hearts and roses
Mind Reader
We had a nice Thanksgiving down at my brother's on LI. Loco sister was her usual snotty self, but I ignored her, as did my other sisters, and eventually she came around.
My question is for anyone who knows anything about diabetes and low blood sugar issues. Any info you could offer would be appreciated. Thanks.
Anyway, my Mom. Apparently, my PA sister (M) has had her on a restricted diet to control her weight and her blood sugar - her diabetic symptoms were getting very scary there and she had ballooned to over 200lbs, she was peeing herself all night and day and her legs were swollen and blue - it was just awful. Mom lives with M and we all chip in to pay for a day care provider while M works. The on going argument has been that some of us believe mom would do better in a nursing home; others feel she should be with family, even to the apparent detriment of her own well being.
So, on the drive home from CT to PA yesterday, my mom asked to stop. M thought she had to pee, but when they stopped the car, my mom was disoriented, couldn't move, had broken out in a horrible sweat all over and then, you guessed it, peed herself. My sister immediately checked mom's blood sugar and it was at 22!!!! OMG. She called an ambulance who hooked up an IV of glucose and got mom stabilized. They also performed an EKG which came out normal and then released M to take mom home.
On Saturday evening when I saw my mom she seemed not quite right, very tired and a little confused. Now, granted she has alzheimers, but this was different. I mentioned it to my sister and said, "oh it's been a busy weekend, she's just tired". Then on Sunday morning before they stopped at our house to say goodbye and drive home to PA, they found my mom on her bedroom floor. She had apparently gotten up at some point and fell. No one heard her fall (I cannot believe they didn't hear 220lbs fall). In her delirium, she pulled clothing off the chair nearby to cover herself for warmth. She peed herself all over and was soaked when they found her. She was disoriented and when my sisters all asked her what happened she told them to leave her be so she could sleep - she was so tired. They got her up, cleaned and dressed and then they came to my house. easy child made her eggs and whole grain toast for breakfast. She asked for more toast - M forbade it. easy child offered an apple and some peanut butter, but M forbade the peanut butter. In hindsight, I wish I had overruled M and given her the peanut butter.
I believe that my mom's blood sugar has been dipping all weekend - they've been eating on the run, and M has her diet more restricted than it should be for her size.
FINALLY, it seems M sees my mom would be best in a nursing home and the ball is rolling in that direction. Like I said, FINALLY. I suggested it two years ago and was treated like Hitler thereafter. I also suggested that M see a dietician to help learn how to regulate mom's diet rather than just deprive her. M has mom on the South Beach Diet, which I don't feel is best for her at this time. Also, the Dr gave her a blood sugar medication which is supposed to reduce the sugars in her body. So, perhaps that medication and M's diet was too much too quick?
My question is for anyone who knows anything about diabetes and low blood sugar issues. Any info you could offer would be appreciated. Thanks.
Anyway, my Mom. Apparently, my PA sister (M) has had her on a restricted diet to control her weight and her blood sugar - her diabetic symptoms were getting very scary there and she had ballooned to over 200lbs, she was peeing herself all night and day and her legs were swollen and blue - it was just awful. Mom lives with M and we all chip in to pay for a day care provider while M works. The on going argument has been that some of us believe mom would do better in a nursing home; others feel she should be with family, even to the apparent detriment of her own well being.
So, on the drive home from CT to PA yesterday, my mom asked to stop. M thought she had to pee, but when they stopped the car, my mom was disoriented, couldn't move, had broken out in a horrible sweat all over and then, you guessed it, peed herself. My sister immediately checked mom's blood sugar and it was at 22!!!! OMG. She called an ambulance who hooked up an IV of glucose and got mom stabilized. They also performed an EKG which came out normal and then released M to take mom home.
On Saturday evening when I saw my mom she seemed not quite right, very tired and a little confused. Now, granted she has alzheimers, but this was different. I mentioned it to my sister and said, "oh it's been a busy weekend, she's just tired". Then on Sunday morning before they stopped at our house to say goodbye and drive home to PA, they found my mom on her bedroom floor. She had apparently gotten up at some point and fell. No one heard her fall (I cannot believe they didn't hear 220lbs fall). In her delirium, she pulled clothing off the chair nearby to cover herself for warmth. She peed herself all over and was soaked when they found her. She was disoriented and when my sisters all asked her what happened she told them to leave her be so she could sleep - she was so tired. They got her up, cleaned and dressed and then they came to my house. easy child made her eggs and whole grain toast for breakfast. She asked for more toast - M forbade it. easy child offered an apple and some peanut butter, but M forbade the peanut butter. In hindsight, I wish I had overruled M and given her the peanut butter.
I believe that my mom's blood sugar has been dipping all weekend - they've been eating on the run, and M has her diet more restricted than it should be for her size.
FINALLY, it seems M sees my mom would be best in a nursing home and the ball is rolling in that direction. Like I said, FINALLY. I suggested it two years ago and was treated like Hitler thereafter. I also suggested that M see a dietician to help learn how to regulate mom's diet rather than just deprive her. M has mom on the South Beach Diet, which I don't feel is best for her at this time. Also, the Dr gave her a blood sugar medication which is supposed to reduce the sugars in her body. So, perhaps that medication and M's diet was too much too quick?