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Fixing non-compliance

L

livabet1

Member
Messages
21
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Hi,
I am Type 1 of 60 years duration, doing well with no complications. However my younger brother is also Type 1 for 23 years and also epileptic is non compliant, has numerous problems with Hypos/Hypers and seizures. He feels if anyone tries to help with advice and interventions they are telling him how to live his life and won't take professional advice. Last week he had a hypo and collapsed in the supermarket ending up in A&E.followed by a tonic clonic seizure at his flat probably because he failed to take the epilepsy drugs and has broken a rib. This is certainly one of many episodes he has had.
He is a wonderful artist and a really nice guy.
The family have tried to help and have offered every support but to no avail. I am despairing hence this entry on the Forum. Is there a centre where he could go to meet with other people who have lost the will to live? Where people can be in a caring non-confrontational enviroment with first class medical specialists and psychologists to try and get my brother and other folks back on tract to look after themselves and start to enjoy their lives.
Thank you
Mark
 
60 years is very impressive.

I've had type 1 diabetes for 42 years, not always brilliantly controlled, but I do have a very strong survival instinct, I think I almost feel as if having put all that effort into staying alive for so long, I'm carrying on as long as I possibly can. I see it as me and my body working together against it.

However some other people with T1D seem to see it in a different way, and this can appear as quite self destructive behaviour. But the reasons probably vary massively for each individual.

Your brother may benefit from counselling, as a way, maybe, to look a little deeper into why he doesn't seem to want to take care of himself. I don't know much about psychology, but this could be a sort of deep rooted issue, especially as he sees people trying to help as interfering in his life.

That's all I can think of really, but he'd have to want to go
 
Thank you for your nice response I wish things could be better for him.
 
I realize this has been a long-standing issue but is it possible he's depressed? Perhaps there's a chemical imbalance that can be assuaged through medication.

I live in Canada so can't speak to the social programs available in the UK. But here there are province-funded counseling services. I also wonder if there would be psychiatrists or support groups offered through diabetes or epilepsy foundations.

I understand the problem would then be for him to actually go which has to come from inside him. My ex's father had type 2 diabetes and ate candy and junk every day. I remember his family's despair.
 
You’ll have to do some local research, maybe at the diabetic clinic at the hospital, for support groups. He could well be depressed and not able to take the information and advice on board rather than burying his head in the sand. I have mental health problems and went to a day centre for the first time today where the nurse (?) gave me lots of informed advice and support around my diabetes. They even had some books and cookery recipes for motivation. I was very impressed as it appears to me that diabetes and poor mental health can go hand in hand, but there are services out there that can make a difference. Big shout out to the METT centre in Leicester. Oh, and by the way, there were lots of creative activities on offer, from painting to jewellery making, with people producing some lovely results. A lot of the men and some of the women staff were participating in a pool competition and were having a great time cheering each other on. Hope your brother can get some suitable support soon x
 
After I left my previous comment I remembered reading that a very low carb diet can be good for epilepsy. He might be someone it might be good for, especially is he's having too many hypos.

I suspect though that you might have to use reverse psychology to get him interesting. Maybe tell how bad you think low carb diets are, and you'd never touch one, and he might start defending them, and get interested.

You might want to do some googling, and find out about it, and if you think it might work for him, try the reverse psychology to get him interested.
 
Good morning. It’s a case of horse to water it seems. Ok, if someone has mental health problems that clouds the issue but if a history of non compliance then it is likely this would include any MH meds. Of course, many people see beliefs other than their own as evidence of MH which is pretty interesting imho but something I met repeatedly in my career. We each live our life, we each have beliefs and principles. One mans death is another mans freedom.
 
Hi @livabet1 , Congrats on your 60 years (from a 52 yearer)! your brother sounds like one of those people who wish to be as independent as possible but whether through memory or other troubles, including possible depression as others have suggested, - is unable to comply well enough with his treatment needs to stay out of health troubles.
I am not sure how well he might take to company if he is so sensitive to being given instructions or maybe even well-meant help?
Does his art tend to keep him isolated? And is there a possibility that some art materials might also be affecting his health, memory etc? Some anti-epileptic medication can cause drowsiness and maybe paint fumes or some other material might add to that? If so are there safer materials? Also are doing some art class a way to meet others? Another thought: could a service dog be of help to him, regarding sensing oncoming hypos and fits, reminding him about medications etc??
 
Thank you Alison for your kind comments. Bro wants to sort things himself and has numerous visits to councillers and sits there saying he is Ok. but he isnt!
 
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