My dad has Type II diabetes and no health insurance, therefore he does not go to a doc. I can preach to him all day long about how bad he needs to get treated, and he is as stubborn as they come. He's 52, overweight (mostly has a "beer belly'), and over the last week, one of his legs has become incredibly swollen. He won't go to a doc. How can I convince him it's serious, or what can he do at home to help himself? I've told him he needs to start monitoring his blood sugar and regulate his diet accordingly, which he's agreed to do, but I'm afraid that's not enough. Help? How can you convince him it's serious? Show him this:
http://diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/...
http://diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/...
http://diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/...
What can he do at home to help himself? Diet, exercise, and monitor his blood sugar levels to make sure they get and stay normal. If he can't or won't do it, he needs to see a doc about meds. If he's not convinced by the above info. (admittedly US info., not Canadian - but impressive stats for stating the case of the lifestyle changes a diabetic has to do to stay alive and have a "normal" life for years to come), there's nothing you can help him with. That's it, it's that simple and that complex.
By the way - I had a friend with Type II Diabetes (uncontrolled) with a red, swollen leg. He had an infection from a cut less than half an inch long on his knee that had seemed to heal normally. It didn't. By the time I nagged and snarled him into seeing a doc, it was almost too late. It took hospitalization for a couple days, IV and pill antibiotics, home health visits, and about three months to heal. If he had waited even one more day before going in and/or it hadn't started to heal within the first two weeks, he would have lost 3/4 of his leg. That may or may not be the issue with your dad. But you could ask him which is more costly - going to see a doc, or paying for all that later; going to see a doc, or losing part of his leg...
Good luck! (: There are things like free clinics and stuff that could treat him. He could go blind, lose his legs, lose his life. There are MANY complications from untreated diabetes. im sorry but im going to be straight up you relly need to take him to the doctor or get him insurance with out him knowing he is at a very high risk you have to do somethind quick blindness, kidney failure, loss of legs, and heart disease, just to name a few. The risks are great. I'm afraid, sweetie, that the damage has been done. Your father can be encouraged to lessen the pains he is experiencing, but neuropathy (death of the nerves) is a given in diabetes, and only a matter of time. If there is any cure, it's prevention.
He needs to control his sugar levels at any cost, get moderate exercise and stay hydrated. He needs to find a doctor, if there is a reduced fare or free clinic. Good luck. Are you diabetic ? Don't Worry... Understand Diabetes and Win Over DiabetesToday, the pressures to succeed and triumph are so high on the agenda, we neglect body, mind and soul connections. In the mad rush of living life, we end up confused, lost and bewildered. Is it possible to navigate life without hurting ourselves the most? Is it possible to keep the human body fit enough to last a lifetime? Can we ever lead a life of balance and fulfillment? Who do we blame? What do we do now? Who can we turn to?
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http://rarediseasesandmedicines.blogspot... I am a type 2 diabetic and have been since 1994.
Firstly he MUST loose weight as that increases the risk. When I was diagnosed I was 96 kilos and I am now 83 which has significantly reduced my risk of a stroke or heart attack.
He must drink plenty of water as his body needs water to cobine with the insulin his body is still producing to break dow the sugars and turn them into glucose. He needs to take very little alcohol and must exercise every day. He must protect his feet and eyes as these are in serious danger. Get him to email me and I will coach him. I live in NZ. What are the risks?
blindness - macular degeneration
kidney failure
heart disease
neuropathy
foot or leg amputation
edema
death
Is that enough? What most people don't know is that type 2 diabetes is reversible through lifestyle changes. I see it all of the time.
The condensed version of what he can do is to eat a vegan diet with no refined sugars or processed foods, and no added fats or oils. Drink only water, all soft drinks are factors in weight gain (this contributes to insulin resistance) and no alcohol, it has too much sugar. Don't forget to tell him to exercise; at least 30 minutes a day. As the weight comes down, the insulin resistance will reduce and the blood glucose levels will also come down.
If you want more details, email me. a very inexpensive cure not treatment but a cure is available at health food stores. an herb called gymnema sylvestre. about $15-20 for a month supply. been around for thousands of years in India, the name translates to sugar killer. will cause the pancreas to adjust and correctly do what it is suppose to do with insulin. will take from 30-90 days and all will be fine. modern medicine only has treatments to bring profits to the drug companies. traditional plant based medicine is the answer for all our ailments. proper nutrition and exercise (walking, nothing to stress-full) can all do wonders. also spirituality can go a long way, prayer and meditation. it is a matter of life and death. god bless. Uncontrolled diabetes is highly detrimental to your body. First if there is not enough insulin to clear the body of the excess blood sugar eventually overtime can lead to both macrovascular disease (involves diseases of large blood vessles) and microvascular disease (involves diseases of the small blood vessles).
Macrovascular diseases include
Dyslipidemia-elevated LDL chloesterol can lead to CVD (affects 11-44%)
Hyperension-elevated blood pressure (affects 20-60%)
Microvascular diseases include
Nephropathy-can lead to ESRD (end stage renal disease) 40% of new cases of ESRD are diabetic can lead to kidney failure
Retinopathy-most frequent cause of new blindness among adults aged 20-74. After 20 years of diabetes 60% of patients have some sort of form of retinopathy
Neuropathy-nerve damage due to chronic high levels of blood glucose affects 60-70% of all diabetic patients (type 1 and 2). Neuropathy includes everything from tingling in the hands and feet to impotance, decreased responsiveness in cardiac nerve impusles. Damages to the nerves in the stomach can affect nutrient loss as stomach emptying can be unpredictable.
Also amputation of the toes, feet and limbs is also common in those with uncontrolled diabetes
So basically he can lose the ability to walk, lose limbs, go blind and have a heart attack. Eat no sugar!
