insulin and vision question

[My Peach Emily]

I'm not sure where to post this so I will post it here I guess since this seems to be the busiest place and I need to learn lots. I am writing for my grandmother b/c she has type 2 diabetes for little over 20 yrs and is not well. She is very shy so she is not the type of person to go out and ask questions. Also I should add that I live in a different province than her so she doesn't have access to a computer to talk or research for herself.
First of all she has a phobia to needles. The doctors wants her to take insulin but she just can't get the nerve up to give the needle herself. I had to prick my own finger to show her that it was nothing to checking her blood levels. I understand her feelings though. They don't have much money so they don't have a car to drive to the hospital and get a nurse to give them to her either. So my first question is this, is there something else out there that she doesn't have to give herself a needle? Do you have personal experience with it? Were you ever scared to give yourself a needle?
Second thing is this, for years she has been getting laser surgery on her eyes. She has glaucoma and retinopathy. 2 yrs ago she started to see black lines and shapes in her eyes and the eye doctor said her that her eyes was hemorrhaging. They haven't done anything for her eyes since and she is getting worse. She has to walk to the grocery store all year long (snow, rain) it doesn't matter. She recently told somebody else to pay her bills b/c she can't walk that far since she has such a hard time seeing where she is going. Has anybody else had problems with bleeding vessels in the eye? Are there any surgeries to help her?
Another question I had was is there any association that can help them financially? Keep in mind we are Canadian.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. I’ve been trying to learn more about diabetes for years now and I figure the best place to learn about diabetes is to talk to people with life experiences with diabetes.

[Shalyndria]

First question I have to ask is what province your grandmother is in. I used to work in a Geriatric Centre for a large non-profit organization and there are loads of resources out there for seniors to access. I'm familiar with those in Alberta but could probably tap some of my own contacts for information about other provincial associations.

Secondly, does she have a GOOD Geriatrician? This is an invaluable resource for any senior, as a good health care team can connect her with various organizations that are willing to help. A Geriatrician will also be able to address any peripheral conditions (such as eyesight) and take the appropriate steps to treat and/or manage such problems.

One word: Home Care. A licensed nurse will come in to your grandmother's home as required to give injections. There are also driving services for seniors, and many grocery stores will deliver groceries (If I recall correctly, Safeway is one) as required. Most seniors do have financial limitations and the province WILL pay for them. The CDA (Canadian Diabetes Association) also has some financial support programs for Diabetics, such as Monitoring for Health.

There are devices that inject Sub-q without a needle; the Medi-Jector is one that I can recall at the moment. They are expensive, however, which may be a drawback. I'm sure someone here can provide other options.

Good luck, and please feel free to PM me if I can be of any assistance. Sorry for the lengthy response and the many questions :)
Shy

[KLD]

Another Canadian here, from British Columbia. My husband was legally blind for the last few years of his life as a result of diabetic retinopathy. The organization that we found most helpful was the CNIB. Why don't you give them a call and arrange for them to see your grandmother? They do require a referral letter from her doctor.

Their help was very practical. They came once a week and taught him how to cope around the house; they took him on outings and taught him how to use a white cane (which they provided free of charge); they put raised stickers on various appliances around the house so he would know where the on/off buttons were - that kind of thing. And it was all free - I was very impressed.

He did have an operation called a vitrectomy (I think) that was supposed to remove scar tissue on the retina and improve his vision but, unfortunately, he was among the 1% of patients who have this surgery where it failed. But that means that, according to his opthamologist, it works 99% of the time, so she might want to ask if that would help.

Best of luck - she's very fortunate to have you being so concerned about her. What a shame she lives so far away from you.

Karen

[Belinda]

Originally posted by My Peach Emily


Second thing is this, for years she has been getting laser surgery on her eyes. She has glaucoma and retinopathy. 2 yrs ago she started to see black lines and shapes in her eyes and the eye doctor said her that her eyes was hemorrhaging. They haven't done anything for her eyes since and she is getting worse. She has to walk to the grocery store all year long (snow, rain) it doesn't matter. She recently told somebody else to pay her bills b/c she can't walk that far since she has such a hard time seeing where she is going. Has anybody else had problems with bleeding vessels in the eye? Are there any surgeries to help her?
Another question I had was is there any association that can help them financially? Keep in mind we are Canadian.
Any info would be greatly appreciated. I’ve been trying to learn more about diabetes for years now and I figure the best place to learn about diabetes is to talk to people with life experiences with diabetes.



I have had retina surgery and more than I want to recall. I had hemorrhaging too and they fixed that with either laser surgery or drained the blood from the back of the eye. My doctor was very agressive with the treatment and I am forever thankful to him. I have 20/25 and 20/30 vision now...okay until 1 today when I make my yearly visit to the retinologist....there are things to do but being in Canada I am not sure of what is involved with insurance, referrals and types of doctors....SHY would be the one to know the correct terminology and resources. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions that are specific...good luck and your grandmother is very fortunate to have you.

[My Peach Emily]

Thank you guys. I've learned a lot just from these 3 replies. It's amazing how much information I have to absorb about diabetes.
My grandmother is in Newfoundland and she is only 60yrs old. I don't think she is considered senior is she?
Is Sub-q and Medi-Jector the pump. If so, it is expensive and I have been trying to get her to get it but she talks about the hospital stay and surgery to put it in.
What is a Geriatrician? The only doctor my grandmother sees is a medical doctor, no specialist or anything.

