Diabetic Who Drinks - A Lot
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| Thu, 05-22-2008 - 10:03am |
Hi there!
I am not diabetic and I don't claim to know a lot about the disease -- except that it is becoming more and more common. My question is actually in reference to my daughter's best friend. I will call her "Ashley".
Ashley was diagnosed with diabetes in the 9th grade. I don't know all the differences in types, etc. but she is insulin dependant. She carries her little meter and insulin shots, etc. I know her levels are all over the board and she doesn't eat like she is supposed to. Anyway, she went off to the largest public university in our state and my daughter chose to go an hour away from there to another public university. After over two years they still talk everyday and coordinate weekends to come home or visit each other at their respective schools. The problem is that Ashley has gotten into drinking in a MAJOR way. She always drank a little but now it is like four nights a week. We are not talking one or two beers here. We are talking DRUNK. In her first three months of college she was taken to the ER for alcohol poisoning and almost died. Since then she has been hospitalized at least one more time (that I know of) because of the drinking / diabetes thing and she has also been having some palipitations in her chest, etc. My daughter, as her closest friend, has tried and tried and tried to talk to her. The threat of losing limbs, going blind, death, etc. does not seem to phase her and she starts to get angry when people bring it up to her. She says she can drink alcohol and be fine as long as she eats ice-cream before she drinks (I don't know the in's and out's of this theory). Her mother has had her head in the sand for years. She actually doesn't think her "little Ashley" has ever really drank alcohol, had sex, etc. Her mom finally called my daughter about two months ago trying to find out what the heck was going on and when my daughter discussed Ashley' drinking with her, her mother made a comment like, "That is college for you!"
I truly believe Ashley's health and/or life could be in danger. It is very upsetting for my daughter to watch all of this unfold and her own mother refuses to believe that there is a big problem here. Even when she comes home (sometimes she stays at our house for a weekend at a time), my daughter will be tired and just want to "hang out" and all Ashley wants to do is go out and find a party. In my opinion this is cause for concern in someone who isn't diabetic...but for someone who is, it's worse. Does anyone have any suggestions? What are the side effects for a diabetic who abuses alcohol?
I appreciate any advice!
~~Bella~~

Hi Bella and welcome to the board!