<p>My son, who is now 26, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 9 and my mom, who
is 84, has had Type 1 for over 30 years. I am in strong agreement with other posters who suggest meeting with a dietician. Also, the American Diabetes Association publishes a monthly magazine, Diabetes Forecast, which focuses on both types of diabetes. There are always articles on nutrition along with recipes. Good luck.</p>
<p>Right about the time I posted yesterday, our friend again went into some kind of shock when his sugars went bezerk. Not really sure exactly, but we got a frantic call around 2pm and ended up taking him to the emergency room. He was a real mess. Hallucinating,incoherant…etc. Luckily, his brother in-law is an ER physician there, so he was down there right after we arrived with him.
We are all so afraid for him. Now at least he is going back to his endocrinologist and seeing a nutrionist in the next few days.
On a side note, he did mention that an angel came to hin and told him to get up and go get his lottery tickets because he is going to win…we told him we want to go in with him
:D</p>
<p>My mother was recently hospitalized after a minor fall…the EMTs were checking her out due to the fall and determined that her blood sugar was nearly 500 and her blood pressure was dangerously low. She’s been diagnosed with type II diabetes for a few years now, and was terrified that she’d have to go on insulin (which, in her case, is not something she could physically do on her own…and she lives by herself). Obviously, she has not been doing well in terms of self-monitoring her diet, and this was also right after the holidays, where she’d been really eating badly.</p>
<p>When she first went into the hospital, none of us were sure she’d live through the experience. It took quite a while to get her systems back in whack, and then she was extremely weak and hardly able to walk. Slowly she got better, and was able to go home. While in the hospital, she met with a dietitican, who put her on a carb-controlled food plan. She knows that if she does not strictly monitor her blood sugar, (and keep it in control by monitoring the amount of carbs she ingests), she will have no choice but to go on insulin, and will begin suffering all the other bad effects of the diabetes.</p>
<p>At the same time I was seeing her go through all this, it became a major turning point for me. I’m overweight, turning 50 this year, and with my mom (and her mother before her) developing type II diabetes in their 60’s, the writing on the wall was pretty clear. I am following the same food plan as she is, which is very helpful in helping her to know what/how to eat. (I live several hours away, but I put together a “notebook” for her, and wrote all over the food labels in her kitchen to get her to know how to read the labels and determine serving sizes.) It’s an entirely different way of looking at “dieting”, and in a month and a half, I’ve already lost about 12 lbs. (and am eating WAY more healthy). Her blood sugar has stabilized, she says she is getting more exercise (which is also key to success with her). We’re keeping our fingers crossed, and I think she’s finally trying.</p>
<p>In her case, she is limited to 3-4 carb servings per meal (each serving = 15 mg of carbohydrates), and 1-2 snacks of 1-2 carb servings each. This keeps her blood sugar from spiking or dropping too low throughout the day. (She and I are both aiming for about 12-13 total servings of carbs per day). In her case, the biggest problems have been realizing the serving sizes for pasta, rice, etc. are MUCH smaller than she would ever have dreamed. Also, remembering that in addition to grains and starches you’d normally think of, she has to consider fruits, starchy vegetables, and dairy servings as carbohydrates.</p>
<p>In addition to the materials we got from the hospital dietician, I found a ton of stuff online by googling “Carb Control Diabetes”. You have to be careful not to get into the South Beach-type diets where they limit carbs to 3 or 4 servings per day. That’s not what they are talking about in terms of counting carbs for Diabetics. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>lje62, that’s scary. I have a cousin with type I diabetes who uses an insulin pump. She has also had some scary ups and downs lately…and luckily she does NOT live alone…usually her family realizes that she’s acting wacky and gets her some help. She has described how incredibly difficult it is to realize what is happening to you.</p>
<p>I appreciate this thread. My FIL is diabetic and he’s arriving for a visit soon. Astrophysicsmom, thanks for the information about including dairy, fruits and starchy veggies in the carb count. That will be very helpful when planning menus. I’m so glad that your mother got the care she needed and is doing better.</p>
