I need some advice. Please.

[Claudia27]

Thank God for this site!!!Mom has Type 1 diabetes
Hello to all. This is my first time on this forum. I just need some advice regarding my mom's Type 1 diabetes. I have educated myself on this issue as she has been a diabetic for 18+ years, nonetheless on days when she is in bed, fatigued with her sugars going from 400 to 62, I get quite discouraged and feel the need to once again read up on the condition. As far as I know, she takes insulin in the morning and often takes the lantus (or as she calls it emergency dose at night) which often causes the glucose to go down too much. I guess this past week its been going up and down and she has been feeling quite depressed. I try to be optimistic but its very difficult. I am trying to find ways to make her everyday life a bit easier. I am the first one to admit that she has no will power when it comes to those goodies such us pastries and sugar. But I think if there were such a thing as pre-packaged meals directed for diabetics, it would help her immensely. She often feels fatigued and on most days has no energy. Are there any suggestions? My mom is 105 and takes lipitor for her cholesterol. I heard mixed feelings about South Beach?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[camjen1]

Welcome!

God bless your Mom for being 105. She is proof that we can live a normal life with this disease. :shakehand

[Cinnabon]

Hands down to your mom..... What a gift. Does she prepare her own meals or does she have someone help?

[Claudia27]

Welcome!

God bless your Mom for being 105. She is proof that we can live a normal life with this disease. :shakehand

Thanks. Well, Things have been a little rocky for the past year. Her sugar levels are out of control. This past week, she checked it and it was 200 (a little high), In any case she went to bed and during the middle of the night she woke up screaming that she wasnt feeling well. We all woke and after checking her sugar it had gone down to 57. Not a good sign. I am startig to get worried and I know that her eating habits arent the best. She has always been a petite woman and Im thinking this has helped her, but with her sugar going up or down Im afarid that one of this days it will go down so low she wont wake up.

[JediSkipdogg]

As far as I know, she takes insulin in the morning and often takes the lantus (or as she calls it emergency dose at night) which often causes the glucose to go down too much.

I would maybe recommend telling her to cut back on the lantus dose. Lantus is suppose to last 24 hours but for some it doesn't. She could be taking too high of a lantus dose. What does she take in the morning? Any ideas? The reason she could be running so high and then bouncing low is because of her insulin habits. You need two kinds of insulin, a long acting (lantus) and short acting (novolog or humalog.) You have to take the short acting EVERY time you eat more that just a nibble (like 15 grams of carbs in a 12 hour period is the doctor recommended level I believe.)

But I think if there were such a thing as pre-packaged meals directed for diabetics, it would help her immensely.

There are. Have you heard of stouffers and lean cuisine and all those other boxed items. Those are all great items to eat as they have the total carbs on the box so you know how many carbs you are eating in a meal. You just have to know what her insulin to carb ratio is. Which can be hard to figure out if she's never had one. But it really wouldn't be to hard, and you could probably figure it out in a week.

I heard mixed feelings about South Beach?

There are mixed feelings about every diet out there. My girlfriend is doing the Atkins diet (well, she says it's just a diet, but she eats 0 carbs for 2 months, then slowly increases her carbs back up over a 6 month period.) And she swears up and down that a low carb/high fat diet is great for losing weight. But I disagree on that. Heck, the Atkins creator died from a heart attack from being overweight (I think that's how he died.)

Pretty much all diet plans are a huge lifestyle change and I don't think any are any better than another. They all have huge drawbacks. The easiest thing is just eat healthy and don't overeat. Also lots of eating out isn't good since those food items are packed with unhealthy items. But my grandmother is 84 (somewhere around there) and she is healty as can be except for a small lower back problem. And my other grandmother is 95 and one of the healthiest women I know. She's only been in the hospital say 3 times in the last 10 years. Neither ever did any diets and they have had no major problems and aren't popping pills every hour. It just takes common sense and eating the right foods. Also a little exercise never hurt anyone, a 30 minute walk once a day can help someone alot.

Ok, sorry for going onto other topics. I hope something in all my chatter above helps you out with your grandmother.

[Linn]

Hi Claudia,
Your mom being petite has definately been a plus for her...
I am diabetic and my mom and dad are diabetics as well. My mom's control is not good at all. She has lately been staying in the 200's. I see them almost every day and ask all the time what her reading was for that day.. lately she says she "didn't take it" :(
She is overweight and doesn't eat right at all but when either i or the doctors speak to her about it she gets angry and shuts down.
Her kidneys are not working as they should be.. sometimes I feel like she's giving up. It is so hard for people who cannot be active too. I am able to be active and it so helps my numbers. If i am sick and don't do much of anything, no matter how healthy i eat, my numbers will rise.

[duck]

Claudia,

When does your mom take insulin, what kind of insulin and how much does she take?

After you answer those, answer how much is she supposed to take, when is she supposed to take it, and what kind is she supposed to take? From what I just read, it sounds like a little fine-tuning will go a long way to help your mother, and she may not be as far off as you feel.

[sydneya]

Again, this forum has inspired me. I hope my children are as concerned and helpful as you seem to be. Is she really 105 years old or 105 lbs? (I know I am easily confused?) She is a very lucky mother to have you there for her.
I will grab and Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice once in awhile. I do have to be careful and read the label. Sometimes the carbs are too high, but there are some good ones right in line for us.
Hope you will post often. There is a lot of knowledge and understanding here in the group.

[Claudia27]

Again, this forum has inspired me. I hope my children are as concerned and helpful as you seem to be. Is she really 105 years old or 105 lbs? (I know I am easily confused?) She is a very lucky mother to have you there for her.
I will grab and Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice once in awhile. I do have to be careful and read the label. Sometimes the carbs are too high, but there are some good ones right in line for us.
Hope you will post often. There is a lot of knowledge and understanding here in the group.


HI, Thanks for the respone. My mom is 52yrs old and 105 lbs. She started loosing much of her weight when she was first diagnozed with diabetes 18 years go. Nonethless, she has always been on the petite side. This forum has been very helpful and I hope to continue communicating with all of you and wish you the best.

Claudia

[Claudia27]

Duck and all whom have responded..

HI! Thanks for your interest and concern. I will be visiting Mom tomorrow ans will be able to get those answers and hopefully you can give me some advice.

Much Thaks!! Really, this has been so helpful!

Claudia

[Erin]

I'm eager to hear your answers to Duck's questions, I do have a few suggestions based on the info you've already provided us:

1). It may be possible to make the occasional sweet a part of your mom's meal plan, and have her take an appropriate dose of insulin, rather than relying on her will power. I know I would go crazy without the occasional treat. Talk to her doctor.

2). Have you checked out the frozen meals made by the South Beach Diet people? They look like they'd be great for Diabetes control! I'm a Lean Cuisine junkie, these are also a very convenient option, but I find that it's not enough food for supper unless I supplement the meal with a nice salad, fruit, or some other filler. (and I'm also a petite woman... not as petite as your mom tho... 105 lbs... maybe when I was in the 7th grade!)