How to help a diabetic grandparent?

Parent Cafe
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<p>My grandfather won’t test his blood sugar anymore, because he’s forgotten how to use his ancient testing kit. He just gives himself the same amount of insulin every night (regardless of what he ate that day), and then maybe adjusts it a little up or down the next time if he runs into trouble. Every once in awhile (although more frequently as of late) he’ll wake up in the middle of the night with really low blood sugar, and he’ll need coke or orange juice. Tonight though it was so bad we had to call the paramedic.</p>

<p>Anyway, I was hoping for a recommendation on a good testing kit. Something easy (and I mean really easy, because he’s old and doesn’t even always operate the phone correctly), and as painless as possible on his skin. Also, I’m curious if he would qualify for some discount on the equipment through Medicare. I’m going to working on all this tomorrow, because I know if I leave it up to my grandparents, they’ll put it off until he has another episode.</p>

<p>I know this forum isn’t a substitute for visiting the doctor, I just want an idea of what he needs.</p>

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<p>I had a diabetic mother (passed away now) and 2 diabetic older neighbors.</p>

<p>Any of the new kits take little blood and are pretty quick. You stick the strip in, put a drop of blood on it and the machine runs itself. No setting of codes, etc. </p>

<p>I remember seeing a kit on TV that came with a cartridge that had more than one test on it, so that you wouldn’t even have to reload every time. But no one I know has one of these machines. </p>

<p>Machines were basically given to patients without much, if any, out of pocket costs.</p>

<p>Diabetics need to be monitored by the doctor, especially if things are changing–like more highs or lows than before. He may need to test more often each day and give himself more shots during the day, or redo his regimen of long acting and short acting insulin.</p>

<p>Night time lows are a real problem. The one older friend who is susceptible to night time lows takes the same amount of insulin every night. He takes his glucose reading before bedtime–if it is within the low to normal range (or a little higher), he’ll have a snack before bed.</p>

<p>For a diabetic not to test at all is crazy…he needs to get back in to see his doctor.</p>

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<p>He should be able to get a new testing kit from Medicare without cost. The new ones are really easy to use.</p>

<p>Maybe you can work with his health care professional and get him a diabetic education class. These are usually several sessions at or near your local hospital.
They can help him get back on track.</p>

<p>he should also get an A1c which is a blood test that can tell how much control he has had the past 3 month.</p>

<p>Good Luck</p>

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<p>If your grandpa goes to a diabetic education class, have yourself or another younger (below 55?) person go. Sometimes the older folks have trouble with how much information comes at them quickly.</p>

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<p>I am a horrible insulin dependent diabetic. I truly suck at it. Have for almost 14 years. I am not a dr but maybe I can offer something.</p>

<p>As to testing equipment, I find the canister type with 17 strips to be easy and relatively painless. I use an Accu-chek Compact Plus. Not the latest and greatest but easy for me. </p>

<p>As to Medicare, I don’t know personally but I believe the costs should be negligible for all the supplies if billed through Medicare and some docs will just give you the tester. (The strips are “outrageous” if bought at the pharmacy out of pocket. I think that’s why they “give” you the tester.) </p>

<p>Like Grandpa I roller-coaster a lot but unlike him I test a lot. I see 40’s and lower once or twice a week. At least. Thank God I’ve always awakened in time. </p>

<p>My diabetes is both genetic and lifestyle driven. It was a given I’d have it someday, all my “people” do, but the severity of mine is directly a result of:</p>

<p>1) my being an idiot
2) and living like an animal. </p>

<p>Eat when I’m hungry, sleep when I’m tired, hunt when I have to. Repeat as necessary. </p>

<p>I’m not speaking for anybody but myself …and I’m certainly NOT talking about Grandpa (I don’t know him) and he could be a skinny diabetic who does everything right… but the best advice anyone could have given me for before I got myself into the shape I’m in/was in …was that I cannot be a healthy overweight un-controlled diabetic. And live. Intake has to be controlled. Sugar has to be monitored or you will lose your eyes , your feet, your…well, everything that makes life worth living and then your life. (And this applies to skinny folks, too. My Dad had it and he was never more than 5 pounds over perfect his whole life.) </p>

<p>P.M. for specifics but I’m much better now. I’m not fixed but my insulin use has decreased 90%. I’m still the size of a horse, but now maybe a Quarter-horse. My numbers are good. My heart is not getting any worse, my eyes have improved, my feet have improved, well…almost everything has changed for the better with greater control. Heck, another year and maybe I’ll join MomofWildChild on a run. You never know. Sign me, Back from the Brink</p>

