My mum has been type 2 for years & seriously abused her body & ignored it. She has now had a stroke & scans show she has had 5 previous mini ones caused by very high glucose. & cholesterol levels plus smoking 40+ a day ! I've temporarily moved in removed all the sweets, cakes, sugar, cigarettes etc I thought I had been sufficiently limiting her carbs yet her levels have still spiked almost 170 today. I'm great for knowing how to bring the levels up but not down can anyone help please
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Hi to all & please help :)
- Thread starter Dawny09
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robert@fm
Much missed member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
It's the middle of the night here in the UK (02:35 UTC as I type this), so I'm afraid you won't get many replies for some five or six hours yet.
I see from the BG level you posted (170) that you live in a country which measures BG in mg/dl; the equivalent in UK terms (mmol/ml) is 9.4, which is indeed alarming if it's a fasting level. 😱 Fasting BGs should ideally be between 4 and 7 in our terms (72 and 126 in yours).
I hope someone can give you more comprehensive advice.
I see from the BG level you posted (170) that you live in a country which measures BG in mg/dl; the equivalent in UK terms (mmol/ml) is 9.4, which is indeed alarming if it's a fasting level. 😱 Fasting BGs should ideally be between 4 and 7 in our terms (72 and 126 in yours).
I hope someone can give you more comprehensive advice.
Hello Dawny, welcome to the forum. So sorry that you've been put in this position.
If your Mum is determined to improve her diet and give up the smokes, then she may be able to dramatically improve her quality of life and will need lots of help and support to do it. She's lucky to have you.
You need to have a long chat with her, and find out a bit more about why she has let things get this bad. Perhaps there's underlying depression (very common in diabetics) affecting the way that she cares for herself. How supportive are the medical team?
If she does want help to improve, you and she could start by reading some of the recommended books listed in the sticky at the top of the Newbies forum.
I wish you luck in persuading your Mum to help herself.
If your Mum is determined to improve her diet and give up the smokes, then she may be able to dramatically improve her quality of life and will need lots of help and support to do it. She's lucky to have you.
You need to have a long chat with her, and find out a bit more about why she has let things get this bad. Perhaps there's underlying depression (very common in diabetics) affecting the way that she cares for herself. How supportive are the medical team?
If she does want help to improve, you and she could start by reading some of the recommended books listed in the sticky at the top of the Newbies forum.
I wish you luck in persuading your Mum to help herself.
Redkite
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent
Hi Dawny, sorry to hear about your Mum's stroke, hope she is recovering well. If she can cut out smoking completely, that will be the foremost best thing to help her future health. Does she take any medications for her diabetes? If she has been managing on diet alone, it might be time for her doctor to start prescribing meds. Having said that, a BG level of 170 (9.4) is by no means terribly high, especially if this is a random test, not a fasting one done on waking.
Your Mum would probably benefit from sticking to a lower carb diet, ie having more meat, fish, eggs, veg and salad, and much smaller portions of potatoes, rice, pasta, etc. She doesn't have to completely cut out all sweet foods (it would be miserable and impossible to stick to), but if she eats smaller portions and less frequently, she will be all the healthier for it. Fruit juices, smoothies and full-sugar soda drinks should all be avoided.
Presumably your Mum is under the care of a specialist stroke doctor? Is she taking meds for high blood pressure etc? Is she good about taking her medications regularly? Good luck with encouraging her to get her health back 🙂
Your Mum would probably benefit from sticking to a lower carb diet, ie having more meat, fish, eggs, veg and salad, and much smaller portions of potatoes, rice, pasta, etc. She doesn't have to completely cut out all sweet foods (it would be miserable and impossible to stick to), but if she eats smaller portions and less frequently, she will be all the healthier for it. Fruit juices, smoothies and full-sugar soda drinks should all be avoided.
Presumably your Mum is under the care of a specialist stroke doctor? Is she taking meds for high blood pressure etc? Is she good about taking her medications regularly? Good luck with encouraging her to get her health back 🙂
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome Dawny09.
As well as diet and giving up smoking, taking medications (if prescribed, obviously), reducing body weight (if too high) or maintaining (if OK) and doing physical exercise are also important for health in everyone, but especially people with diabetes, those who have had strokes etc. Without knowing where you are (I guess USA or Canada, due to time of posting and values given, although no units), it's difficult to know what support / treatment might be available - we're very lucky to have the NHS, which is by no means perfect, but is available to all at point of need.
As well as diet and giving up smoking, taking medications (if prescribed, obviously), reducing body weight (if too high) or maintaining (if OK) and doing physical exercise are also important for health in everyone, but especially people with diabetes, those who have had strokes etc. Without knowing where you are (I guess USA or Canada, due to time of posting and values given, although no units), it's difficult to know what support / treatment might be available - we're very lucky to have the NHS, which is by no means perfect, but is available to all at point of need.
