topic Re: Diabetic help needed in Wellness

Diabetic help needed

halfpint1 — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 06:15:53 GMT

Hus band just doesn't want to listen and indulges in soda pop every day. His sugar is high and he is being treated for an infection. I need help in what he can and will eat. Any suggestions will be appreciated so he doesn't land back in the hospital. He also smokes and takes blood pressure medicine.

Re: Diabetic help needed

sidsmom — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 06:19:42 GMT

If he doesn't want to listen, there's not one thing you can do. HE has to want to change.

Re: Diabetic help needed

betteb — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 06:20:39 GMT

Will he make the switch to diet soda? Can you fake him out? Reg soda is a concentrated sweet and a no no for diabetics.

He needs lean protein, vegetables and limited carbs, like bread, potatoes, etc

Re: Diabetic help needed

betteb — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 06:21:21 GMT

Can I ask how old is he?

Re: Diabetic help needed

adelle38 — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 06:58:51 GMT

Has he seen a diabetic counselor? Perhaps they might help persuade him to eat properly. In my area hospitals have classes that individuals and couples can take to give very good advice. If he's diabetic, his doctor should have recommended a counselor. As to diet, I think you probable know the basics, lots of vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Exercise is also important for diabetics. You can't do it for him.

Re: Diabetic help needed

halfpint1 — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 06:59:58 GMT

He is 77. And yes I know about not listening nothing will help. Fake him--NO.

Re: Diabetic help needed

10sluvr — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 13:33:11 GMT

my husband(late 50's) was stubborn too, but once he saw his friend giving himself injections, he has been better. he has had issues with his feet and doesn't want it to get worse, so that's another reason, he's trying harder. i have cut out buying bake goods and try to limit breads, pastas and have added more veggies. lo-sugar o.j. and a few other things. i have only bought diet pop, for yrs, so that's what he gets. try coke zero, that tastes like reg. coke-at least to me.

if he's been diabetic for along time, he knows what he's doing and is just going to enjoy life, while he can.

Re: Diabetic help needed

violann — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 14:05:54 GMT

halfpint, do you have grandchildren? If so, THEY are why your DS needs to take good care of himself. Men need to think about the people who love them when they're acting like 2 year olds.

Re: Diabetic help needed

little miss sunshine — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 15:33:20 GMT

Sit down with him and, papers and documents in hand, go over with him your finances if he dies first. Hopefully, a "real life" scenio will shake him into reality. If not, at least you will known your financial position.

Re: Diabetic help needed

betteb — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:04:21 GMT

On 1/8/2014 halfpint said:
He is 77. And yes I know about not listening nothing will help. Fake him--NO.

I'm sorry halfpint. Men can be so stubborn. The older they get, the worse it is, in most cases.

Re: Diabetic help needed

BLH — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:26:44 GMT

dlife.com might help you. Every doctor is different. Most want them to have three meals and two snacks everyday. The doctor should have given him a diet and how many calories he can have. Call your local hospital and talk to the dietician. They will help you. Or you could take him to the orthopedic floor of the hospital and see all the noncompliant diabetics that had their legs amputated. There are millions of people who have diabetes and if they do as they're told, they can have a long, happy, healthy life.

Re: Diabetic help needed

151949 — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:27:10 GMT

OP - this is not for YOU to learn (though that wouldn't hurt) or for YOU to follow - this is for your husband to learn and try to follow. Apparently he doesn't care. You are his wife , not his mother, and you can't force feed this to him. between high blood sugar and the antibiotics he has to take for the infection his kidney(he only has one , right) will fail and he will end up on dialysis. has the doctor explained to him what will happen if he continues to ignore that he has this disease ?

Re: Diabetic help needed

RedTop — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:17:24 GMT

halfpint,

We are in the same boat with diabetic husbands who don't follow all the rules to take care of themselves; my husband is only 62. The reality is your husband has to live his own life; you cannot do it for him. Regardless of his poor choices with whatever he chooses to eat, drink, or smoke, those are his choices to make. I am sure your husband's smoking has been addressed, and he is aware of his increased stroke risk with every cigarette he smokes. While the soda is a poor choice, the effect on his blood sugar will be the same as eating other carbs such as white bread, starchy vegetables, or a candy bar. My husband likes to drink soda with certain foods, and he will not drink anything diet, but he has cut back to no more than 2 regular sodas a week. To satisfy his sweet craving, he also drinks tea sweetened with Splenda, and presweetened Kool-Aid. Our local Dollar General stores carry the orange and grape Crush singles packets that you add to bottled water, which taste exactly like the bottles of soda. My husband LOVES orange and grape pop, and he will drink this sugar free additive in water, without hesitation.

I totally agree that it is hard to watch someone you love not doing everything they can to hang onto their health. It is disheartening to hear bad test results and see changes in their general health because of progression of the disease. However, each of us have to live our own lives. In my own situation, I have accepted my husband's choices. I know my husband has been informed MANY times of what he should do. We have gone to diabetic classes several times, and also participated in a county/state funded food class for diabetics. I handle my part to cook healthy, and have smarter choices for snack options in the house. I do what is within my power to do to help him; the rest is totally up to him. I sincerely doubt you will be successful in making your husband change at this stage of his life, but I hope you will be able to find peace in the situation. Best wishes to you halfpint!

