New and saying hi

[Worried daughter]

G'day all

I registered today, after reaching my wits end with my elderly mother, a type 2 diabetic. Thankfully, I don't have it myself, but I will be posting on here for any advice that anyone can give, which will point me in the direction of some meaningful information which I can place before my mum, so that she will actually read it and realise that she has a serious complaint.

We have read all the standard literature, and she has been diagnosed for a few years now (at least 5), however, as time has gone on, she has paid less and less attention to her diet, and just seems to think the whole thing will just go away. She has lied to the doctor about her health in an effort to retain her driving license (she is 77), and quite frankly I dont know whether I am coming or going these days - am going grey with the worry of it all!

 

[Worried daughter]

How to get someone to realise this is serious!!

Hi all, I just registered today.

My 77 year old mother was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 5 years ago.

She never seemed to realise that she has a serious condition, and since diagnosis, she has gradually paid less and less attention to her diet, is too overweight and unsteady on her feet to exercise, and has now started not taking her tablets, or taking them twice etc.

I have spoken with her doctor on a couple of occasions, but he wont discuss her health with me (due to the oath and such), so all I can do is voice my concerns and hopes something is done.

I am not sure whether her absent mindedness is due to plain old age, or because she is so dismissive of her illness, and that she may be actually contributing to her own confusion by not making any attempt to control it.

Any ideas?

 

[daisy1]

G'day, Worried daughter. I can understand you feel so helpless. You have done the right thing to join this forum where there are always people to help if you ask. I don't know how she'd react if you told her what could happen if she ignored her diabetes but here is a description of some of the problems which could arise. You could show it to her if you think it's suitable for her to read or pick out some suitable extracts for her.

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/neuropathies/

I expect you already know how to manage diabetes but in case you might find something useful in this advice, here is some information from the Forum Monitors for new members.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS.

Postby sugarless sue » 02 Oct 2010, 17:49
Here is the advice that Ken and I, as Forum Monitors, usually give to newly diagnosed Diabetics. We hope that these few ideas gained through experience help you to gain control and give you some understanding of Diabetes. This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

For more information on CARBOHYDRATE see here:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=20306

This is NOT a low carb diet suggestion, just a reduction in your intake of carbohydrate. You have to decide yourself how much of a reduction will keep your blood glucose levels in control.

The main carbs to avoid OR reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

If you are on Insulin you may find that reducing the carb intake also means that you can reduce your dose of insulin. This can help you to keep weight gain down as Insulin tends to make you put on weight and eventually cause insulin resistance. This should be done slowly so as not to cause hypos.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating, then two hours after eating, you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the effect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.


As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try!!

For TIPS FOR STRIPS see here:

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=19002#p173253

If you are an Insulin user in theory you should have no problem getting test strips.

The latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking and before meals).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l...(Type 1 & 2)
2 hrs after meals........................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.....( Type 2)

2hrs after meals......................... no more than 9 mmol/l ......(Type 1)

If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do at least 30 minutes moderate exercise a day, it can be split into 10 min sessions to start with. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

The above is just general advice and it is recommended that you discuss with your HCP before making any changes. You can also ask questions on the forum on anything that is not clear.

Finally a few QUESTIONS TO ASK AT DIABETES CLINIC.

viewtopic.php?f=20&t=17091



Sue/Ken.