link for the definition of meat, only.

 

[maryjk]

For the most part I eat and take my meds and I do pretty good. I am non-insulin dependent. The other day I took my meds and waited till the end of the day to eat and was pretty shaky. That doesn’t happen much.

When I fast, even as easy as it sounds according to Church rules, I shake. I shake, then, if I don’t eat, I pass out.

It has happened more than once.

My husband told me a few years ago. “STOP IT.” And he is right.

The Church doesn’t ask us to pass out from low blood sugar.

 

[billcu1]

Talk with a priest about being exempt from from the fast. “Pretty shaky” is your body telling you something is wrong, out of balance so you should talk to your doctor as well. I posted that link for the definition of meat, only.

Well I guess my Parish I just read in the bulletin is having more confession oppportunities. I need to go bad. During holy hour I guess there will always be a priest. Is this part of the liturgical year?

 

[billcu1]

When I fast, even as easy as it sounds according to Church rules, I shake. I shake, then, if I don’t eat, I pass out.

It has happened more than once.

My husband told me a few years ago. “STOP IT.” And he is right.

The Church doesn’t ask us to pass out from low blood sugar.

My hemoglobin-A1C runs around 5.3 when low to 6.1 if I eat sugar quite a bit. My Doctor says 6.1% is still not bad but it’s going in the wrong direction for me. When I got shaky the other day I ate 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and in a little bit I straightened out.

 

[FrDavid96]

My hemoglobin-A1C runs around 5.3 when low to 6.1 if I eat sugar quite a bit. My Doctor says 6.1% is still not bad but it’s going in the wrong direction for me. When I got shaky the other day I ate 2 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and in a little bit I straightened out.

I’m concerned about what you’re posting here. The laws of fasting and abstinence are not meant to cause (or worsen) health problems. Absolutely not. Please do talk to your priest about this.

To paraphrase, fasting was meant for man, not man for fasting.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Ok I have forgotten since last year. I have never fasted because I am diabetic and was told I am exempt from this. I want to go to confession tomorrow because I am moving and can get back into Mass regularly. I also didn’t think and ate a hamburger today. Now it’s Friday so what I should’ve done then was got Fish right? Do I need provided I get to confession tomorrow to confess that I had beef today because I forgot? Is that mortal or venial sin or neither since I forgot?

We are not required to do something that is harmful to our health.

As I said before, we can offer the self-discipline of strictly following a diabetic diet in the place of offering the self-discipline of fasting. To tell the truth, it is a lot harder than fasting. It isn’t just one day. It is every day. Make yourself follow the regimen prescribed or recommended by your doctor. View food as medicine which must be taken at the required dosage at the required time consisting of the correct foods.

Abstaining from meat does not affect diabetes since there are multiple protein sources available to substitute.

The Church does not make up rules to confound the faithful. There is a purpose to fasting and abstaining. We need to look at what spiritual benefit comes from telling the body, “No”.

Lent is a time when we follow our Lord into the desert to be tempted. Purposely fasting and abstaining gives us something to be tempted with, something small, I won’t eat meat one day in the week; I will have small meals for one day of the year. The Church gives this to us to help us strengthen our ability to withstand temptation. It strengthens our “NO” muscles so that when a bigger temptation comes along it is not beyond our strength.

The other thing the Lord did when He went into the desert was pray. We can also strengthen our ability to withstand temptation by deepening our prayer life. Prayer is not just asking the Lord to do things for us. It is time spent with the Lord.

Most parishes offer Lenten courses. Check them out. I think you would benefit.

To refresh your memory - from the Catechism:
IV. The Gravity of Sin: Mortal and Venial Sin

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: "Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent."131

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: "Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother."132 The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.

1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart133 do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

1860 Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man. the promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders. Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest.

Most parishes offer Confession by appointment, especially if you have a lot to discuss. Here, they will hear a quick Confession before Mass, if you have need. Obviously there are time constraints immediately before Mass so if you anticipate a long discussion, you should call the parish and make an appointment.

 

[OraLabora]

For the most part I eat and take my meds and I do pretty good. I am non-insulin dependent. The other day I took my meds and waited till the end of the day to eat and was pretty shaky. That doesn’t happen much.

I’m Type II myself, non-insulin dependent. I take metformin twice a day and have pretty good control as a result. I rarely get hypoglycemic. I also have a pilot’s license and am obliged to keep my blood sugars safely above hypoglycemic; 90% of my readings on my glucose meter must be above 5.5 mmol/L.

On the rare occasions when I started to tend towards hypoglycemia, I certainly know that something’s wrong and like you would get shaky. It’s only happened once or twice since diagnosis, when delaying meals or not eating enough for whatever reasons.

I do find though, that my control is much better if I eat regular meals at regular times and exercise vigorously on a regular basis. If I don’t, I my sugars tend to rise. For that reason I don’t fast anymore on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but I do abstain from meat on those days (the only two required days of abstinence for Canada). I consider it an issue of prudential judgement, I didn’t feel the need to ask my priest. My wife is a family doctor and in her judgment, not messing with my dietary habits makes diabetic control easier. Long-term, that’s a good thing; I’m 55 and want to avoid the complications of diabetes later in life.

I would encourage you to put your health first, and choose an alternative “fast” such as alms-giving, or eating a bland meal on those days or foods you don’t especially care for, but do eat normally.

 

[z_0101]

Many of us have written about being released from the fasting requirement by our Pastor, and I still think that is the simplest answer to all of this.
In fact, this year, as in past years, when Fr was announcing the norms for Ash Wednesday, not only did he mention the ages, he specifically stated, that "unless there is medical/health or other serious reasons;” thus, in effect, giving the reprieve right at the end of Mass with the normal announcements. I’m actually surprised that all priests wouldn’t do so.

Anyway, not to get hung-up in the law, our Lord warns the religious leaders of the time not to do so; however, this conversation prompted me to seek some guidance from the CCC:​

catechism of the catholic church 1438
1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice.36 These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance,

voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).

(the highlight is mine)​

If this is truly voluntary self-denial, I would really appreciate an apologist’s view on the aforementioned CCC1438, then a simple substitution of another corporal act of mercy instead of the fast when there is a true need to do so, IMHO, would suffice and not really need the Pastor’s approval. I would however, work with the Pastor to find an appropriate act.
:twocents: