Hi - I'm new to the Diabetic Forum & have a few questions. I respect your opinions - & your coping strategies from dealing with this dealt hand. I'm hoping someone can offer some advice.

My Dad is a recently dx'd diabetic (II). He's 78 & probably has the usual probs for that generation. (Got used to too many 'cocktails', elevated BP, cholesterol,COPD,etc etc). He had an artificial knee replacement surgery done about 6 wks ago - other knee done about 3 yrs ago -which was very successful. The knee pain had kept him from doing any of the things he loved for some time. Because he's on pain medication & his wife was able to concern him enough to put aside drinking alcohol at least while taking the pain medication (a well-known athlete recently died while combining the two), his liver is getting a rest. (Probably temporary unfortunately)

Questions - (I'm across country from him currently- but want to help him in his healing process by sending info his way - that he'll hopefully abide by) -

1) What is the best 'tool' you've found in your on-going quest to be as happy/healthy as you can with Diabetes II? (cookbooks, guides, dieticians,restaurant lists, carbo-lists, etc)

2) Any of you had serious surgery & have suggestions/advice/warnings as to how to best heal when complicated by Diabetes2 ?

3) Any suggestions on getting him to understand the seriousness of this illness (get him to monitor) - w/o depressing him further (strong men aging has to be very hard on them) or overwhelming him - ie; why bother-too hard at my age -

3) Any other thoughts/advice?

Thanks so much for any suggestions - this is new to us - & I know we should probably feel lucky that he's not had to live with this disease til now. He's had many other problems tho- & I just want to keep him around- & in not too much pain - long as we can.


[This message has been edited by TexMich (edited 10-02-2003).]

[This message has been edited by TexMich (edited 10-02-2003).]

You have a lot of questions, I assume he is under a doctors care, has meds of some kind, and has seen a nurse, educator about help with his diet. You have access to the internet, there are hundreds of sites that will answer just about any question you have. Mail him some stuff you have printed out how to take care of himself. His alcohol problem has to be addressed too in order for him to get the disease under control, his wife can help a great deal in meal planning, etc. I keep my numbers in control by a very low carb diet, with lots of veggies, some fruit, only whole wheat bread, one slice a day, very little white rice, white bread, sugar,pasta, etc, It may be hard to teach an old dog new tricks, and I always go back to the old saying, you can lead a horse to water but you can,t make him drink. Good Luck

Sharon, http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Thank you for your response! Yes, he's taking a pill a day for this - is on about 14 different pills per day for various ailments. Refuses to take coumadin anymore because he ended up in hospital w/bleeding complications when he was preparing for his total knee replacement. Yes, he saw a dietician (a few minutes, few handouts). I've been looking on the web under diabetic info for elderly diabetics - haven't found just the right stuff/combination yet tho.

Altho they've been married for many yrs, my Dad's wife is over 20 yrs younger than he - & is very busy working at her job away from home ea day. He has responsibilities in his retirement yrs - handles projects around the house as his health permits, takes care of a beloved pet who needs daily dialysis at home, etc., but- doesn't take care of himself. Logically, because he's home so much, it really makes sense for him to prepare the healthful meals for at least himself if not them both- but like you said - teaching an old 'manly' dog new tricks? http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif

He was always very intelligent in so many ways - & recognizes patronizing, etc in a minute. Right now he's his own worst enemy - but I love him so- & am not ready to let him deteriate by not playing by the rules (also not his game) http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif - got my work cut out! My plan is to make it sound fun to plan/prepare meals AND so important to his health. It's really such a delicate balance to get him to be concerned/know what consequences are if he doesn't play by the rules -w/o depressing or overwhelming him into a state of 'time to ck-out - life's more trouble w/all my ailments than it's worth'. It is sad, hard, to watch a strong father decline - but obviously part of life - & I want to do what I can to keep him out of the pain he's in.

Do you know of any specific vitamins, foods - that are especially helpful for a diabetic person trying to heal after surgery?

Have you found or heard of a book or monthly/quarterly magazine I could order that's fairly easy for an older person to digest(ok not literally- altho I guess it wouldn't raise blood sugar levels! lol) & that gives many examples of meals he can just follow - it seems easier to at least start that way -by example?

Goals I suppose are that he can soon (a) ck his blood at least 3 x's a day (he has a monitor) (b) know when he's having a hypo vs hyperglycemic episode & what to do for ea AND know what brought it on (c) eat right & understand why & how

Thanks again for your help- for taking your time & energy in reading this & any light you can shed on this new venture for us!




[This message has been edited by TexMich (edited 10-03-2003).]

With your energy and enthusiasm I would expect your Dad to live to be a hundred (don,t you wish) I too am watching a very strong manly father slowly decline with age, we had to put my Mom in a nursing home 2 years ago and he lives alone, 60 miles from me,he is the sweetest uncomplaining man you ever saw. I get to get up there only every 2 weeks or so and my daughter and I cook up a storm for him so he has some good food to eat for awhile. A book I have bought and many, many diabetics claim it is their Bible! is "Diabetes Solution" by Dr. Richard Bernstein, I bought mine on the web at amazon.com. He is in his 70,s and has been a diabetic most of his life. However some modify his strategy with a few more carbs than he allows. I urge you to try and read an excert of his book, maybe online. I take the full spectrum of vitamins plus, fish oil, CoQ 10, alpha lipoic acid, supposed to help neuropathy. Eat only a very few carbs a day with emphasis on veggies and lean meat, a little fruit, 100% whole wheat bread as toast in the morning, He,ll cover diet in his book also. I wish you luck and your Dad is lucky to have a caring daughter as you are.

Sharon http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/wave.gif

Thanks for the advice - I'll do that. I've already purchased a few easy to follow yet interesting diabetic cookbooks that are on the way to him - & am sending a letter to him today suggesting he might enjoy brousing thru/using the cookbooks as a new hobby - & maybe even surprise his wife with a dinner or brunch for 2 occasionally. (One's by "MR. Food" - so hopefully he won't feel it's too much of a 'non-masculine' hobby)! I did include 4 pgs of understandable info on the disease- including the difference between hypo & hyperglycemic episodes- what to do if experiencing - how to prevent- & complications that will occur in uncontrolled diabetes. Can't worry now how he'll take it all -did my best 'psyco-analysis' of how to approach him & what to write to convince him w/o turning him off of the whole subject. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/dizzy.gif

Sharon, thanks again - it appears your dad is also very lucky to have such a caring daughter. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/heart.gif
Best wishes to you & your family!