Mom's sugar was 438...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2007
Mom's sugar was 438...
4
Sun, 10-28-2007 - 2:03pm

Hi all!


I'm looking for a little info I guess.  My mom is 61 and both her brother and sister have diabetes.  Her brother died a cpl years ago of heart failure-type of thing from not controlling it at all (at age 51).  Her sister has tons of complications from not controlling it for almost 20 years.  She just started 'being good' this past year after heart surgery.


We suspected mom might be diabetic at least 5-6 years ago.  She refused to go to the dr, but agreed to take my aunt's monitor.  She tested herself at a 40!  and said "see, I'm not diabetic - it's low".  She wouldn't listen to us that too low is just as bad as too high.


Last week - her work had a free health fair, and my aunt convinced her to go.  Mom has health insurance ($15 dr co-pay!!) but won't ever ever see a dr.  No pap, mammo, blood, cholersterol, nothing!!  Soooo frustrating.


Anyhow, at the fair, her blood sugar was 438!  They wanted to call the EMTs, but she convinced them not to.  They wouldn't let her go until she had a dr's appt set up (thank god).  She went, they are putting her on some pills for 10 days, and will retest her.  My aunt doesn't think pills will work, if her sugar is so out-of-whack.  Does that mean insulin injections??


I live 700+ miles away from her.  I am just so frustrated, angry, upset about this.  We've been telling her for years, and she won't listen to anyone (esp her kids!) 


My question is:  assuming she's been diabetic for 5+ years and is over-weight, what type of damage may have been done?  She 'thinks' she may have had a cpl small heart attacks in recent years (but did she go to the doctor??  nooo...)  She has lost 2 lbs since this started.

Bren and gang (dh, dd 9, ds 7, ds 5)
Bren and gang (dh, dd 9, ds 7, ds 5)
Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 10-28-2007 - 5:30pm

Oh, Bren!


Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Mon, 10-29-2007 - 12:58am

Hi Beng,


I am on a computer that only allows me on for 20 minutes at a time so I must hurry to answer your questions.


You mom has been diabetic for quite some time and she really needed to be started on insulin and continued on it until her sugars

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2007
Mon, 10-29-2007 - 10:35pm

Here's an update:


I talked to my mom last nite, and I think this has been a real reality hit for her.

Bren and gang (dh, dd 9, ds 7, ds 5)
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-03-2003
Tue, 10-30-2007 - 2:37pm

A good guideline would be start transitioning over (if you aren't already) away from the white foods all around us - white sugar, white flour, white potatoes, white rice. Whole grains are a better 'deal' all around, even for non-diabetics. They have more protein, more nutrients, more fiber. Fortunately, nowadays it's pretty easy to find "alternative" things like pasta in the grocery store instead of having to find a specialty store. Not only will it be good for you but it'll be good for your kids to transition over since they're at risk too.

--Deb