lamom

Hi all,
Mom celebrated sister's birthday Wed with a blood sugar of 800 in the ER. Her MD had ckd the week before but did not give a diagnois of DM until Tues. Oh, by the way her blood sugar was 500 (drawn prev week) but Dr did not give diagnoist until Tues. And treated with Diabeta, and NO monitoring or diet instructions. OK, out of ICU and hospital-with new primary and endocrinologist. Just need some supplements EASY to understand till we get the teaching etc this week. The hospital stuff is too vague. Need a wonderful site that give serving sizes and amt of each group to eat for each meal.

Mom is 77 She is on insulin now and we are doing fine so far.

You all have helped so much before.

Happy Mothers Day
LA

cleveland

My son is a Type 1 diabetic. The most helpful website for basic information is children with DIABETES Online Community. Link over at the left side for "diabetes basics". Most of the information on the website is geared towards Type 1s, but some pertains to both kinds of diabetics. Also, look at the bookstore on the site. It has some suggestions for books for Type 2s.

Mom0f3

The National Diabetes Education Program, developed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the CDC has lots of fact-based information for patients with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. The website is: NDEP | Diabetes Information, Education, and Treatment You'll probably also want her to meet with a diabetes educator and/or registered dietitian. Most hospitals will have access to lists of these or, for the dietitian you can check out the American Dietetics Association Website: eatright.org Click on "find a nutrition professional." Best of luck!

lamom

She was discharged late Sat evening. Was on a diabetic floor and got "survival trainning". Dietician etc trainning to follow when she calls MD tomorrow. My sister is cleaning out refrigerator and trying to explain portion sizes. Also trying to explain that "bread" = noodles, potato, other starches. Then sister and I are going grocery shopping.

3boysnjmom

One of my kids, who is now 25, was diagnosed with Type 1 at age 8. Plus my mom has had Type 1 diabetes for 40+ years (she now is 83). When my son was diagnosed, friends called the American Diabetes Association (American Diabetes Association Home Page) and Juvenile Diabetes Organization. American Diabetes Association has a monthly magazine -- called Diabetes Forecast -- which is very useful, especially for people with Type 2. They have articles on living with diabetes, recipes, exercise, and medications/supplies.

somemom

lamom- reinforce to her that this is a serious condition IF you don't respect it and take care of yourself. In my work I see a lot of older people who have type II who are sort of in denial, "I don't ahve diabetes, just a little high blood sugar" Diabetes can have a lot of negative side effects on your cardiovascular system, it can affect heart, kidneys, vision, circulation, etc. If you have excellent control you can do great, it is the people who don't seem to take it as seriously who have more problems- at least in the work I do.

1sokkermom

another good resource:

Joslin Diabetes Center

lamom

Thanks again,
My mom had no idea she was diabetic, the primary (now soon to be former) just used to say watch your sugar. He never gave a dx of DM, never gave diet referral, never explained the "watch your sugar": etc. Mom never told me the "watch your sugar" comment until she was in the hospital. Mom will do whatever is told of her. She was actually going to wait 3 wks for follow up on the diabeta. Sister (the calm therapist) was planning to call MD office for diabetic teaching for mom that morning. Brother happened to phone parents that am and sense something was wrong. Brother called nurse of primary and ask her to tell mom to go to ER, mom didn't think she was serious and was going to wait. Sadly it took a ICU visit and several wonderful health providers for mom to realize she deserved better medical care. She has great insurance (not an HMO), and there was no reason for this. MD has been primary for over 20 yrs, I found him for them. Oh, by the way the A1c was 16.
Brother has visited since, sister and I will see mom next week (son's graduation) and I will go to next appt.
LA

3boysnjmom

lamom, an A1c of 16 is very very high. My DS's blood sugar was 600 at time of diagnosis -- don't know what his A1c was at the time. If you have diabetes but don't know it and wait too long to seek medical care, you might go into a coma. Hope you and your sibs are able to find beter MDs for your mom as well as a great diabetes educator and a dietician. My mom is in her
80's -- was diagnosed around age 40 -- and went on a pump a few years ago. Her diabetes was brittle but the pump plus a new top-notch endocrinologist has helped lots. Congrats on your son's graduation.

somemom

16!!!!!!!! Yikes.

Glad you are finding a more interactive primary physician!

cleveland

16 = an average blood sugar for the past 4-12 weeks of 485! That's very high and dangerous!