My Friend Died Yesterday

[JETPILOT]

A friend of mine died yesterday after a terrible struggle with diabetes. He was T1 for approx 25 years. He was 64 when he died. He never took care of himself. 6 months ago he went into the hospital with a bad case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis. They found a blood infection that had affected his heart. The infection was fueled by the high BG levels. He was in the hospital for a month being treated for the DKA, and the infection. It almost killed him.

It's been 5 months since he was discharged and he kept taking terrible care of himslef. He never tested his BG levels. He just injected insulin and chanced it. He had many lows, and many highs. His lowest was a BG level of 16. Yeah 16!

He died in his sleep the other night and was found by his wife in the morning. It didn't have to be this way. Why don't some diabetics take care of themselves???????????????

He struggled for the last 25 years with all the complications. Retinopathy, neauropathy, high and low BS's, and heart complications. They told him in the hospital that if he didn't get things right and take care of himslef immediately he would die. And he did.

JET

[kel4han]

I am sorry JET.....I think some Diabetics (my dad) dont care for themselves, #1 becuase they didnt care for themselves prior to diagnosis, and a diagnosis such as this just feeds their lack of care for themselves.

#2 they dont educate themselves, so they end up overwhelmed, like it is too hard to get things right when it doesnt have to be.

I know you didnt literally ask why they dont care for themselves....but I always wonder the same thing.

[nneighbour]

Jet,
I'm so sorry for your loss. And for your warning to us all. I guess some of us just can't diabetes seriously enough.

[KickStart101]

I'm sorry to hear that Jet. That's always rough.
I hope that he left you wth some Good memories.
It's Great when People understand Diabetes and
take control.


Many here have lost Family and Friends to it.
I lost 2 Brothers(Type 1), a Friend(Type 1),
2 Aunt's and 3 Uncles(Type 2),

[am1977]

That's absolutely awful :(... It's a shame that not dealing and controlling his disease cost your friend his life- when it really did not have to be like that. It does remind us all how important it is to keep healthy and take care of oneself.

I am so sorry for your and his family's loss...

[mg_2204]

I am very sorry for you loss. You have my deepest sympathies.

There are people who don't take care of themselves. Sometimes the will is not there, sometimes it's lack of knowledge of the disease, and sometimes the people just live in denial. A bit of everything too! May your friend rest in peace now and be well for eternity.

[Penny]

I am sorry too Jet. I wish he had joined this forum so he could have had some help before it was too late.

[GhostRydr]

I'm sorry for your loss.

I think some folks do not care for themselves because they are in denial.

Again, I'm sorry for your loss.

[blacklightmike]

Very sorry for your loss, Jet.

[Dewey]

Jet, sorry about your loss. It is a shame & is very upsetting.

I think others here covered the reasons pretty well. I think one of the biggest ones is denial, but other factors can play a role in the reasons one doesn't care for him or herself.

Whatever the case, it is a shame & in my opinion, was totally avoidable. :( Again, I'm deeply sorry for your loss & you are in my thoughts & prayers.

[bryan42]

:( :( Sorry for your loss Jet, I know 2 people who have diabetes,and have decided to ignore it? I just dont understand?

[TeeJaxx]

Hi Jet,
I'm sorry for the loss of you're friend.

My mother in law is the same way. She has already had one heart attack (due to not managing her diabetes) and she smokes like a chimney. I tried asking her to look after herself, if for my son's sake....he's 9...and her only grandchild.

I said "Don't you want to be around to see him graduate and maybe get married one day?" Her answer to me was "Oh, I'll be long gone by the time he graduates." Just like that. She has resigned herself to it. I don't think it's that she doesn't care, it's just her mind set that this disease WILL kill her, and she has accepted that. (as she eats her daily portions of chocholates and candies)

I don't get that mentality either.:dontknow:

[LancetChick]

It's incomprehensible to me also that people refuse to manage their diabetes properly. I think type 2 is more difficult to deal with than type 1 (at least I think it would be for me), but for type 1's good control requires more education than discipline, and it's so much easier to be in control than not. Situations like this are so preventable that I sometimes wonder if it's fear that makes people stick their heads in the sand rather than complacency. I just don't get it at all. Anyway, I'm very sorry for your loss and your grief, and I'm very happy that you've chosen a different path.

[Cyborg]

It is too bad that everyone is not capable of controlling their diabetes. I'm sorry for your loss...

[BriOnH]

It is too bad that everyone is not capable of controlling their diabetes. I'm sorry for your loss...

Ditto on both parts.

On the first part, I think some people just neglect it. Almost like they are in denial I would guess.

I too am sorry for your loss jp

[shockme]

oh jet-i am so sorry for your loss.it's a shame...trish

[cherokee_psh]

I'm sorry for your loss.