I have a close friend who is diabetic, doesn't follow diet and takes lots of insulin. Lately she has become very paranoid and highly irritable. She also has COPD, kidney failure, congestive heart failure and weighs 350 pounds. She won't listen to doctor or me. We have been friends for 35 years and she use to be incredibly beautiful and normal. Gained 200 pounds in 5 years. She is 55 years old. Any and all suggestions to save her life would be appreciated. Family have all passed away and very few friends left. What to do, if anything or should I just resolve "that you can't save someone from themselves"
2007-06-22 17:24:01 · 10 answers · asked by sukidog33 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
No, insulin does not make you mentally ill or everyone would be mentally ill. The reason diabetics take insulin is because they're body doesnt produce it, our bodies, people without diabeties, produce it normally. However, if she is taking too much insulin, more than she needs, that could affect her somehow, but that has to be checked with a doctor. Try to convince her to do whats best for her, even if she doesnt see it.
2007-06-22 17:29:17 · answer #1 · answered by Justin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, insulin cannot make you mentally ill.
Insulin is an appetite stimulator. When she eats junk with a lot of carbs, she HAS to take a lot of insulin to metabolize the carbs. Insulin stimulates the appetite, so she eats more (junk), taking lots of insulin to metabolize the carbs. It can become a vicous cycle, always ending up in the dibetic gaining more and more weight.
If she has gained those 200 lbs. since she was diagnosed with diabetes, and you say she doesn't follow diet and takes lots of insulin, she needs to see a doctor about reasonably follow a diabetic food plan based on carbs and caloric content required for her correct body size. If she does this, her insulin will have to be adjusted downward and she will lose weight. Because she is post-menopausal, she has got to get regular exercise, also, to lose weight. And I don't mean wildly strenth training or joining a gym...I mean just regular excercise (walks, housework, stretching).
Exercise also benefits diabetics by releasing endorphins in the brain, which can stave off depression, which diabetics are prone to.
Diabetics also benefit greatly from a good vitamin B supplement. A complement of the B vitamins protects nerve fibers. Certain other Vitamin deficiencies can worsen health in general.
.
2007-06-24 17:53:27 · answer #2 · answered by Autumn 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds like she has developed depression. Sleep apnea can cause a lot of these problems. That's where you get overweight and then you stop breathing dozens of times a night. that's hard on the heart and is a major cause of congestive heart failure.
She really needs to be seen for depression. If she gets help for that, she will probably take better care of herself. Take a look at an online depression screening test (google it) and see if you think she has depression, then see if she will take it. You can probably help, you have to try. Sometimes someone just needs a nudge, other times you can't do anything.
All the best to you, for being such a good friend.
2007-06-26 16:53:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, insulin can't make one mentally ill. It sounds to me like it's the other illnesses.
As for getting her to listen to you or the dr no one can make her to do it. She's going to have to want to do that. The only other thing you can do is let your friend know that you are concerned for her well-being but that's about it. As long as she is capable of speaking for herself she's already made a choice.
This was something I had to learn with regard to my mom when she got diagnosed with Diabetes nearly 20 years ago.
2007-06-22 22:29:53 · answer #4 · answered by sokokl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With all of her problems, i don't see why you'd identify insulin as the cause. It's what's keeping her alive. She needs to eat right and manage her illnesses as prescribed by a doctor.
2007-06-22 17:57:49 · answer #5 · answered by Chris H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the insulin, but the chemistry in her blood caused by all her illnesses.
Don't write her off. Help her find a new, caring doctor and therapist.
2007-06-22 17:32:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wouldn't you be irritable and paranoid if you had all those illnesses and no family support.
She is not mentally ill from diabetes.
Find out if she has been checked for Cushing's syndrome ?This causes weight gain as well as many other symptoms.
I wish you both the best.
Try this site :
www.cushings-help.com
2007-06-23 10:08:56 · answer #7 · answered by Cammie 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If she is in self destruct mode you can ride done with her and make yourself ill or just giver her an ultimatum that unless she gets professional help and starts living better you are severing the friendship immediately....don't try to be a saint...take care of yourself & YOUR family first.
2007-06-22 19:30:55 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You cant they have to have a will to live, and it seems she has lost hers, and i can understand why her health is like getting a death sentence, my dad was type 1 diabetic and had c.h.f, he hit the deck one Sunday right in front of me, my mom also died from c.h.f
2007-06-22 17:46:06 · answer #9 · answered by free_mark53 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Diabetes and complications of diabetes can cause depression
2007-06-23 05:49:29 · answer #10 · answered by randall_maverick 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