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superg

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I think my brother has diabetes. He is 5ft5, about 300lb and 23years old. From what I have seen he eats a lot of so called junk food, candy bars, coca cola, and fast food. He doesn’t exercise all that often, if ever. He has had a series of in-grown toe nails that just will not heal. Also he has been complaining that he feels faint when he eats or drinks anything with high sugar content. And then doesn’t want to anything for the rest of the day. I have tried to encourage him to lose weight but he gets rather upset when I bring up the subject. I have done some research online about the symptoms and found that he as several symptoms of type 2 diabetes. I am very worried about him getting extremely ill if he doesn’t get some treatment, because he is the only family I have left. I would like some advice about how I should encourage him to get help.
Thank you superg
 
Hi Superberg,

You seem very concerned for your brother, and seems like you have a very good reason to be!

Have you shown him the information you found regarding his symptoms? It may not be diabetes but him seeing the possibility that he could might give him a push in the right direction? sounds like he definately needs a visit to the doctors!!

I understand he may get upset if you point out that he needs to change his lifestyle which i think is probably down to embarrasment! Maybe if you explain as he's your brother and you care for him that you want to help and that if he wants a helping hand then you will stand by him for encouragement and maybe you could both be involved, both go on a healthy diet and exercise together so he doesnt feel so alone in trying and it would help him not to give up?!

Find healthy recipes for dinner and cook together!! show him healthy diets can be tasty too!! and that exercise can be fun!! do you have a Wii? just sitting and waving your arms around to play the games can be a good start!! or if you have a dog (or anyone you can borrow one from) take the dog for a walk! then you dont feel so silly feeling like your wandering around on your own!!

Encourage him to do things!! go shopping?! or anything that gets him moving!!

I think maybe he could be unhappy because he's overweight and feels cr**py!! but try convince him the only way to feel better is to get to the doctors and get his toes sorted for one!! and then the doctor should test him for diabetes with his weight and the symptoms he's been having then you can both together take it from there!! It might be fear that's keeping him from seeking medical help. but if he knows he's not alone then he may feel better about going

I hope some of this helps! and i hope your brother gets to the doctors and you can stop worrying so much!!

good luck!
 
Thank you for the adivise. I will definately try to let him know that I am there for him. I do have one more question, I am in the US Military and due to leave for the Middle East at the end of September, do you think that there is anything I can do for him while I'm gone?
 
Hi

Just read your post, you are obviously very concerned about your brother!

If you really cant convince him to go to the doctors some pharmacies here do tests for diabetes (not sure if they do where you live), it could be a first step!

You can also buy blood testing machines so you could test him at home!

Good luck and take care!

Catherine
 
Hi superg, would your brother consider joining this forum? perhaps chatting to others going through similar experiences might help, nobody will judge him or nag him about his lifestyle and there will be lots of friendly advice freely given, and encouragement when he has an "off day"
 
Thank you to all whom have given there advice!!
I have had some small talk conversations with him in the last few days about getting healthy, and finding out if he has diabetes, and he contests the idea that there might be anything that he can do. He believes that he is perfectly healthy and his ailments are normal. I completely agree that he is embarrassed about it all and either I am not saying the right this to help him or he really just doesn’t want to acknowledge that he may be ill. So I believe from his reactions that he is not willing to join the forum. Again thank you to all whom have given advice. :|
 
Hi superg, have sent you a private message re your brother
 
Hi,
If you can convince him to get his blood sugars checked because it's the only way you're going to know.
Just a little finger prick.
Type two diabetes is uncommon in somebody of that age but not an impossibility,

Best of luck.
 
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