Thanks for the replies really appreciate it. I am I fact in Spain but only seem to get the time to search once mum is asleep. Her fasting level this morning was 168 and 2 hours after breakfast 268 which wAs fat free yoghurt and banana. She has given up smoking as I hVe removed all opportunities and no longer allowed to drive so can't get out for sneaky food or fags. Her self esteem had clearly hit an a time low. The house and herself have been seriously neglected I have had 2 of her dogs re homed as she can't look after them and I will be moving her back to uk as soon as she can fly as I can't stay in Spain plus have ms myself which I'm abusing doing all that I am 
. I guess I do t really know what is normal and not so all info is great fully received x x
. I guess I do t really know what is normal and not so all info is great fully received x x
Redkite
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Parent
Hi again Dawny,
Ok, sounds like your Mum needs meds if her waking level is higher than it should be. The breakfast she ate is actually pretty high in carb (an average banana has at least 20g, and yoghurts about the same - in fact fat-free ones tend to have more added sugar in addition to the carbs present in the milk). A better (lower carb) breakfast would be something like scrambled eggs with a small slice of wholemeal toast. To go carb free, some people would advise bacon and egg, no bread at all, but I would think your Mum may need to be very careful with her salt intake, so bacon would not be so good. Perhaps she would benefit from an appointment with a good dietician?
Ok, sounds like your Mum needs meds if her waking level is higher than it should be. The breakfast she ate is actually pretty high in carb (an average banana has at least 20g, and yoghurts about the same - in fact fat-free ones tend to have more added sugar in addition to the carbs present in the milk). A better (lower carb) breakfast would be something like scrambled eggs with a small slice of wholemeal toast. To go carb free, some people would advise bacon and egg, no bread at all, but I would think your Mum may need to be very careful with her salt intake, so bacon would not be so good. Perhaps she would benefit from an appointment with a good dietician?
Copepod
Much missed Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
That explains a lot, Dawny and makes it easier for others to make suggestions. Hope you're looking after yourself - I guess the heat isn't helping your health?
You've got a big task in moving your Mum, and returning to UK can be less than straightforward, if she's been away longer than a certain time, won't be counted as habitually resident immediately. Assuming your Mum is past 60 years, I'd suggest asking Age UK http://www.ageuk.org.uk/ for advice, as they'll understand such matters - ask about pensions, Attendance Allowance (for Mum), Carers Allowance (for you, if she gets AA and you provide enough hours of care and don't earn too much - quite a few hoops to jump through for not much money), local authority support (varies between England / Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland, and between councils, especially in England) etc.
You've got a big task in moving your Mum, and returning to UK can be less than straightforward, if she's been away longer than a certain time, won't be counted as habitually resident immediately. Assuming your Mum is past 60 years, I'd suggest asking Age UK http://www.ageuk.org.uk/ for advice, as they'll understand such matters - ask about pensions, Attendance Allowance (for Mum), Carers Allowance (for you, if she gets AA and you provide enough hours of care and don't earn too much - quite a few hoops to jump through for not much money), local authority support (varies between England / Wales / Scotland / Northern Ireland, and between councils, especially in England) etc.
Hi all thank you so much for the help I apologise for delayed reply but things haven't been great and it's taken a toll on me too. Anyway I finally had mums medication changed on Boxing Day after 3 days with an average reading of 220 her highest being 336 . She does however seem to be responding quite well to this one so fingers crossed. I hope everyone has had a good Christmas. I'm rather tired as it's middle of the night but I'm awake in pain so thought I would quickly reply as it's first chance I've had.
. She does however seem to be responding quite well to this one so fingers crossed. I hope everyone has had a good Christmas. I'm rather tired as it's middle of the night but I'm awake in pain so thought I would quickly reply as it's first chance I've had.Re entitlement to NHS. If your Mum is a UK citizen/ former resident and is returning with the intention of remaining permanently then there is no qualifying period for coverage.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/engla...osts_e/nhs_charges_for_people_from_abroad.htm
I have read of cases of health and local authorities demanding evidence of permanent intention.( Though, personally, as a temporary resident and trying to do things correctly, I've had my EHIC waived away ... there was no place on the computer to it! and the few people I know that have returned have not encountered problems with obtaining social care on return)
If she is a UK pensioner, then an EHIC which in this case is issued by the UK will cover most on going treatment for 6 months . If she does not get a UK state pension, then her EHIC should be issued by the country in which she is registered for health care ie Spain.
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/engla...osts_e/nhs_charges_for_people_from_abroad.htm
I have read of cases of health and local authorities demanding evidence of permanent intention.( Though, personally, as a temporary resident and trying to do things correctly, I've had my EHIC waived away ... there was no place on the computer to it! and the few people I know that have returned have not encountered problems with obtaining social care on return)
If she is a UK pensioner, then an EHIC which in this case is issued by the UK will cover most on going treatment for 6 months . If she does not get a UK state pension, then her EHIC should be issued by the country in which she is registered for health care ie Spain.
Hi all , I can't thank you enough for the support I apologise for my delayed response I had read but not replied to your info. We spent Boxing Day at the medical centre where a lovely doctor looked into mums history & changed her tablets from Euglucon to januvia she started off okay for 36 hours then she began . Her FBG on 27/28th was 135/125 a vast improvement but did reach 226 pre meal later in the day. This morning her FBG was and the lowest her levels have been today other than her FBG is 214.
She had scrambled egg for breakfast with mushroom s & tomatoes, fat free yoghurt mid morning, fresh fruit, pea & ham soup then roast chicken with plenty of veg. Where have I gone wrong with her food? Happy new year everyone 🙂
. Her FBG on 27/28th was 135/125 a vast improvement but did reach 226 pre meal later in the day. This morning her FBG was and the lowest her levels have been today other than her FBG is 214. She had scrambled egg for breakfast with mushroom s & tomatoes, fat free yoghurt mid morning, fresh fruit, pea & ham soup then roast chicken with plenty of veg. Where have I gone wrong with her food? Happy new year everyone 🙂
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