[lnjr]

Hello,
My mother (77 years old) has had type 2 diabetes for a few years now and takes pills for her diabetes.
However, the doctor told here that she does not need to monitor her sugar and just sends her for bloodwork a few times a year.
Well, for the past month she has had a really bad cold and has prescribed steriods on at least 2 occassions over this past month. My father woke up around 4AM Friday morning to find my mother standing in the middle of the dining room (having stripped all her clothes off). She did not answer him and really didn't seem to even realize he was there. He called us and we ran up there quickly. I called 911 and got an ambulance there. As it turned out her sugar was just over 500 at that time and by the time they got her to the hospital it was almost 900!
She was admitted to the hospital and after about 36 hours she began to come around. They have gotten her sugar levels back down now but she is still in the ICU and will most likely be there for a few more days until they can get everything under control.
When she gets back home I would like to have some sort of diary / journal that she keeps a record of everything she eats (as well as tests her blood sugar levels).
Could someone please tell me where I might find something for her to keep a record on all the necessary things that should be tracked (she does not have a computer) or what information I should include in a journal that I could make up and print out for her to use.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated (and yes, we are having her switch doctors!!!)

TIA

lisa

[CarolinaJoe]

Sorry to hear your story. What a challenge it can be to help someone, especially a senior, wrestle with this monster.

Carbs are really the problem. If you can get her to record desserts, candy, breads, pasta, cereals & fruit and minimize them I think it could really help her try to understand and maybe feel better. The amount of food and the time can be helpful. I'm afraid if you ask her to keep track of everything you might find in a generic diabetic journal she just might not do it. I believe in walking before running.