My Mother just got Diagnosed as Diabetic

Exactly 9 years ago today my Mom's twin sister died of diabetes related complications and today my mother was told she has type two diabetes - she bought her kit over - the doctor didn't tell her how to use it, so I showed her (I sort of remembered from my gestational diabetes) - her sugars were 342!!! I took mine just to make sure the machine was working and mine was 82...... I am sort of scared for my Mom, she doesn't eat too healthy - she's about 30 pounds overweight - but she'll skip meals and avoids vegetables and fruits. Ever since my father passed away she started eating kind of junky stuff or not at all - I was so mad at the doctors office for not giving her instructions on how to use the machine, they didn't give her any literature on the type of diet to follow - they didn't tell her how frequently to test her blood - they didn't give her a prescription for lancets or test strips - they only gave her a prescription for glaucaphauge (Metformin) - I called them up and told them they didn't handle this diagnosis appropriately and I said either they need to find a class for my mother or send her to an endochronologist - I mean WTF!! The office called me back and told me they would be setting her up in a diabetes class.........duhh - why did it take me to call up and be all *****y about it!! She's 67 years old and they just throw this at her - I am so mad - and the sad part about it is I really, really like this doctor - he's my PCP as well and I am just so disappointed in him. He also told my mother that I'll probably get it when I get older - that pissed me off a bit too - I mean here I am not eating (and I'm getting a little edgy) to go into a surgery that is one of the most major decisions of my life - to get this obesity and all the related crap that goes with it under control and he's telling my mother that I'll probably get it! I feel like calling him up and asking him if he's on drugs because he certainly isn't acting like the competent doctor that I adore and admire! Okay - sorry to blow off so much steam here - thanks for listening! Best Regards, Tammy Count Down: 4 days!

Hey there Tammy, I know how you feel sweetie, my dad is diabetic too, and he is very unhealthy and does not eat right. He is also an alcoholic to boot. I know what your feeling. Just be there for your mom and help her as much as you can, if you have to be strict with her and tell her she is hurting herself by not eating healthy. You want her around a very long time. You have the right to be upset she is your mom and you love her. I feel like the parent taking care of the child now. It seems not its our turn to take care of our parents. They were so tuff on me, and now I have to return the favor. My parents are both 67 years old too, my mom is overweight and my dad has a lot of health problems too. Its scary and I don't want to lose them either. We have to be tough with them and let them know its because we love them. Maybe if you go to a nutritionist with her and be there to support her it might make her see she needs to be more healthier in her choices. Well I hope I helped. You take care and be good to yourself sweetie. Don't stress over this. Your health is important too. Hugs KimC

Thanks Kim - I know what you mean about the switching rolls from child to parent, I don't like it, maybe I am in denial about my mother getting older - I just don't see her as an old person! To me 67 is far from needing a parent - maybe I need to take my head out of the sand! Thanks again for your concern and advice! Best Regards, Tammy Count down: 3 days!

Yikes. YEs, definitely get her to a diabetes class. She should check her blood sugars first thing in the morning prior to eating anything and again once or so during the day about 2 hours after a meal. She needs to track them for a bit but the medication should not cause her blood sugar to go too low- usually oral meds don't do that. Carbohydrates are the issue, she needs to cut down on white flour based carbs (they are just very quickly absorbed into blood stream) knock off the concentrated sweets- fruit juices, candy sugar sweetened beverages, ice cream, baked goods etc Focus on protein, lean fish, chicken, etc, lower fat foods, vegetables,(fiber delays digestion thus slowing the blood sugar rise) And you should be really mad at your MD- you WON'T get diabetes- that's the whole point of the lap band....your pancreas is not going to burn out and you aren't going to be overweight. If your mom can drop 10- 20 pounds- she will have a much better time of it- spring will be here after you recover from banding- if you can schedule it- why dont you two join curves, or even just take up walking together a few nights a week? This doesn't have to end the way it did for her sister- and you need to make sure she hears that. Tammy I am sorry you have to have all this on your mind right now- you have the tough part of your journey staring at you- don't get overwhelmed- your mom will be alright while you recover and get settled with your band. I definitely think she should seek a specialist to handle the diabetes- there are many newer drugs other than the Metformin that have less side effects and work great too- Metformin can casue GI upset, diarrhea and this can be a problem that leads to non compliance with the dosage. If she experiences problems talk to the doctor right away. Sounds like you are a force to be reckoned with- I like that. Good luck. Oh and one more thing- if you type in "glycemic index" into a search engine you will pull up some sites that give you lists of food higher/lower on the glycemic index- the higher the number the more of a negative impact on blood sugar the food has- the lower the number the better for a diabetic. It will give you a place to start with her- so she can see what is good for her to eat and what is bad for her.