I am so happy I have met you guys. I gives me new hope!

[KLD]

I'm really surprised that she hasn't been referred to an endocronologist and certainly to an opthamologist considering that she's having serious problems with her vision. Who's been doing the laser treatments on her eyes?

I don't want to alarm you, but my husband's opthamologist asked him at one point how his kidneys were because he said that diabetics whose retinopathy was as severe as his was almost always have kidney damage as well. He had never been diagnosed with kidney damage, but we asked our family doctor to have them checked. However, before that could be done, my husband died very suddenly of kidney/heart failure. So be sure to follow up with her doctor to ensure that she's having the proper tests and treatment.

Karen

[Belinda]

Originally posted by KLD


I don't want to alarm you, but my husband's opthamologist asked him at one point how his kidneys were because he said that diabetics whose retinopathy was as severe as his was almost always have kidney damage as well. He had never been diagnosed with kidney damage, but we asked our family doctor to have them checked. However, before that could be done, my husband died very suddenly of kidney/heart failure. So be sure to follow up with her doctor to ensure that she's having the proper tests and treatment.

Karen


I guess I am a lucky one since I had severe retinopathy and they thought I would be legally blind....but I have NO damage to my kidneys and my eyes are very stable..just got back from the retinologist

[KLD]

You are very fortunate, Belinda. But from your past posts, I have the impression that your medical team has been very thorough. John's doctor and his first opthamologist were both, in my opinion, not very good - bordering, in fact, on negligent. The second opthamologist was much better, but the damage was irreversible by then. That's why I'm telling Emily about this - not to be alarmist but to be sure she knows how serious the consequences of not following up on these things can be. I trust she will understand that and take my post the way it was intended. Sometimes it's easier, but not very helpful, to be comforting rather than to tell it like it is.

Karen

[My Peach Emily]

Karen, I understand where you are coming from and it is exactly what I want. I want all the details on what can go wrong, can possibly be wrong and what can be done to fix or prevent it.

You guys are awesome! Don't be worried about scaring me b/c I do know this is a killer disease and I want to educate myself as much as possible. After all, diabetes is a disease that runs in the family and I will need to know it for myself or for other family members.

[KLD]

Thanks for letting me know that, Emily. After I had posted that message, I wondered whether I had been too frank. But, having lost my husband so unnecessarily, you can understand why I want to make sure it doesn't happen to anyone else if it can be avoided.

You're quite right that all carbohydrates convert to glucose in our bodies. I control my own blood sugar levels very successfully with a low carbohydrate diet. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it certainly works well. I test perfectly normal at all times, and you wouldn't know I was diabetic from my test results. Your grandmother might find it too much of an adjustment right now, but if you think she might be interested, let me know by e-mail (see my profile) and I'll give you some information. I hate doing it by personal message because it's so limited in space that I have to do it in several continuing messages.

Karen

[Shalyndria]

Originally posted by My Peach Emily
Thank you guys. I've learned a lot just from these 3 replies. It's amazing how much information I have to absorb about diabetes.
My grandmother is in Newfoundland and she is only 60yrs old. I don't think she is considered senior is she?
Is Sub-q and Medi-Jector the pump. If so, it is expensive and I have been trying to get her to get it but she talks about the hospital stay and surgery to put it in.
What is a Geriatrician? The only doctor my grandmother sees is a medical doctor, no specialist or anything.

I am so happy I have met you guys. I gives me new hope!
Well senior status as a rule is 65, however many Geriatricians as well as Senior Associations will take those above 60.
A Geriatrician is one who specializes in Gerentology - basically a physician who specializes in the care of the elderly. I would urge you to seek out a Geriatrician before considering having your Grandmother see an endocrinologist, as the elderly often present with different symptoms than the younger generation, and Geriatricians are trained to recognize this (whereas Endo's aren't). As I said before, a Geriatrician would also be able to connect your grandmother with community resources - they will often fill out the paperwork for seniors regarding financial and supportive assistance.
Is your Grandmother on Social assistance, does she have a retirement fund? As much as we hate the word, Welfare is also an option. The Government pays for all Rx drugs for those that qualify for Welfare.

The Medi-Jector is a device that looks like an Insulin pen but uses compressed air to inject insulin. If you have a look at this website "Jet Injectors" (http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_06_350.htm) you'll get an overview of their use and a couple of different models.
Sub-q is an injection method; it means injecting a bolus subcutaneously, or under the skin into adipose tissue.
The pump is a small beeper-sized device that infuses a rapid-acting insulin through a small cannula that is injected Sub-q approx every 3 days. It is appropriate for anyone who is taking 4 or more injections daily, and who is willing to count carbs and do the math for CHO ratios, correction ratios, and self-manage.

Shy

[My Peach Emily]

Wow! You guys are full of info! I love ya!

Karen, I think I will take you up on that. Even if she tries to watch her carbs the best she can I'm sure it will help a little, wouldn't it?

Shy, My Grandmother is not on welfare b/c they say she is making $6.00 too much. Isn't that crazy?! They do pay her medication though.

See, this is the story. My grandfather worked ever since he was a teenager at FPI (Fishery Products Industry) and he finally had a big promotion (as we all thought) to partnership in the company. 2 years later the company went bankrupt b/c the government shut down the fishery. This happened about 12yrs ago. They lost their health insurance and couldn't get anymore since my grandmother already had diabetes. Everybody else got settlements and stuff but my grandfather didn't b/c he was part ownership. Story made short they were dealt and bad hand of cards.