Need a crash course in Diabetes-can't watch Dad kill himself

[celiacmaine-iac]

Lots of good ideas being put on the table here. All of us on this board know how hard and frustrating lifestyle changes can be. Add age and being "set in your ways" to that and it's not a good combo sometimes.

When I mentioned the diabetes education bit, I didn't have time to go into much detail. If you can find a hospital based education setting your dad would have access to all kinds of professionals who would be able to help, and since it's usually done in a group type setting he would be also getting support, and would see that he's not the only one out there who's dealing with this. These groups usually have dieticians, doctors, nurses and other professionals address the various issues. He would learn about how to control his blood sugar, diet, wound care, diabetic foot care etc. He would also be able to ask questions without the sense of time constraints that so many patients feel in doctor's office. He does need a dietician's counsel, but there is a lot more he's going to need to learn to manage this disease successfully. It sounds like a lot of damage has already been done if he's at the stage of amputation, so he is going to have to learn everything he can fast. Diabetes damages just about every part of your body if not controlled. Kidneys, eyes, extremities, heart, etc. Serious stuff.

Wishing you all the best,
Steph

[aklap]

Colleen, how's your Dad doing?
_________________
Al

“We cannot all do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa

[cruelshoes]

Hi, Al. I probably should have done an update. Sorry about the oversight. My dad came through the surgery OK. They took all the toes and the ball of the foot. So he still has a serviceable portion of the foot left to work with. He has been in a full-plaster cast for 3 weeks. Plaster is supposed to help wounds heal (something about absorbing all the fluids - yuck). Another benefit is the way they have the foot casted it's almost impossible for him to walk on it. They take the cast off once a week and look at the wound. Everyting seems to healing up OK, and if all goes according to plan, he will get it off at the end of next week.

From what he and my Mom are telling me, he is being a very good boy. He's not walking on his foot at all, and is being careful about his diet. He says he is checking his bloodsugar 5 times a day, and has not had to take the injected form of insulin since he got out of the hospital. He is still on lots of oral meds, though. He is anxious to get his cast off and get fitted for a prosthesis for his foot so he can start exercising.

He really seems to be taking it seriously this time. He has had a long time of being imobile on the couch to do some soul searching. I found him a Diabetes support group to go to, and I'm still trying to talk him into going.

Overall, I am very hopeful.....
_________________
-Colleen
Dx 8/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
10-YO son Dx 11/05 via bloodwork/biopsy
Daughters (12 and 2) have neg. bloodwork

A woman is like a tea bag-you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. - Eleanor Roosevelt