milk consumption

[Copepod]

Just one possible idea for having just one milk bottle open at a time, and reducing the numbers of shopping trips for your Mother - she could buy several plastic bottles (1 or 2 pint) of fresh milk at one time, freeze bottles and defrost one per day, or alternatively, buy cartons of UHT milk (usually 500ml or 1 litre).

However, perhaps it really isn't worth the struggle to restrict his milk intake. Quality of life of Father and Mother are both important. While high blood glucose levels are not ideal, an elderly person with, say maximum 10 years more of life (not knowing your Dad's age, so this is a guess) means he can't get as many complications in those 10 years as, say a child or young adult who is diagnosed and needs to try to keep themself complication-free for decades.

 

[Sheila of Eskdale]

Have you spoken to a dietician ?, you would think they could at least help you with ideas of what food your dad could and should eat a day. I dont know enough about type 2 as I am type 1, but would it be easier for you if you knew roughly how much carb your dad should have a day to work with his med and keep bs in a good range ? You may already know this, if his milk is a major food source for him can his meds not be altered to suit his consumption rather than distress him by taking it away from him ? I know as a type 1 I would just adjust my insulin to suit my carb intake, does it not work like that for type 2's ? Sorry for my ignorance on the subject. It just seems a shame to deprive him if he wants milk (even watered down milk) so much.

Last time we had contact with a dietician was when he was in hospital, because he'd lost a lot of weight due to poor appetite (we later found out it was a side effect of Metformin which he isn't on any more). The dietician said he needed to be on a high carb diet to put some more weight on, didn't seem to understand diabetes at all and no-one ever told us poor appetite could be due to the metformin. His appetite is now normal.
I think part of the problem is boredom that makes him snack and drink, but its hard to find things for him to do. He won't make an effort to do things he finds taxing to try and improve his mind. I made him some Flash Cards with WW2 airplanes on so he could practice learning them all, but he won't use them. I did snap cards with WW2 planes but he won't play with them because he doesn't do games, he thinks they're childish. There is very little on TV that he likes, he can't follow the plot of crime things, won't watch anything with sex or violence, can't hear anything where there's much background noise or strong accents.


Keeping milk in the freezer is a good idea, but we'll have to see his reaction to having it reduced. I do get what you're saying about it not being a problem long term but we believe the the high sugar level have contributed to him getting infected sores on his legs. That started in the Autumn, its nearly healed now but its been a long struggle to get him this far. Also the high blood sugar can make him more confused.

I'm not sure how it works with using meds to balance the bloods, I know my Mum sets the does according to the blood sugar but I'm not sure if thats sufficient. We're seeing the doctor tomorrow so I'll ask if I get a chance, we don't know what it is he wants to discuss with us yet as he's a lot wrong with him.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Have you tried lactose free milk, there's a lot less carbs in it than ordinary milk? (3 carbs per 100 ml)

 

[Northerner]

Slightly off topic Sheila, but I wondered if you were aware of the book Contented Dementia? I found it very helpful in understanding my mother's dementia and how best to communicate with her, whilst she was still able.