Type 2 + Funny Turn

[missclb]

I have a couple of Qs regarding type 2, if anyone can help?

My mother-in-law has type 2, controlled by diet. But a typical days’ food is a white bread sandwich for lunch, pasta for dinner and always followed by a rich pudding of some sort and cream. Plus biscuits with her cups of tea throughout the day. I don’t understand how she can possibly keep her levels under control with this type of intake. Does this sound normal? She claims her doctors are quite happy with things, but she doesn’t know her HBA1c, and she was due for her clinic a couple of weeks ago, but it’s been postponed.

Unfortunately, she has other health conditions, a form of MS, a previous brain tumor that was removed but has left some cognitive issues – she often has trouble remembering words. She’s not very mobile, balance is tricky the brain tumor was misdiagnosed as vertigo for around 10 years, so she stopped moving around and lost mobility during that time. She’s never really regained it.

She had a funny turn yesterday, which we had to go round and help with. Initially we thought it a potential mild stroke as she woke up feeling very confused and couldn’t remember what she had done during the day and her arm hurt (although she fell a couple of days ago, hurting her elbow). She was very upset and confused, and sounded very different to any other time she’s felt she can’t cope.

When we got there, my sister-in-law had organised her dinner, and although she was still upset and anxious about what had possibly happened she gradually became a bit more relaxed and back to normal. I can’t help but think it could have been a hypo. BUT, i didn’t realise she was only diet-controlled, so now that I know this plus what she eats every day, I can’t imagine she actually suffers from low BGs. But to be honest, as a type 1, I don't understand type 2 enough.

Just as a bit of background, she had another fall the day before, which unfortunately was caused by my father-in-law pushing her by mistake – his stroke has left quite a change in behavior and he doesn’t understand being indoors, he barged past her to get outside which knocked her down. We think she might have been very anxious about that, as its the first time that his behavior has caused a physical problem. He hasn’t regained his speech properly, so can’t communicate what happened, but actually, he can’t remember anyway. His empathy and memory are both now troublesome. He was previously her carer, and now she's having to try to be his, plus get her head around him not being who he used to be. She's definitely depressed, but refuses to seek help.

Moving forward, I’m going to get her a meter and test strips, so we can check periodically, and hopefully we’ll get to know the HBA1c result, but does anyone think this could have been a hypo? Do diet-controlled type 2s who eat a lot of carbs ever get hypos? Or does anyone have any other thoughts/suggestions? My sister-in-law also thought maybe it could be a UTI, but she says everything feels normal, although they're going to try and get a sample over to the doctors surgery to test anyway.

Apologies for the long post. It's all a bit worrying under current conditions...

 

[mikeydt1]

it would be best to seek advice from doctors as it could be anything up to something serious going on.

 

[grovesy]

The elderly can get confusion with UTI.
I had hypo when diet controlled that was following a vigorous exercise routine.
It does sound like a carb heavy diet.

 

[Inka]

I’d definitely be speaking to a doctor for advice. It could be anything, but with her previous health problems I’d imagine they’d want to rule a few things out.

I’d think a hypo was low down on the list of possible causes.

I hope she’s ok. It sounds like she has a lot on her plate. XX

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Unfortunately, she has other health conditions, a form of MS, a previous brain tumor that was removed but has left some cognitive issues – she often has trouble remembering words. She’s not very mobile, balance is tricky the brain tumor was misdiagnosed as vertigo for around 10 years, so she stopped moving around and lost mobility during that time. She’s never really regained it.

The symptoms you describe are all symptoms that people can have with MS, so I wonder if her MS has progressed a bit more or she is having a relapse?
Has anyone spoken to her Doctor? It does sound as if she needs to be seen and also a care plan put into place for both in-laws.

 

[missclb]

Thanks guys – good tips.

My sister-in-law usually deals with her doctors, she was going to try to organise a sample to rule out UTI, i'm sure they'll ask why she's requesting it.

There's a care package in place already, I think they come in twice a day. Plus she has one of those alarms that she wears if she falls and can't get to a phone. Prior to lockdown, they get a visit every day from either us or my sister in law - we take it in turns.

We're all aware that it's a matter of time before this is not enough. We're just keeping our fingers crossed that we make it though lockdown without a negative impact.

 

[Drummer]

You might have a word with the carers - my mother in law was diabetic and different carers were going in and feeding her toast and jam until we realised what was going on.
You don't mention breakfast, but there is so much carbohydrate in that food, I'd be amazed if there was any sort of normality in her levels. Perhaps you could make a few alterations in order to adjust their diet?