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Helping a diabetic family member.

taerictaeric Registered User, ClubPA regular
edited February 2009 in Help / Advice Forum
So, my mother evidently has diabetes (type 2, I presume). I have heard of this but that is about it.

She used to keep in decent shape with her job, but with the economy, her job is pretty much gone where she lives. (She cleans houses.) To deal with this, she is moving in with us this weekend. My question is simply what can I be doing to help her stay healthy? Her blood sugar was at 397 the other day. This really does not mean anything useful to me. Any special things I should make sure she eats? Make sure she gets walks in?

taeric on

Posts

  • TrusTrus Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I would presume that she has been living with this for a bit and that she will know what she needs to do to keep her blood sugar in check, I really wouldn't worry about it.

    Trus on
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  • taerictaeric Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2009
    I would like to think that. However, I understand letting your blood sugar hit 400 is not healthy.

    taeric on
  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    I've a friend with type 2; he used to be on the pump but now is on insulin shots. He's regulating his own blood sugar/insulin levels, besides that all I can do is counsel that he make good choices in what he eats and how he chooses to take care of himself (getting regular exercise and avoiding being overweight).

    With shots one needs to properly dose oneself and then eat to the dosage. If you overeat you risk high blood sugar; if you undereat, low bloodsugar. Neither of these are good states, but I've only seen EMS come when it's an extreme low blood sugar state. If you cannot self-regulate you should look into getting a pump which is kind of like an artificial pancreas (it constantly monitors blood sugar and automatically doses you). The pump is more expensive to use/maintain, but allows more freedom to exercise choice in consuming calories. Even with the pump you'll need to periodically go to the doctor and make sure you're on the right baseline dose of insulin.

    If you're going to take on a caretaker role you will have to monitor if she's dosing herself correctly and then eating the right amount at the right time. You should be watching out for changes in behavior/attitude/co-ordination as this indicates that her blood sugar might be off. For example, if my friend gets ornery, starts having muscle spasm, or becomes silly/hilarious it's time for me to ask him about his blood sugar/insulin.

    Djeet on
  • wunderbarwunderbar What Have I Done? Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    My mother has had type 2 basically all my life, she was diagnosed when I was 18 months old, and I'm 22 now.

    The absolute biggest things are eating right, and eating on a schedule. Dont' have supper at 5pm one day, 8pm the next, 6pm the next, then back at 8pm, etc. Try to pick a time where you know you can eat within about the same hour window every day. If it's a bit later, so be it. I know it cant' be adhered to every day, but try to keep it as consistent as possible. On Christmas day my mom actually fainted while in line to eat because we were having christmas dinner at about 7:30 instead of our usual 5-6 window. She didn't have a good lunch, which contributed, but trying to eat at the same time is really important.

    Try to buy snack foods that she can eat. Healthy things. Start paying attention to packaging. The general rule my mom follows is that if sugar is listed in the first 5 ingredients of a product, she doesn't eat it in any great amounts.

    Diabetes is a life changing thing, it's like having a food allergy to sugar.

    My mom was actually able to regulate her blood sugars by diet alone for over 15 years, no need for insulin shots. She now takes one insulin shot a day.

    I simply cannot stress enough how important the diet is. Eating right, paying attention to what you eat, and eating to a schedule are critically important.

    wunderbar on
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  • taerictaeric Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2009
    I do not think I'll be taking "caretaker" role. More just giving her a place to live. Her stress has been sky rocketing due to a crappy work environment this year. Above that, I know she has been battling depression for some time. Letting her move in with us is more a temporary (well, as long as it takes) solution that will help her build confidence and get back in decent health. If she is able to then move out, I will help her do so.

    The tight schedule I will try to build with our eating. I'm also trying to not let this stress me out, though. (I recently posted about the other crap that has happened in my life recently. Been a busy year.)

    taeric on
  • mtsmts Dr. Robot King Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    also encourage exercise. its the best thing a diabetic can do

    try to have well balanced meals in terms of protein carbs and fats. there is some percentage that i read in one journal but i can't think of it right now. but its fairly equal with maybe 40:40:20

    mts on
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  • chromdomchromdom Who? Where?Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    Ok, I am a type 1 diabetic (lots of diabetes threads recently), so my stuff is a different. But 397 is extremely bad. You want to keep your blood sugar around 100. In terms of scale, 100 is good, 80 is eat now, 60 is eat right now, 40 is eat now before something bad happens. Going the other way, 150 is, yeah, you could be lower. 200 is you've probably affecting your long term health in small amounts, and suffering immediate symptoms of thirst and frequent urination. 250 is you really need to get your sugar down. 300 you really need to your sugar down now; you're also probably feeling pretty tired. 400 is you gotta be tired, and you're really hurting your health. Before being diagnosed, I went into a coma at somewhere around 800, but I have heard of comas hitting around 500.
    So yeah, your mom needs to work with her doctors and use her meds and diet to keep her blood sugar under control.

    chromdom on
  • chromdomchromdom Who? Where?Registered User regular
    edited February 2009
    wunderbar wrote: »
    Try to buy snack foods that she can eat. Healthy things. Start paying attention to packaging. The general rule my mom follows is that if sugar is listed in the first 5 ingredients of a product, she doesn't eat it in any great amounts.

    Diabetes is a life changing thing, it's like having a food allergy to sugar.
    This is a little overly simplistic. Carbohydrates are sugars. Potatoes, rice, breads all have high carb counts, but may not have much sugar. 15 g of carbohydrates is 1 serving. When you're reading labels, keep that in mind.
    Actually, change that to "when she's reading labels." This is her disease, not yours. You can be supportive, but you can't run it for her. She has to own it.
    wunderbar wrote: »
    My mom was actually able to regulate her blood sugars by diet alone for over 15 years, no need for insulin shots. She now takes one insulin shot a day.

    I simply cannot stress enough how important the diet is. Eating right, paying attention to what you eat, and eating to a schedule are critically important.

    That is seriously great on your mom! Pass on my kudos!

    chromdom on
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