[Manny Q]

I need help! Well, really my buddy does.

I have a buddy who is 70 years old, 80 lbs over weight and recently diagnosed with Type 2. Rather than go to a “normal” doctor he went to one of these trial studies where they pay him $30.00 a week and he takes their trial drug (Maybe) and reports his sugar level weekly.

He’s been in it for 60 days (He has never been to any other doctor for Diabetes) and today they kicked him out because of this glutton level was too high for the study.

So he just called me and said “great news” I don’t need to take a pill, go to a doctor or anything, they kicked me out, I’m fine”

I tried to explain to him they just because he didn’t qualify for “their” study doesn’t mean he doesn’t need a doctor.

He’s sure he doesn’t need a doctor, even though he DOES have diabetes.
I have been with him when he checks his levels and they’re normally around 130-190 in the morning and around 200-250 in the evening and once in awhile over 300

My question is, are there some folks who have diabetes who don’t need pills, that correct diet alone will manage the problem and what if they don’t follow any diet (He ate Krispy Cream Donuts today)

How often should someone with diabetes go to the doctor?

If their problem is an issue with high level, rather than a low level are there any risks in that and what are they?

Do you have additional advice for my buddy? I’m going to print out the replies and hand them to him.

Thanks,

Paul email paul@e-liquidators.com

[Cyborg]

Your friend seems to be in denial. Perhaps it's age, perhaps something else...

Regarding your questions:

Some type 2 diabetics can handle their diabetes with exercise alone. Your friend's bg values indicate his diabetes is not under control.

It is recommended to see an endocrinologist approximately every 3 months.

Long term high bg will kill you slowly. You can lose limbs, go blind, have kidney failure, etc. In the short-term, low bg can put you into a diabetic coma and kill you fast.

Good luck with your friend and welcome aboard.

[Manny Q]

He’s under the impression the “high” bg level isn’t an issue like low is. He feels as if the highlever is the better of the 2 (I guess some folks have low problems and some have high problems, he seems to have high problems since he's level has never been below 113)

If he doesn’t go to the doctor and doesn’t check his level, (Just lives life as if he doesn’t have it) what should I look for as danger signs? I guess I am asking, how to I know when to take him to the ER because his life is in danger?

Thank you very much!

[4519]

He needs to be educated about the differences of type 1 and type 2. He is completely wrong about the harm of high vs low. He is not low, not in the least - highs are what cause blindness, heart attacks, ect, ect.

If he is so resistant to listening to you then he probably won't listen to anyone about this. Some people will never be able to help themselves or accept others help. I am not talking about your friend here. I don't know him.

As far as danger signs - when he starts going blind - when he is hospilized with heart problems. Actually there are not signs like you as asking for. He will get more and more damage without any real signs and when they show up it will be too late.

This may be cold and with no feeling, but, if he insists on saying that he is ok no matter what anyone says then you should just let him kill himself in piece. Is it really worth it to attempt to take care of someone that refuses to take care of themselves. Anymore I don't think so. There are so many people who care about themselves to be overly concerned about someone that wants to be in denial and won't even listen at all.

[seacomp]

Originally Posted by Manny Q

He’s under the impression the “high” bg level isn’t an issue like low is. He feels as if the highlever is the better of the 2 (I guess some folks have low problems and some have high problems,

Diabetes is high blood glucose. There is a much rarer disease involving too low blood glucose called hypoglycemia, and diabetics, especially those taking insulin, can go low, or hypo, in the course of treatment.
With the levels he shows, he likely is passing sugar in his urine, at least at times, and suffering from thirst; these are the characteristic of the "pissing disease" (an old name for diabetes).
Many doctor are not aggressive in treating patients his age; the assumption being they will die of other causes before the long-term complications of diabetes sets in. However, cardiovascular problems, heart problems are one of the major complications of diabetes, although often they are not mentioned as such since cardiovascular problems are not exclusive to diabetes.

[Manny Q]

Thanks for the reply.

He takes a leak like to can’t imagine. Recently we took a trip from Alabama to California and sometimes he had to urinate every 30 minutes, other times he can go a few hours.

I am going to print your reply, hand it to him and I have basically done what I can do.

Last question:

What are normal bg levels for someone with diabetes and what are considered “in control” and what numbers are too high?
Thanks again

[JasonJayhawk]

Normal glucose levels are between 70 mg/dl through about 130 mg/dl, with a constant average of around 85 mg/dl.

Ask your friend if his feet have ever fallen asleep and what it was like to walk on them; if it was an enjoyable experience, then he can live with that sensation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with diabetic neuropathy, and won't need to see a doctor.

Ask your friend if he can go a day with eye patches covering his eyes to simulate blindness; if it was an enjoyable experience, then he can live without eyesight and won't need to see a doctor.

Ask your friend if he can go without moving his arms due to "frozen shoulder" syndrome; if that sounds enjoyable, then he should seek someone to help him with his day-to-day activities once that happens, if he does not see a doctor.

Ask your friend if he can spare 4 hours out of his day, twice or three times a week, to get dialysis performed to clear the toxins that his kidneys no longer are able to filter out; if it sounds like an ejoyable experience, then be prepared to clear his schedule.

Ask your friend if he is prepared to disappear from the earth suddenly from a heart attack due to hardening of the arteries due to high glucose levels; if it sounds enjoyable, then he should seek counseling, and then and endocrinologist.

I know people who allowed the above to happen and they were quite happy in life until they were at intensive care, and had wished they could take back the last 5 years of their bad decisions. And actually, I even knew a person who was quite happy with their poor life style with diabetes, and died happily with many of the above symptoms. I'm sure she wasn't unique, but she was 75 years old, too.

He should see a doctor -- specifically, one that is a specialist in endocrinology, if he wants to live without those problems.

[Manny Q]

Thanks, I have printed all the replies and will be giving them to him tonight.

[Tim_Roy]

Originally Posted by Cyborg

Long term high bg will kill you slowly. You can lose limbs, go blind, have kidney failure, etc. In the short-term, low bg can put you into a diabetic coma and kill you fast.

Diabetic coma is from high blood sugars, not low. If were about low blood sugars, it wouldn't be called "diabetic" coma, now would it?

[duck]

Originally Posted by Tim_Roy

Diabetic coma is from high blood sugars, not low. If were about low blood sugars, it wouldn't be called "diabetic" coma, now would it?

I've heard it called "diabetic coma" for both, I guess because both can lead to a deep, unresponsive state even after sugars are remedied. So, is "coma" in reference to high blood sugar and "shock" in regards to low?