My cousin's husband died

[barbieguy]

Hi all.
Not sure if this is the right forum to post this.
My cousin's husband, age 46, same as me, died yesterday. He had been T1 since he was young. He had several complications from uncontrolled diabetes. I do not know all the details as I don't live near them anymore and don't keep in touch as I should. :(
All I know is that he DID NOT take care of himself. When we were around each other for family functions, he would eat whatever he wanted and then try to cover it with insulin. He was not successful in this way of dealing with his diabetes.
He had a heart attack yesterday morning. While at the hospital, he had another one. He was supposed to be life-flighted to a bigger hospital, but it was too foggy. Finally, he had a third heart attack and that is when he died. He leaves behind a wife, also 46, and 4 children. Sadly, one of his daughters is also T1. I say, sadly, because I'm sure she picked up his habit of not taking care of himself. I sure hope she has some "education" and learns what to do for herself.
I guess I have learned something from all this and it is to take the best care of yourself you can. Test, test, test, and eat properly and exercise.
Thanks for letting me express my sorrow.
Barb

[fgummett]

Hey Barb, so sorry to hear this sad news, and condolences to your family.

I hope we can all learn from the experiences of others. I'm 50 this year so I can do with a reminder of my own mortality. Death is a part of life alright but I intend to live mine a long time yet...

[xMenace]

I'm sorry Barb.

It' tough watching these things happen. I've had a few T1 friends go this way. Not only are we at risk of heart disease, but we are also very difficult to treat when we get it due to our smaller and damaged blood vessels. It's so easy to think you are fine because we can go decades with no symptoms at all.

I'm sure this event will make the little one think about her situation. Let her know about DF.

[Penny]

I know what it is to watch someone ignore their health issues and to be powerless to change anything. I am sorry that you are going through all this.

[morrisma]

We've all seen someone hurt themselves and those around them by not dealing with their reality. Sorry for your & their loss.
Mike

[Schlep]

Sorry to hear about this, my uncle is the same he is type 2 but cookies and candy are more important than looking after himself.

Just the other day they thought they were going to have to rush him to the hospital with a heart attack but the pains went away (this time)

I also have a friend who just got out of the hospital and his answer to everything is my numbers aren't bad so I will have ANOTHER piece of pie and just take some more insulin.

Isn't denial great.

[adiantum]

My condolences to you & your family Barb. 46 is much too young to leave everyone.
Strokes & heart attacks scare me & so motivate me into exercising & food control.

[Dewey]

We've all seen someone hurt themselves and those around them by not dealing with their reality. Sorry for your & their loss.
Mike
Mike, this is so true. :( Barb, I'm deeply sorry & saddened for the loss of your cousin's husband. Please accept my deepest condolences at this difficult time. :(

[barbieguy]

Thank you all for the kind words.
I think his children are 17, 15---she's the T1, 11, and 9.
Way too young to lose their father.
Like I said earlier, I wasn't as close to them as I was when I lived in the same town. I usually get my information from one of our aunts. But this is a cousin I grew up with. I was born on June 19 and she was born on August 30 of 1961. Our mothers were sisters. Anyway, since she is my age, I think of how it would be to lose my husband at my age and to raise my children alone.
I think death is hardest on those left behind. We feel the pain.
Reminds me of Jack's family and Heather's family.
Thanks again for listening.
Barb

[jacobsam622]

My best regards to the family. We all have to make our own choices in life sadly its the ones left behind that suffer.

[mzteacher]

hi...
i am so sorry for the loss your family is feeling...such sorrow for such a young man with soo many young children.... wishing you all some peace and comfort...
susan

[slipperyelm]

Very sad news. In this day and age, that is just so young to die and leave family. I can only imagine the heaviness of the grief of his kids and wife. Someone here recently posted a picture of their own two kids saying they were the best reason to try and keep their diabetes under control. As a parent, that really felt true in my heart, but I was too choked up over the thought to respond to him in that thread. And so knowing that these four kids have lost their Dad grieves me, too.

[volleyball]

It is sad that someone chose not to take care o themselves and paid the price. It is sad to their children no matter how old they are. I lost a relative who chose not to take their health recently.

[Kim_in_TN]

I am so very sorry to hear this sad news, Barbie! :( It's too bad that we sometimes have to hear of these losses in order to give us our own wake-up call! May he rest in peace and may God comfort his family!

[Scrabblechick]

Many prayers for you and your family in this time. My Dad died too soon at age 61, after 29 years of not controlling his T2. My heart is very much with this family.

[BriOnH]

I am sorry for your loss :( . I believe we get wonderful, glorious reunions when we get to our next life. While we remain on earth until that reunion the loss can be just so awful, and while I don't know you well I am truly sorry for your loss. God Bless.

[lgvincent]

How horrible! I'm so sad to hear this. I feel badly for him but especially so for those he left behind. I hope you all find comfort during this difficult time.