Re: Diabetic help needed

jackthebear — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:37:49 GMT

On 1/9/2014 BLH said:
dlife.com might help you. Every doctor is different. Most want them to have three meals and two snacks everyday. The doctor should have given him a diet and how many calories he can have. Call your local hospital and talk to the dietician. They will help you. Or you could take him to the orthopedic floor of the hospital and see all the non compliant diabetics that had their legs amputated. There are millions of people who have diabetes and if they do as they're told, they can have a long, happy, healthy life.

You could ask him who is the one who is going to wheel him around when he can't drive to dialysis because of his legs and sight. Men are very stubborn aren't they

Re: Diabetic help needed

jackthebear — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 17:38:18 GMT

On 1/9/2014 RedTop said:
halfpint,

We are in the same boat with diabetic husbands who don't follow all the rules to take care of themselves; my husband is only 62. The reality is your husband has to live his own life; you cannot do it for him. Regardless of his poor choices with whatever he chooses to eat, drink, or smoke, those are his choices to make. I am sure your husband's smoking has been addressed, and he is aware of his increased stroke risk with every cigarette he smokes. While the soda is a poor choice, the effect on his blood sugar will be the same as eating other carbs such as white bread, starchy vegetables, or a candy bar. My husband likes to drink soda with certain foods, and he will not drink anything diet, but he has cut back to no more than 2 regular sodas a week. To satisfy his sweet craving, he also drinks tea sweetened with Splenda, and presweetened Kool-Aid. Our local Dollar General stores carry the orange and grape Crush singles packets that you add to bottled water, which taste exactly like the bottles of soda. My husband LOVES orange and grape pop, and he will drink this sugar free additive in water, without hesitation.

I totally agree that it is hard to watch someone you love not doing everything they can to hang onto their health. It is disheartening to hear bad test results and see changes in their general health because of progression of the disease. However, each of us have to live our own lives. In my own situation, I have accepted my husband's choices. I know my husband has been informed MANY times of what he should do. We have gone to diabetic classes several times, and also participated in a county/state funded food class for diabetics. I handle my part to cook healthy, and have smarter choices for snack options in the house. I do what is within my power to do to help him; the rest is totally up to him. I sincerely doubt you will be successful in making your husband change at this stage of his life, but I hope you will be able to find peace in the situation. Best wishes to you halfpint!

Best to you

Re: Diabetic help needed

lolakimono — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 02:30:57 GMT

Once in Viewpoints, someone recommended increasing the life insurance policy on him and "suggesting" that he pony up for the difference in the premium. That might be enough to get him to make small changes, but if he doesn't, at least you will have some peace of mind.

Re: Diabetic help needed

qualitygal — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 13:54:36 GMT

I watched my mom go through this with my dad. You know, of course, you can't make him do anything he doesn't want to. My take, don't knock yourself out, it's a losing battle. Do what you can and leave the rest of his ways up to his decision. He's responsible. Do what you need to do....who knows what's to come, but take care of yourself too. Sorry, but that's how I see it.

Re: Diabetic help needed

halfpint1 — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 19:10:01 GMT

only thing I am after him now is to take his infection medicine 4 times a day. I have to look at it and change the pad so I am waiting for him to take a shower. He slept on a chair in the den all day yesterday. Didn't eat much. Thank goodness for my only child who lives near and can drive us for he works nights. Thanks for all who answered and said it is up to him to get better.

Re: Diabetic help needed

Perkup — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 20:00:34 GMT

I'm a Type II diabetic, and about the same age as your husband. It's hard to be diabetic. I have had this problem for about 15 years, and probably long before if anyone had checked. I really understand how your husband must feel. Hard enough to change my lifestyle in my 60's, but late 70's and you start thinking what difference does it make anyway - I've only got a few years left regardless.

I can honestly feel the difference when I take in too much sugar. Perhaps your husband may as well. I can tell the difference in my kidney function when I have too much sugar. The more sugar, the more potty trips. But the newest sweeteners do make a difference. You can cook with them. You can sub the regular sugar in your house for Splenda or some of the others that are granular, and he probably will not notice the difference. I don't. Or try mixing it half and half with regular sugar. It's a way to slip into the change. Just get rid of all the real sugar and replace it when he's not around.

Carbonated drinks aren't really good for anyone, but once you get accustomed to the taste of the diet sodas, you can't go back. I try to drink a regular Coke today and it coils my tongue! Juice is a no no for me - spikes my blood sugar, as do many fresh fruits. But I can't live without fruit in my diet sometimes, so I do it sparingly. DH has an orange, I ask for a couple of sections. I get the taste without the consequences.

Get a couple of really good Diabetic cookbooks and start using them. We all take in too much sugar, too many carbs, etc. Diabetic eating would be good for you as well as for him. Might help you lose a few pounds if you need to. Honestly, when the cooking is done properly you'll enjoy the dishes as much as before.Don't make an issue of it, and you'll be doing both of you a favor. My husband really loves some of the food I make, and I try to stay diabetic friendly with it.

Remind him kindly that diabetes can rob you of your lifestyle. It can take your vision, it can confine you to a wheelchair when you lose a foot or a lower leg. It's a game you can't win if you don't play by the rules. Both of you should attend a meeting with a good diabetic counselor who can help you with explanations, diet, etc. Good luck - I know you'll do your best.

Re: Diabetic help needed

finewoman — Tue, 14 Jan 2014 02:48:44 GMT

First he has to quit smoking. I found last July I'm type2 diabetes. I knew my numbers were out of wack. Please buy a soda stream. Less carbs, sugars, calories, etc. If he doesn't' change he's putting a nail in his own coffin. I decided I wanted to live! I changed my way of eating and have lost over thirty pounds.