Help - Need advice with Dad/Diabetes

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Help - Need advice with Dad/Diabetes
3
Thu, 01-22-2004 - 8:49pm
Please excuse my ignorance with Diabetes (and length of msg)- this is all fairly new to me.

Brief history: Dad was told 7 yrs ago he had diabetes. He told family (not close to him until now) that he got over it/Dr's were wrong. I've since found out that he must have managed it with diet. 2 yrs ago he had massive heart attack - quad bypass - Dr's said he's on borrowed time. He's now moved closer to children and three wks ago had an extremely stressful life event (sudden move from people who used him) he also had a sinus infection. I took him to a Dr. who admitted him to hosp (from reading, I think that he may have had hyperglycemia?). Was there 6 days, during which time they gave him antibiotics, avandia meds, depression meds, etc. all the while his blood sugar levels were, what they told me, high. At one point it was over 800 and then fluctuated from 400+ to 210 (usually in the higher range. They relased him when levels were lowest (I think that last reading was high 200). Sent him home with prescriptions for two weeks and a follow up visit in 5 days (which is tomorrow & I will go to). Well, while he's been at home his levels have gone as high as 490 and as low as 186 (once - usually stayed in 300's.

My question is this: What is it that makes the sugar levels fluctuate so high like that? I understand that stress and stress from infection are a major factor, but what else? He says he's been eating OK (broiled fish, poached egg, nothing fried, only diet drinks-water-milk).

Thank you and any help or insight is better than what I know now.

Signed,

A Very Confused Daughter with an almost stubborn Dad :o)

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-26-2003
Thu, 01-22-2004 - 9:33pm
Hello

I was just diagnosed in Sept of last year. So I am pretty new to this all. Yet a few things that I hope will help you out are that stress does really elevate the blood sugar levels. When I was in the hospital my levels were elevated because I was stressed out and because I had a pretty wicked cold. Being sick will raise your blood sugar as well. Thats how at times diabetics can tell when thye are getting sick because our blood sugars will be abnormally high and there will be ketones in our urine. A normal person will be anywhere between 80 and 120. So your father being that high could be do in part to stress or sickness. I really think you should talk to your fathers doctor about how high his blood sugars are because he can run into other problems when they are too high for too long. Just a few (im not trying to scare you) he can get diabetic cataracts or go blind, kidney problems, heart attack and stroke. I mean you should talk to his doctor about getting him on insulin or about other diet or oral medications he can be put on. He will feel healthier and be in better health with his blood sugars under control. I felt a lot better once I got my blood sugar levels under control and I was way over 600 when I finally went to the doctor thinking I just had a bad case of the flu. So flu-like symptoms at times hint to having high blood sugars. I hope some of this helps as I said I am newly diagnosed, but this is some of the information I have got from my doctors and nurses. Take care and I wish you all the luck. Keep us all updated...

Morgan

Avatar for coldfingers
Community Leader
Registered: 04-30-2000
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 9:21am

Here is a reply from cl-maryfrances, of this diabetes board.......


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-19-2003
Fri, 01-23-2004 - 7:44pm
Thank you both for your input. Greatly appreciated! I will check out those websites -- save them in favorites. Yes, he does live alone so it is a bit difficult.

Dr. appt today went OK. Dr. doubled the doses of 3 of the blood sugar lowering meds that he put him on. Avandia was not doubled, nor was the antidepressant. He is to go for a visit next Friday -- we'll see how this week goes.

Diet.....well, he is not drinking alcohol or reg. sodas (thank goodness). He drinks diet Dr Pepper, water, and milk. He did say today that he drank a small glass of OJ the other day with his poached eggs and one small red potato. He says his meals have been mainly of baked/broiled fish or chicken. When I shopped for him the other day I bought radishes, lettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, yellow squash, small amount of small red potatoes, green beans, brussel sprouts, chicken and fish. He knows that he has to eat small portions. However, timing of those meals is a small problem right now -- he may be asleep when he needs to eat (still tired alot), so he'll eat when he gets up. But he is working on that.

Exercise.....not much. He knows he must do that too, he's told me so. He has had a knee replaced and lungs/heart not in best of shape. It's colder here than he's used to so he tends to stay close to the heater.

Thank you, Thank you,

Licia