<p>I have been searching for a dietitian and found one listed on both eatright.org and diabeteseducator.org (American Association of Diabetes Educators) that shows she files Medicare for visits. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was in the same building as my dad’s doctor, but I know she is at the same hospital. When my daughter is home for spring break I am going to get her to help me talk to my dad. I have a feeling that him hearing his granddaughter beg him to take care of himself might be just the kick in the pants he needs! She interned for a year at JDRF, so she is equipped with many facts and figures. I might even go ahead and make an appointment for him and my mother to attend; I might even join him. I know my dad, he will be embarrassed to have me go, so maybe he will do this himself if I threaten to take him.</p>
<p>I did check, and my dad was just at the eye doctor as I thought and received a clean bill of health; probably the only doctor’s visit that happens at!</p>
<p>"I did check, and my dad was just at the eye doctor as I thought and received a clean bill of health; probably the only doctor’s visit that happens at! " - exactly like me!</p>
<p>There are some excellent replies here, and I don’t mean to quibble (not really) - but just one comment: going on insulin is really not the end of the world, and it does not signify that “bad effects of diabetes” are just around the corner. </p>
<p>I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes four years ago and now take insulin. (If it matters, I had none of the typical Type II risk factors when diagnosed, and now my doctors think I’m really a Type 1.5). Many doctors actually recommend more aggressive use of insulin for Type II’s to preserve beta-cell function; for me, insulin has been infinitely easier to manage than the pills I took before. (The newer insulin pens are very easy to use!) Using insulin does not automatically imply that your disease is more “serious” - it may just mean that insulin is a better choice in a particular situation.</p>
<p>That being said: diabetes is very very tricky, even with carb counting and the right meds and exercise. You can do everything “right” and still wind up progressing rapidly (like I did). You can do everything “right” and still see your blood sugar vary wildly. It’s crazy. Good luck!</p>
<p>scout, I agree. I have a cousin that was on oral meds for a while but ended up needing insulin after a stroke. Once he was well, he was able to do without the insulin for years. Recently he had to go back on insulin, but this is a good thing, not bad.</p>
<p>My concern for my dad is he has way too many lows. This, to me is due to his management; if he ate at the minimum 3 regular meals a day, I truly think he would be able to avoid the late at night or early morning lows.</p>
<p>snowball, I feel your pain and frustration in dealing with your dad’s diabetes. My heart goes out to you and your family. I am type I diabetic for over 21 years with a family history of diabetes (grandmother and brother). My grandmother had type II diabetes and was placed on insulin as she aged. I remember her telling me “when you get to be my age, you should be able to eat when and what you want”.</p>
<p>All of the posters are correct when they say that diabetes is difficult to manage even under the best of circumstances. I can do everything right and the blood sugar readings will still fluctuate. I have also had trouble with low blood sugar periodically and it’s very scary. I used to wake up from a nap with my 4 year old daughter right in my face trying to check to make sure mommy was ok and still breathing. It takes a toll on the whole family.</p>
<p>I’ve been through the denial and many people go through the stages of grief when diagnosed with a chronic disease, I guess because you’re grieving what you think should have been. I cried when I was first diagnosed then went through a why me, its not fair phase. At some point, I accepted it and took responsibility for taking care of myself, mainly because I realized that my daughter needed me and it was not fair to her if I didnt take care of myself.</p>
<p>Currently, I carb count because that seems to work best for me. I have always worked full time so I had trouble with lows on the regimen that your dad is on. The type of insulin it sounds like your dad is on requires you to eat at the same time every day because the insulin spikes at those meal times. If you don’t eat at the right time or eat enough, you will have lows. It can be very frustrating because you feel as though you have no control over your own life, something so simple as when to eat lunch.</p>
<p>The one most very important thing your dad must learn to do for his health is to check his blood sugar routinely. I know he doesn’t want to do it but he won’t get control over diabetes until he does. If he won’t do it, someone else should. At one point, my dad managed to get a home health nurse to go by my grandmother’s house once a day to check her blood sugar. Some of the posters have suggested going to carb counting but checking your blood sugar level is even more important with carb counting because the amount of insulin you take is completely dependent on the amount of carbs you’re eating at that sitting (whether it’s a snack or a meal). </p>
