AHardDaysNight Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 She's 60 years old, first of all. She said tonight that she felt dizzy and like she couldn't walk a straight line. I watched her walk, and she was walking normally, so I mentioned that it was strictly vertigo, not anything else. She took her blood sugar, and it was 379. Keep in mind that she copes with diabetes, and has had bad effects from it (like she can't feel her feet when it gets cut.) I told her she needs to call a doctor, and she shrugged me off. "We don't have that kind of money"...well yeah, but I'm still worried about her! She helps take care of my grandma, along with me, and is the primary caregiver for my grandma. I am worried about her health...not only because of what will happen to me if she gets sick, but what will happen to my almost 95 year old grandma? Any thoughts or suggestions welcome. Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 If she's dx'd with diabetes, why isn't she getting insulin? If her sugars are that high , I can't imagine trying to deal with them without it. Insulin is cheap compared to gangrene, retinopathy and dementia. I know a bit about it since my mom was diabetic and died of dementia. We kept the diabetes under control once we knew but by then the dementia (VaD) was already progressive. Try a diabetes support forum and see if you can get some ideas to convince her to get help for this and perhaps find low-cost solutions. Link to post Share on other sites
Author AHardDaysNight Posted September 15, 2011 Author Share Posted September 15, 2011 She has insulin, but didn't want to take it tonight. All she wanted to do was sleep. I encouraged her, carhill, but she's stubborn. I get that from her! I think I'm going to have both of us go to weight watchers, or at least get on a diet plan together. She eats too much sugar, that's her problem. Link to post Share on other sites
carhill Posted September 15, 2011 Share Posted September 15, 2011 If she's caregiving, it's doubly important IMO to be in the best health she can. Stress and diabetes can end her up in a coma or worse if she doesn't get this under control. That dizziness is a canary in the diabetes coal mine. If she's heavy (you mentioned WW), she may also be hypertensive, another risk factor which can be exacerbated by the stress of caregiving. Does she smoke or drink? More canaries. Maybe WW is a good start. Get her into a group setting with peers. People talk. Sometimes mothers listen better to others than to their children Link to post Share on other sites
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