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<p>Both my grandfathers have diabetes, so genetics aren’t in my favor. I’d say I’m pretty active and into fitness, but at this point in my life, I’m really doing it for body composition, not overall health. I could probably stand to sleep more and eat fewer processed foods.</p>

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<p>I’m wondering if he can have some home health visits. Just thinking that if a nurse could keep him on track a few times a week, that he could manage the rest himself?</p>

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<p>Type 1 diabetes runs in my family. My mom, age 84, was diagnosed at 40 years of age. My son is 26 now and was diagnosed at age 8. My mom has macular degeneration so it diabetes care is difficult for her. She got a pump about 5 years ago when her vision was better. Now she has a meter – don’t know what kind – that talks so she doesn’t have to read the numbers on the meter. It’s advertised on tv. Whenever she has a problem with her pump or meter, she immediately calls the companies Help lines – and then my sister. Good luck.</p>

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<p>Curmudgeon, glad you’re getting on top of things! It’s a tough road, as you well know. We need your stories in these parts for a long time to come. </p>

<p>To the OP-rather than a specific recommendation on a testing kit here, you need to talk to a diabetic educator, or health professional with a good deal of experience on what is common, easy and cheap to use, in your geographic area. Low priced testing strips might be essential, depending on Medicare coverage. Your grandpa is having a rough time doing this alone, obviously. Is your grandmother helpful? Can she also learn to use the new machine? Can you? </p>

<p>Having an A1C drawn would give some indication as to how well, or not his current approach has been working. </p>

<p>Regular bedtime snacks containing some protein can be very helpful in controlling those night time lows.</p>

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<p>I wish science would invent a machine that can take your glucose level without having to prick yourself. That would be a godsend!</p>

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<p>I don’t know about the “best” testing device, but I do know that Walmart (and maybe Target) make a cheaper unit with cheaper test strips, if you’re still concerned about price.</p>

<p>Just as an aside: even if you do everything “right” - eat well, exercise, test a lot - diabetes is a really hard disease. I mean, you think it would be pretty straightforward. You figure out how many carbs you eat and then you compensate for that with insulin and exercise. And sometimes (for some people) it works like that. </p>

<p>Then again, sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve been doing the insulin dance for about 2 years now. I eat the EXACT SAME THING for breakfast and lunch every day; I exercise religiously; I test all the freaking time. 80% of the time I can pretty much figure out the insulin dosages correctly and keep my blood glucose at a good level, but the other 20% of the time I can be way out of whack for no discernable reason. (Stress? Hormones? the phase of the mooon…) I can wake up at 200… or at 32… </p>

<p>My point is - that this is really hard, and even testing a lot is no guarantee. (It really helps, and you HAVE to do it, but chances are your father will still have a lot of those middle-of-the-night lows. And those middle-of-the-night lows really suck.)</p>

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<p>You’re getting sound advice here but I’ll throw my two cents in also. I’m Type 1 insulin dependent diabetic for over 21 years. I’ve used more than several different types of meters over the years and I am currently using Accuchek Compact Plus also. I really like not having to deal with putting the individual strips in the machine (this is the type of monitor with the test strips in a drum). One less step in the process.</p>

<p>Also consider asking your grandfather’s doctor or a diabetes educator if they have any samples of monitors that your grandfather could have at no cost. A diabetes educator once gave me one at no cost that a sales rep had given them - brand new in the box.</p>

<p>If that doesn’t work, call Liberty Medical Supply. My insurance has a program through them called Diabetic Sense and it allows you a free monitor and supplies for it at no charge. I think I’ve seen on their commercials where they do the same with Medicare, but I’m not positive. They ship directly to your home and it costs me not one cent. Too bad the insulin doesn’t work that way but I’m glad for any savings.</p>

<p>Your grandparents are fortunate to have you looking after their care. I know it has to be frustrating at times for you but just hang in there and know that you’re doing a really good thing by helping them. My grandmother had adult onset diabetes and my brother was just diagnosed a couple of years ago as an adult. It’s difficult and it’s frustrating for the patient and for the caregiver. So all I can say is Bless You.</p>

<p>It takes a long time to get the least bit good at managing this disease and just like scout said, you can do everything “right”, eat exactly the same thing every day, have the same routine and the blood sugar level can go crazy on you. The only way to deal with it though is by checking his blood sugar as often as you can make that happen so that he can adjust either by eating or taking insulin. It’s really important because there comes a point for some people when they can’t “feel” when their blood sugar is low (no symptoms like sweats or shakiness) and that becomes really dangerous.</p>

<p>Good luck to you and your family!</p>