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My mum has type 2 diabetes

E

Et3king

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3
Hi All,

My mother has type 2 diabetes. I have just found out, my parents chose to keep her diagnosis to themselves :-(

My mum keeps getting infections, which cause her to run a temperature and have to deal with an upset stomach, which is hard given that she is 81.

I would appreciate any suggestions on how to strengthen her immune system and help her deal with the reinfections.

It does not appear that my parents are getting a good level of support from the doctor, so that is something I will try to resolve. Its difficult as my parents are independent and I don't want to knock their confidence any further. Unfortunately they are both of the generation that doesn't want to be a bother, and they won't complain about their treatment until its too late. Worse, my mum has a phobia of hospitals and doctors and will not go unless my dad makes her, and even then she will lie about her symptoms!

I am just beginning to learn about the illness and will have to discover what my parents know and how they are treating her. My mum has a habit of not taking medication, as she has a deep seated prejudice against 'taking pills' and regards 21st century medicine as on a par with magic :-)

I will have to rely on my dad to ensure things are managed. I will be using the forum to increase my knowledge and hope that there is some useful data regarding older people.

Thanks

Rob
 
Re: My mum has type 1 diabetes

You do not say, but are these recurring UTI infections? My Mum at 81 was subject to these, and they are very common as people age. She is Type 2.

My Mum was allergic to all the antibiotics the doctor could prescribe, and whenever the UTI started she would become very confused and forgetful. We discovered that if she took an alka seltzer in water as the infection was starting it would knock it on the head straight away. Something to do with changing the acidity of the urine in the bladder enables the body to defeat the infection. Same principle as cranberry juice.

Worth a try, my Mum has not had a repeat infection for 9 months now..
 
Re: My mum has type 1 diabetes

Hi Spendercat,

I believe her infections maybe be UTI. I struggle to get information from my parents, as they are private people, but I will pass on the Alka Seltzer suggestion and ask them to try it. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for the information.

Best regards

Rob
 
Hi all

I have just edited the post as a result of a conversation with my parents. My mum has type 2, not type 1, so my parents did not actually know what she has been diagnosed with.........

Apologies for the misinformation.
 
Spendercat

I'm a new member and am trying to get some information to help me to help my mum who is also 81 and diagnosed Type 2 last year. She too has had a kidney infection and is on antibiotics at the moment as she was discharged from hospital only yesterday after being taken ill on Saturday.

Are these UTIls common with diabetes?

Jan
 
Sorry not to have replied sooner, been away.
My Mum has early vascular dementia, and type2 diabetes of fairly recent development.
The answer is yes, UTIs are very common in old people. This may be because as we age we get less competent at cleaning ourselves after using the loo (arthritis, dementia, etc). Or it may be because our immune system is weakening as we age.
Diabetics have weakened immune systems and weakened kidneys, sounfortunately UTIs are a problem.
 
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