Diabetic" Diet
by
Kendra Blanchette, RD, CDE
Popular misconceptions about nutrition and diabetes include the idea that a "diabetic diet" is a "sugar free diet"; or that refined sugar is "bad" and "natural sweeteners" are "good". Can "non-sugar" foods be eaten in any amounts? Can a person with diabetes "cheat" every once in a while? What IS a "diabetic diet"? Because so many questions and misunderstandings exist, it is important for a person with diabetes to be able to understand the fundamentals of nutrition, one of several essential elements of successful diabetes management.
There is actually no such thing as a single "diabetic diet". The diet that a person with diabetes follows to help manage his or her blood sugar levels is based on the same nutrition principles that any healthy person, with or without diabetes, should follow for good health. When a person with diabetes sees a Registered Dietitian for nutrition counseling, the goal is to create a nutrition plan. This will help the person manage his or her blood sugar levels, reduce the risk of heart disease and other diet-related conditions, maintain a healthy weight, as well as meet the person鈥檚 nutritional, lifestyle, social, and cultural needs.
The energy that we get from foods, measured in calories, comes from three types of nutrients: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Any food that provides calories will raise blood sugar. When foods are digested, they are broken down into the body鈥檚 basic fuel-- glucose, a type of sugar. The glucose is absorbed by the bloodstream, and is then known as blood glucose or blood sugar. In a person without diabetes, insulin is released by the pancreas after a meal or snack to allow the glucose in the blood to get into the body鈥檚 cells, where it is burned for energy. This brings the level of glucose in the blood back down to the normal range. If insulin is not produced or is not working properly, the glucose can not enter the cells to be used, and it builds up in the bloodstream. This results in high blood sugar, and this condition is known as diabetes.
Although all foods that provide calories are converted into glucose by the body, certain nutrients have a more direct effect on the blood鈥檚 glucose level. Fats in foods are eventually digested and converted into glucose, but this can take up to 6 to 8 or more hours after a meal, and the release of glucose into the blood is v e r y s l o w ... Protein in foods (such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, soy and other beans, and milk) takes about 3 to 4 hours after a meal to "show up" as blood glucose.
Carbohydrates, on the other hand, take only about half an hour to an hour after a meal to be turned into blood glucose. The word "carbohydrate" actually means "sugars and starches." Chemically, a starchy food is just a "chain" of glucose molecules. In fact, if a starchy food like a soda cracker is held in the mouth for a few minutes, it will start to taste sweet as the digestive enzymes in the saliva begin to break the starch down into its glucose parts.
Any food that is high in any type of carbohydrate will raise blood glucose levels soon after a meal. Whether a food contains one ounce of sugar (natural or refined) or one ounce of starch, it will raise blood glucose the same amount, because the total amount of CARBOHYDRATE is the same. Although a glass of fruit juice and the same amount of sugary soda may seem like a "good" versus "bad" choice, each will raise blood glucose about the same amount. This information regarding the amount of carbohydrate in different foods is the center of a nutrition management tool for people with diabetes called Carbohydrate Counting. Foods high in carbohydrates include starches such as rice, pasta, breads, cereals, and similar foods; fruits and juices; vegetables; milk and milk products; and anything made with added sugars, such as candies, cookies, cakes, and pies.
The goal of a diabetes nutrition plan is to provide a mixture of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins at each meal at an appropriate calorie level to both provide essential nutrients as well as create an even release of glucose into the blood from meal to meal and from day to day. A Registered Dietitian assesses the nutritional needs of a person with diabetes and calculates the amounts of fat, protein, carbohydrate, and total calories needed per day, and then converts this information into recommendations for amounts and types of foods to include in the daily diet. The total number of meals and snacks and their timing throughout the day can differ for each person, based on his or her nutritional needs, lifestyle, and the action and timing of medications.
Overall, a nutrition plan for a person with diabetes includes 10 to 20 percent of calories from protein, no more than 30 percent of calories from fats (with no more than 10 percent from saturated fats), and the remaining 50 to 60 percent from carbohydrates. Carbohydrate foods that contain dietary fiber are encouraged, as a high fiber diet has been associated with decreased risks of colon and other cancers. For people with high blood cholesterol levels, lower total fat and saturated fat contents may be recommended. Sodium intake of no more than 3000 mg per day is suggested; for people with high blood pressure, sodium should be limited to 2400 mg per day or as advised by a physician.
One "diabetic diet" definitely does not fit all. In fact, ANY food can fit into the diet of someone with diabetes, with the help and guidance of a Registered Dietitian. Managing blood glucose levels does not have to mean giving up favorite foods, sweets, or restaurants and fast foods. Each person with diabetes has very different nutritional and personal needs, making ongoing assessment and counseling with a Registered Dietitian an essential element of successful diabetes management. YOU need to get your dad to a doc, what is more important, paying for a doc or dying yes it can kill, I have type ll diabeties, diabeties can affect many things especially your kidneys, and his kidneys could be one of the reasons his leg is swelling, this is really serious drag him to the doc if you have to. Here is a list of things he is risking. I'm sure there are a few that I forgot
Heart attack
Stroke
Kidney failure
Amputation of hands and/or feet (maybe even arms and/or legs)
Blindness
I found out the hard way this is something to take seriously. About 1 year ago I was diagnosed with type 2 on my 43rd birthday. Just before Christmas last year I had a heart attack. I am fine now because I do what the doctors tell me. One thing my primary care doctor told me was that I may not have survived the heart attack if my blood sugar was still out of control. If my experience doesn't convince your father to take care of himself, nothing will. http://www.americanvistas.com/ |
