I have this friend.....

[zolabud]

I have a friend. A man I met about 2 years ago and we just 'clicked'.

I eventually gave him my phone number ( I have become most mistrustful of men which is a shame really)
Anyway,we ring each other about twice a week and we chatted earlier and he asked me how I am doing with my Diabetes.
"Fine, I am monitoring every day and know which foods to avoid and hopefully I will bring my sugar levels down and lose a bit of weight which will be a bonus."

Anyway,he started telling me that when he wakes up he has trouble with his eyes.

I said "Have you had a diabetes blood test recently" and he replied "Oh,about 4 years ago I was told "I am on the cusp of being diabetic".

Heres's the thing. 4 years ago I also had a fasting blood test and was told I was almost Type 2 and to watch my diet etc but I didn't know anything about diabetes then.

I do now.

I asked my friend to have a blood test.

"How do I organise that then?"

I said to ring your doctor and make an appointment or ask for the doctor to ring you and make an appointment for an MOT blood test. Which is what I did. I didn't have to see my doctor to organise this, I was called in the next day to discuss my results when I was shocked to be told that I am now Type 2.

Anyway,my friend is being so vague about everything... He is vague in general. Nothing wrong with that. He is my mate and I don't want him to get any iller than he is already. He already has a few health issues. He had a stroke about 3 years ago and keeps forgetting his medication.

How can I shove him towards the doctor without being pushy ??

 

[Unbeliever]

I am surprised noone picked up on the diabetes when he had he sroke. it ay well have beeen caused by diabetes. if he has been having checks as a esul of it maybe he has , infact been checked without realising.?
If , as you say he is vague about many things he may jus not have realised that his blood sugars were included in wih other checks.

Perhaps you could sress the stroke aspect maybe elling him that you are glad you are being checked as proper diabetes conrol can help o prevent stroke and heart problems.
I hope your cocerns urn out o have been unfounded - he is ucky to have a caring friend like you. It is difficult enough o make people around you visit he Dr at times. Long distance must be a nightmare.

 

[pav]

If he is a bit doctor shy, suggest he pops in to Lloyds chemist (or similar) as they and some others do a free diabetic check with a finger prick test and other checks, they can give him some advice if needed.

 

[zolabud]

Good idea Pav,never thought of that....

 

[zolabud]

Update on my friend...

He has not gone to the doctors as he "Doesn't trust them". He has had a chest infection for the past 2 weeks which I kept saying "Go to the doctors,maybe you need some antibiotics".

"Don't trust antibiotics" was his answer.

Perhaps it's just as well as he wouldn't remember to take them anyway. You only have to miss one dose and you may as well not take them at all...(So I have been told)

He also has awful halitosis. He has just broken a front tooth on a nut and I said "Dentist then? (Hopefully...)

Can't afford a dentist and I don't trust them.....

I GIVE UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!

This guy had a stroke around 3 years ago. He constantly forgets his medication... It annoys me that he won't look after himself although I am very gentle with him as he does not take kindly to being 'bossed around'.

He is my mate and I don't know what to do.

Everytime he rings (bout twice a week) he tells me that he can't remember any of his passwords... Feeds the dog twice as he doesn't remember whether he fed the dog... Annoys his neighbours in the sheltered home he lives in. He gets very depressed as everyday an ambulance turns up and carts away someone who has died. One of the reasons he is in a sheltered home is because he had the stroke and couldn't live in his static home anymore.

I feel as though I am fighting a losing battle but he is my mate and I just can't seem to get through to him....

What if anything would you do?

Shall I be a bit tougher?

 

[mrman]

After the gentle approach, tough love may be the way forward.

Sent from my GT-S5360

 

[zolabud]

Thanks for that Brett but I have tried that....

If I suggest anything he just laughs it off and starts mumbling... I also find it really annoying as he likes a drink and often rings me late (after 10pm) and he is very slurry. I lived with an alcoholic for years and do not like it when my friends get rat *****.

He rang me tonight just when Corrie had started and I said "Can't talk, I'm busy".

"Doing what?"

"Watching Corrie".

I am getting rather hard. Whether he will suss me out remains to be seen. I think all I can do is pretend I'm out eh....

Just having a rant really....

 

[mrman]

Is hard trying to help someone who seems they can't be ***** to help themselves. Hope it all works out, rant away lol.

Sent from my GT-S5360

 

[Diddly]

Its not nice to say but you know as well as I that if it is the dreaded diabetes then its live or die, a rude awakening may be what your mate needs.
Don't stop caring
All the best.
Pete

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App