My husband and I have been involved in family nutrition for about 16 years now. His nephew was diagnosed at the age of 1 by way of a diabetic coma and several weeks in the ICU for T1 diabetes. Then, his family lived close. We knew the implications of dealing with this ever-stressful disease. Emotional and financial setbacks for my husband’s family furthered the closeness of his Mom and Sister. They moved to Tennessee shortly after Nephew was diagnosed. Mom, Sister and Nephew live in one home. A few years later, Mom was diagnosed as T2.
Mom encountered numerous health issues and complications. She's had super-high highs, and super-low lows. She is now unable to work, which we are seeing as a benefit. At 61 years old, it's a good thing. She should enjoy her grandkids and some pleasant later years of her life. Unfortunately, her mobility is severely limited. She cannot see out of her left eye and has neuropathy throughout the entire left side of her body. She is here with us in California for an extended vacation. Our family of four is now five. At least for the time being. With Mom in a wheelchair for any outings, and a huge range on her BG levels, we must plan each outing carefully. Mom tends to be demure in her needs.
We are learning day-by-day of all the medications she is taking. I found tudiabetes when I saw the Big Blue Test on Facebook. Because of this community, I have learned quickly. She is without insurance, and to young for Medicaid. I am still trying to do my own homework on what types of programs and discounts we can get for her insulin.
She uses a Medtronic pump, TrueTrack glucose monitor, Novolog insulin, Lantus (at night, via injection)
Via pills, she was on Gabapentin when she got here. After reading numerous side effects of the Gabapentin, we've weaned her off of this until we can get a physician or better idea of why she needs this. (Her Rx was up - not sure it's the best option yet.)
Metformin, and a handful of others along with vitamins and cinammon supplement.
We've become overnight caregivers. I think we've done pretty well. Going through her glucose monitor she was at 500, 300, 60, 280, etc... all over the place. Because of her lack of mobility, I think often she would spike on a high BG, and then would drop when it was too much effort to go to the kitchen for meal prep. Consistently, we have kept her BG levels around 99-150. I'd love to keep her on the lower end of this range, but honestly she zones out and shakes horribly on anything below 110. We check sugar before every meal and keep carbs around 20 or less per meal. I am used to cooking for my family out of desire to cook - and now it is life sustaining. My hobby, cooking, has become full-time work. I am constantly Googling everything to try and learn more about how to care for her well. (Remember, no insurance!) I just learned about the A1C check. She says her last A1C check at the health department in Tennessee was sky-high but does not remember the number.
Long post, but want to cover everything I can think of for now. I'm hoping that through this site I can learn how to properly help maintain good levels for Mom. It's amazing how society as a whole discounts the impact of carbs, sugar and health in general. Eating out is difficult, especially when the servers are pumping bread through the restaurants at every table. Mom's got an incredible sweet tooth and will eat candy or bread any chance that she can get.