my auntie is diabetic, she is always having hypo's and it has got to the stage?

Question

where she is afraid to go out for example each time she comes for dinner at my mom and dads, usually after work she will eat the correct food but then slip into a hypo, we have had to call the paramedics on several occasions and each time is worst than the last one, she claims that she eats correctly and takes her insulin correctly.(even seen her inject and then eat and still she goes) she has had one in the bath and woke up with a broken leg, (she lives alone) my dad has had to break in before now when she has gone out cold i am really worried about her but she wont go to the doctors as she says she is fine! she is 57 but my concern is she wont wake up one of these times, ii know very little about diabetes other than this is NOT right, any advice please and thanks in advance for your replies

well kate juicy your sympathy knows no bounds, get over yourself and p**S off, for all you other kind people she has had it for over 30 years, gestational onset, should i phone her doctor myself and try and get to speak to him, obviously ethics and confidentiality is a problem here?

thankyou all so much for your help, she is on fast acting insulin and she does know how concerned we are about her, i think she has just got used to it and thinks it is normal, that and she doesnt remember how bad she was when its over, all your help i will try and the dog idea was great, this would give her company too as she lives alone, thanks again to all of you very much appreciated

Answer 1

You have a very serious situation going on. I am diabetic type II and my fiance is diabetic type 1. The difference is I have to take pills for mine to control it and he must take pills and insulin to control his.

Sometimes people do the right things, but the pancreas doesn't work correctly no matter what is done. My fiance has this problem. He takes medicines that make his sugar go crazy and we really have to watch it closely. When he is sick, stressed, or on certain medicines it can really get extremely high.

You are right one of these times she may go into a diabetic coma and die. When she passes out check her breath for a fruity smell when this happens. When a diabetic is in insulin shock they will get a fruit smell to their breath.

I looked up a few things you might want to pass on to her and copied it here for you. I'll post a few links to help you understand this better from a professional point of view. Be there for her and help her when you can.

"Reduce the amount of dietary fat. The current American Diabetes association guidelines advise that less than 7 - 10% of calories should come from saturated fat. These are the fats that raise LDL ("bad") cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol should be less than 200 - 300 mg per day. Additionally, intake of trans-unsaturated fats should be minimized. These are better known as partially hydrogenated oils. Reducing fat intake may help contribute to modest weight loss.

Keep protein intake in the range of 15 - 20% of total calories. Choices low in fat are recommended such as nonfat dairy products, legumes, skinless poultry, fish and lean meats. To keep the cholesterol content in range, approximately 6 ounces of protein per day is recommended. A portion of poultry, fish, or lean meat is about the size of 2 decks of cards.

Carbohydrate choices should come from whole grains breads or cereals, pasta, brown rice, beans, fruits and vegetables. Increasing dietary fiber is a general guideline for the entire population rather than specifically for people with diabetes. Portions and type of carbohydrate affect calories and is reflected by weight and blood glucose control. Learning to read labels for total carbohydrate rather than sugar provides the best information for blood sugar control.

Limit sources of high-calorie and low-nutritional-value foods, including those with a high content of sugars. Sugar-containing foods should be substituted for other carbohydrate sources (such as potatoes) instead of just adding them on to the meal.

A registered dietitian can help you best decide how to balance your diet with carbohydrates, protein and fat." (1)

Answer 2

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Answer 3

If this is a new problem there it's most likely a change in her body. She could have gastroparesis, a form of neuropathy that affects the nerves in the digestive tract. The digestion of food would be slowed. If she is taking fast acting insulin with her meals the insulin might be working faster than the absorption of the food she's eating. Her blood sugar would drop rapidly and cause her to have a lot of hypo episodes. She really needs to see a doctor. The only way that you'll be able to speak to her doctor in the US is if she has given permission. Otherwise, you could try and get her to go in and go with her. If you're in the room you can at least talk to the doctor about her problems. In the meantime, She could try delaying her mealtime insulin injections, waiting 15-30 minutes after she eats. Especially after high fat and/or protein meals because they will further slow digestion of carbs that would normally raise her blood sugar to match the insulin she took. There could be other reasons for her problems too, like her insulin needs have changed. It's scary for you and maybe letting her know much it will help you to know that she is alright will encourage her to make an appointment and allow you to go along. Good luck and take care.

