We just found out my husband has Type II Diabetes. I all ready read much info at the medical sites but I'm wondering if there is anything I can do to help him.

We are leaving on vacation Saturday so you can contact me @ netscaping@yahoo.com if you prefer.

-- (Net@scape 6.0), June 20, 2001

Answers

Unfortunately for you most men are pretty bad about managing their disease states. Your job will probably be that of a PEST! Make him watch his diet. Make him exercise. Make him take his meds and monitor his blood glucose level. The consequences of ignoring diabetes are as certain as they are dire. Good Luck!

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), June 20, 2001.

Check out the vitamin supplements Alpha Lipolic Acid and Chromium Picolinate as part of a multi-faceted program that also includes diet and exercise. Also Vanadyl Sulfate is supposed to be helpful. I'd look for an integrative medicine doctor that is familiar with the use of these supplements.

Dr. Julian Whitaker the editor of Health and Healing is a proponent of this sort of therapy and has a web site at www.drwhitaker.com.

-- Flash (nazflash@northlink.com), June 20, 2001.

Have you tried this site?

http://www.mendosa.com/diabetes.htm

Good luck! My father had diabetes, and he would go into diabetic comas a lot. My mother would give him orange juice to bring him out of it. Watch his intake of carbs. No bread, grains, potatoes, corn, and rice is the worst because it converts to sugar almost immediately. However, he can have whiskey, vodka, rum, over rocks, no mixers with sugar.

-- notadoctor (notadoctor@notadoctor.doc), June 20, 2001.

Has he been taught to check his blood glucose? I'm assuming he is insulin dependent. Buy a few of those tubes of cake icing. They are almost pure glucose and much cheaper than the glucose you buy at the pharmacy. Keep one in your purse, glove compartment, coat pocket and if he exhibits signs of having an insulin reaction or he starts acting out of character, give him a squirt of the icing. It is especially handy if he is "out of it" and trying to get him to eat or drink would be impossible or dangerous.

Eat the same foods he does and follow his diet. You'll both be healthy.Make sure he has a good eye exam every year and takes care of his feet. No walking barefoot.

Most of all relax. Diabetes that is controlled actually makes you healthier, because you become more aware of health issues, and form better habits.

-- Marg (okay@cutaway.com), June 20, 2001.

Marg's last two sentenences are very important. Diabetes is manageable but takes a mind change thing that none of us like. The key, the imperative, the God is blood glucose level. If it's maintained in the range where it belongs you, he and his doctor have done their job and he'll live forever. Well, sort of.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), June 20, 2001.

One clarification, though. Type II is non-insulin dependent. This is the most common type of diabetes and usually affects people in their older years (not saying he's old!!) compared with Type I (insulin dependent) which primarily manifests itself in children. While the main factor, elevated blood sugar, is similar in both diseases, they are otherwise very different, Type I being more like an auto-immune disease than anything else.

The advice given here is great. Hopefully, your doctor has recommended a blood glucose meter for him. There are many brands out there. Our particular favorite for the moment is the LifeScan FastTake meter (LifeScan is a division of Johnson&Johnson). It's very small, requires only a tiny blood sample, and gives results in 15 seconds. They just came out with the Ultra meter which is identical to the FastTake except that it needs even less blood and it has more features. Both use a type of strip that allows you to get samples from your arms or legs instead of your fingers.

If your husband has insurance, it's possible that they will cover the cost of the testing strips if you get them via prescription. They may only cover certain brands, though. Sticking yourself is no fun, but it's extremely important to keep an eye on glucose levels to avoid complications.

-- (di@betes.info), June 21, 2001.

Thank you. All of you.

I appreciate all your responses in this stressful time of ours.

Carlos, I learned a long time ago I can't tell him what 2 do. Can any one tell any one else what to do? ;-)

Marg, thank you for your advice but I already try live a healthy life. It doesn't seem to translate over to him. He weighs 400+ pounds and if this doesn't scare him into taking care of himself I guess nothing will. Thanks for the cake icing tip. We've had a few setbacks and your suggestion will help.

Flash, I read on some medical site that benefits from Chromium Picolinate is a myth. Have you personally tried it?

notadoctor, isn't all alcohol made with sugar?

diabetes info, thanks for the tip on the Lifescan meter. We are going out tonight to get one.

Again, thanks for the information and support.

-- (Net@scape 6.0), June 21, 2001.