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Unbelievable Conversation

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
newbs

newbs

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
This morning I was chatting to my mum's neighbour whose husband has recently been diagnosed with Type 2. She was saying that he has lost 3 stone in weight (not a big chap anyway) so now very slim and that she was getting concerned. I asked what his BG control is like and she said "fine - he has his diabetes under control and his BG stays between 20 - 28" 😱 I said that his BG shouldn't be anywhere near that level and she said "he's been told to aim for 9 so it's not too far out). I asked if he was seeing anyone about it and she said the DSN they saw said that because he is on steroids his control is pretty good. I think this is terrible, I know how hard it is to get control when on steroids but surely something needs to be done to get him within the normal range before he gets really sick/has permanent damage. I didn't say anything more to her as I don't want to frighten them but at the same time it is very concerning.
 
If he is on steroids permanently then he needs to see a Consultant with levels like that if the surgery are not concerned..

Most people think that because a Nurse at the practice deals with Diabetes she is a DSN. DSNs are usually in a teaching or hospital environment. This may change with the new upheaval of NHS services.
 
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as far as diabetes is concerned I wouldn't trust any of my docotors practice for advice. I hope thepoor man gets some help soon.

This week I heard someone say her doctor had told her if she did all the right things her diabetes would be cured. I said perhaps he meant well controled because diabetes never goes away.
 
I would want to know, if it is thought that he could achieve 9, then why isn;t he being helped more to achieve it? The risks of complications rise exponentially as your HbA1c increases, so if he could reduce to around 9 then he would reduce his risks considerably. I know it is difficult with steroids, but to say that double or treble his target is 'not far out' and 'pretty good' is very wrong :( He does need to see someone with greater knowledge so that a plan can be put in place to help him manage things better.
 
28?!? I'm absolutely speechless. 😱

He must feel absolutely terrible running BGs like that.
 
Could you speak to her and SAY you are very worried about his levels, although you do understand it's very difficult on steroids but they should be giving him more help because whatever he is taking the steroids for sure as hell won't get better with those BGs - and suggest they see the doctor, not the nurse?
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
28?!? I'm absolutely speechless. 😱

He must feel absolutely terrible running BGs like that.
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Exactly what I was going to say! That's awful, but I also believe people should be educating themselves about this stuff, not just relying on a GP for a start!

I hope you can manage to persuade him to seek some more help with it, and soon!
 
Spoke to them again today - the man said that he doesn't really care what happens to him at his time of life (he's only mid-60's 😱). His wife said that he doesn't care or worry about anything and is too stubborn to do anything about it. She did listen though so I'm just hoping that maybe she will get him to see sense. I'm not holding my breath though!
 
newbs said:
Spoke to them again today - the man said that he doesn't really care what happens to him at his time of life (he's only mid-60's 😱). His wife said that he doesn't care or worry about anything and is too stubborn to do anything about it. She did listen though so I'm just hoping that maybe she will get him to see sense. I'm not holding my breath though!
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I hope something can be done - it's good that he has a caring wife. Diagnosis alone can make someone to start thinking like that. It's call denial. I hope the wife can help him asap. Life is still worth striving for, even at mid-60s! Madness! :(
 
Good grief! - mid 60's? - he should be SKI-ing at that age! - not planning on shuffling off this mortal coil.

(ie spending the kids' inheritance)
 
Or, like my grandma who enjoyed walking on Long Mynd, near their home. She'd watched gliders taking off many times, so about 6 months before her 80the birthday, she asked me (her eldest grandchild, and eldest daughter of her only daughter - she obviously thought that her daughter or 3 sons wouldn't help her realise her dream) to arrange a glider flight for her birthday. So, a quick phone call to Long Mynd gliding club and collection of donations from my sister and cousins resulted in a voucher to give her on her birthday. She actually flew in may, as her birthday was December. She had a great day, leaving her husband on the ground, and said her only disappointment was that her instructor wasn't a bit younger - he was in his 50s or 60s. 🙂

So, a long way of saying, Newbs' Mum's neighbour should be enjoying life, not planning his demise.
 
newbs said:
Spoke to them again today - the man said that he doesn't really care what happens to him at his time of life (he's only mid-60's 😱). His wife said that he doesn't care or worry about anything and is too stubborn to do anything about it. She did listen though so I'm just hoping that maybe she will get him to see sense. I'm not holding my breath though!
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This poor man sounds as though he is also suffering from depression given what he is saying.
If he won't do anything then his wife needs to make an appointment and discuss her concerns with his G.P. This is far from normal for somebody of his age as usually this time of life opens up new horizons and life gets easier.
 
trophywench said:
Good grief! - mid 60's? - he should be SKI-ing at that age! - not planning on shuffling off this mortal coil.

(ie spending the kids' inheritance)
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This made me laugh, no one plans it, but sadly it happens. None of my parents and only one grandparent made it past sixty, even that was only sixty three. 😱
Even more sadly, you have no control over your genetic inheritance, you just have to do the best you can with what you have.
I bless every day (I'm 52) my Dad only made it to 48, Mum was only 59 (long lived in my family), basically it's Cancer, Heart trouble or Strokes that get you, and in my case add Diabetes.
 
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