Hey thanks for all the information - I will give my mother the tip on looking up the glycemic index. I told her yesterday it's important that she eats at least 3 meals a day. This morning she said she had toast for breakfast and I told her that I didn't know if that was a good choice that perhaps and egg would be a better choice. Then she asked me if yogurt was a good choice - she said that she just loves yogurt and has been eating it a lot - I told her it all depends on the sugar count..........she has never had to educate herself about the nutrional content of food before - I don't even know how many sugar grams a day she should be shooting for to stay under - I'll be glad when she goes to the class, at least she'll have some references. I sent her a link from webMD last night and she said she was up until 1 a.m. just trying to read stuff - so that's good..... she also told me she went through 8 test strips and couldn't get her meter to read and her fingers were sore........it just sucks! Anyway - she doesn't excercise at all! She was going to join a swim class but never followed through - her knees are messed up from a bad car accident she was in from 1974........ You are right about her being different from her twin sister - I sent her a note telling her that last night when I sent her the link - I told her that her sister died young because she stopped caring about herself and just ate junk all the time.... Thanks again for all the info and support - I really, really appreciate it! Best Regards, Tammy Count down: 3 days!

Hey Tammy, your right, Your doctor did a real sloopy job! Keep a close eye on your mom. Make sure she checks her suger regularly and that she takes her meds! When my mom got older and was living alone,(her choice) , she started eating badly or not at all . She had a choice of living with a host of her kids as we all have large homes but she chose to live alone. My doctor told me lots of elderly folks don't eat right and when they have pains they grab motrin to ease it. Taking too much ends up ruining their kidneys and they end up on dyalisis. So, keep close tabs on your mom and never be afraid of comfronting any doctor when he makes a mistake. They are as human as everybody else. Take care, Julio

Thanks Julio - You are right, we are all human but doctors have to be a step ahead of the rest of us, that's why they are so demanding of them for schooling and that's why we pay them the big bucks!! I am not afraid to confront him, I'm just glad that he wasn't infront of my yesterday because I was so steamed up I might not have been able to be diplomatic! I really appreciate your insight! Best Regards, Tammy Count down: 3 days!

hi tammy,sorry to hear about your mom with diabetes,my mother-in-law has it too,and doesnt take the proper care that she should so it causes alot of problems,please tell her to take care,and good luck to you and her,take care,,cyndee

Thanks Cyndee - My mother has been studying her little brain out trying to cram all this new info in - she said she is determined to follow the rules and make sure it doesn't impact her! I'm very proud she has that attitude - but in the next breath she starts telling me all her ailments and that she wants to hang herself! I HATE, HATE, HATE when she talks like that - it just gets to my annoyance nerve quicker than anything! But you are so right, diabetes can be horrible if you don't take proper care of yourself - that's very sad your mother-in-law doesn't think highly enough of herself to do the right thing..............but we all probably know about that road! Best Regards, Tammy Count Down: 2 days! I'm STARVING!!!!!!!!!!!

Lol,,yea,I know all about the starving factor,,im in day 4 of liquids,,,omg,its not very easy,but needs to be done,,im right behind you,4 days and counting....Good luck in 2 days,,,God bless.,..Cyndee