<p>I think your idea to have your daughter talk to your dad is a very good one. That might be what he needs to bring him around. Also, talk to your dad’s endocrinologist (or pa) about the lows he’s having and the issue with his eating patterns. The endo working with a dietician should be able to address these lows but he will need info on blood sugar levels to do that. The dietician can help build a plan to suit your dad’s eating preferences. She will ask what he typically likes to eat and at what times and go from there. The endo should be able to adjust his insulin to fit his meal plan. Realize though that it’s sort of hit and miss at first to get it just right. My endo has had me do things like take blood sugar readings every 2 hours for 24 hours to see what was going on with me. They will probably want him to write down all he eats and at what times along with corresponding blood sugars to get his dosage right. I know it sounds daunting and it is at first but know that it will get better once they develop a plan and as his blood sugar gets more stable he will begin to feel better. I would also suggest that anyone involved in his care meet with the dietician because it’s important for all caregivers to understand the plan they develop for him.</p>
<p>One thing to try if his lows are mainly at night and early morning is to have him eat a bedtime snack right before he goes to bed like an orange or half of a sandwich. There are also nutrition bars called “Extend” that you can buy at the drug store that help keep your blood sugar level for 8-12 hours but I can’t say they’re the tastiest thing ever.</p>
<p>Also try to keep him from driving without checking his blood sugar first if he’s having lows. I keep glucose tablets with me at all times in case of unexpected lows.</p>
<p>Above all, be patient and supportive and don’t make him feel like it’s his fault (even if he’s being resistant). It’s very, very hard to get it all right. It’s also very hard to do what you’re doing so he’s blessed to have you. Even after 21 years on insulin and trying to do my absolute best, I still sometimes have unexpected lows. Lows can make you unable to think straight. I will know I’m low and need to eat something, yet I can’t get a thought process together enough to pour a glass of juice or unwrap a package. That’s when it comes in handy to have the glucose tablets. If I’m low, I might snap at you when you’re trying to help me or I may cry and I can’t help it. You can’t take it personally. </p>
<p>Also, sometimes high blood sugar and low blood sugar may have the same symptoms such as moodiness or not feeling well. That’s another reason checking the blood sugar regularly is really important. When I don’t feel well, whether I have a headache or am achy, the first thing I do is check my blood sugar. My family has learned, if I’m crabby, one of them will ask if I’ve checked my blood sugar…although sometimes my blood sugar is fine and I’m just crabby!</p>
<p>I really wish the best of luck to you and your family. It can be overwhelming at first and I think that’s one reason why it’s so easy to slip into denial but between your family, the endo and a dietician, it is possible to come up with a plan that works for him.</p>
<p>I agree w/ Scout, type I, type II, it does not matter, it matters that you control it.</p>
<p>I work in the insurance industry and every one I have helped with ‘type I’ who is giving themselves shots seems to do an excellent job at maintaining control.</p>
<p>I cannot even count the number of types IIs who “just have a little high blood sugar, not really diabetes” and are then declined because of A1C, proteinuria, sugar in the urine, etc., all the signs of poor control. As a group they just seem to want to stay in denial and not take charge of their condition. It must be so frustrating for the family and for the doctors- and all these people tell me their doctor says they are just fine, so I assume the doctor has just given up!</p>
<p>Just read Magnolia’s post, mine sounds a little harsh coming after that! I am not trying to sound unsympathetic at all to some one in Magnolia’s situation, trying their best and not yet getting things figured out. My frustration is the people who just won’t try</p>
<p>I am a health professional and many of my clients are diabetics. Diabetes also runs in my family; my mom has it and I’m just waiting for myself. Unfortunately, many people - especially our older folks - just “don’t get it” so keeping things simple is the best. Going into long explanations and complicated regimens will not fly. For many patients, insulin is much better at maintaining them than oral meds and diet alone. Has he had a HAIC? That is a critical test to get a sense of what his disease has looked like over a period of time vs. a fasting or random test which only gives you that moment. Like others have said, a good dietician skilled in diabetic management is the best to work with both your mom and dad. For many people, following the South Beach Diet and using their recipes is a simple, straightforward way to get closer to control. Although not specifically a diabetic diet it follows the guidelines well and is easy to use. Good luck.</p>