Answer 4

Sounds like your aunt's diabetes is not well controlled.
It's important for diabetics to keep their blood sugar within a certain range, and good control of blood sugar helps delay many of the end stage issues of diabetes (neuropathy, renal issues, etc).
But, if she is having such severe and frequent episodes of hypoglycemia, then something is off. Either she is taking too much insulin, or she is not eating enough, or her timing of eating to injections is incorrect. If her doctor is telling her she is fine, then she needs to consult another doctor.
If I were you, I'd sit her down and tell her I was really concerned for her health. If you are young, maybe it would help if your mom talked to her (she might listen to an adult a bit better). If she doesn't want to listen, you can't make her, but she might listen if she knows just how concerned you are for her health.
Other options that might help would be for her to wear a necklace that alerts the paramedics if she presses a button on the necklace. That way she can summon help even if she can't get up.
Hope this helps, and good luck...

Answer 5

I am writing to tell you what an incredible impact these methods had on my life! I have had type 2 diabetes for 27 years. For me, the worst part of this horrible disease is the severe pain I constantly get in my feet. The pain is so bad that I avoid standing and walking as much as possible. I've got to tell you that within the first month, my feet stopped hurting altogether and I can now walk totally pain free.

Believe it or not, I even danced at my niece's wedding last month, something I have not done in a many years. I've been following the book for six months now and my blood sugar is well within normal range. I feel great!

I recommend you use the Type 2 Diabetes Destroyer to naturally reverse your diabetes.

Answer 6

u could phone her g.p. or hospital where she attends clinic and one of the duty nurses will talk to u, failing that leave yr no. and explain why u r feeling concerned. As an insulin dependant diabetic with complications... my stomach has a delayed gastric absorbtion and slow emptying rate (ie takes longer to reach & be processed by me than others) she may also b getting little or no hypo awareness which raises a whole new load of worries. She needs to test her blood more regularly than she has been and also 2 check that she is on the same insulin and medications as b4. good luck! I am in a similar situation with a 10 yr old child 2 look after! I also have an alarm system installed so that in the event of low blood sugar and i am able to press the button.. help is summoned immediately.

Answer 7

You are right this is not right. She could have more than a broken leg next time. It would be ideal for her to talk to her Dr. I would have her keep log of all the carbs she is eating at what time....and all of her bg levels .........and all of her insulin that she is getting....for three days. Then she should call and talk to her endo Dr. ....he will adjust her insulin over the phone ....or feel that he needs to see her.....either way it comes from the Dr. that she needs to be seen and not you. In the mean time....if she is doing everything she can and is still having hypo's then maybe she should look into a medical alert dog. This is new, but really works. My son is getting one because he can't tell when he is getting low untill he is in a seizure. The dog alerts the human that their bg is getting low or is already low....before it is too critical. I will include the web page that we got ours from.

Answer 8

It sounds like your auntie needs to adjust the amount of insulin she uses. I have had terrible lows (39, 45, 49) recently and I have done 2 things: increased my carb intake slightly, and decreased my insulin. You are very right to be concerned because lows can lead to seizures, diabetic coma and even death. Maybe someone in your family should accompany your auntie to her doctor just to make sure the doctor understands what is happening and how frequently. It will also help to have someone else in your family understand what your aunt is experiencing and what her doctor recommends to stop this from happening. I wish your aunt the best, and God bless you for caring so much.

Answer 9

Many common natural remedies are claimed to have blood sugar lowering properties that make them useful for people with or at high risk of diabetes. Learn here https://tr.im/5DNNl

A number of clinical studies have been carried out in recent years that show potential links between herbal therapies and improved blood glucose control, which has led to an increase in people with diabetes using these more 'natural' ingredients to help manage their condition.

Answer 10

If you'd like the most effective summary of organic remedies for treating peripheral diabetic neuropathy then that is your guide https://tr.im/e1H68 , Neuropath Solution.
Neuropathy Solution is the best guide for anyone suffering from neuropathy. Even among the practices in this system may have a considerable affect on your own well-being and standard of living and much more the all 6 steps combined.
You will undoubtedly be surprised about the of use solutions offered in that great plan, alternative that will help you prevent from all danger of harmful condition such as for instance: diabetes, large blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, arthritis and more, except of course, of treating neuropathy.

Answer 11

she MUST go to her doctors, she is not fine, she is obviously not getting the right amount of insulin and this could be fatal.

sorry to say that but my friends dad had diabetes too and he was very blase about it and he had a massive hypo and almost died and he now has to have part of his leg amputated.

get her to get help before it's too late

she's lucky to have a caring family around her.

I've found some websites (see below) hope they help.

xx