But she doesn't want help so I came here to ask a question about her diabetes. She is 67 years old, morbidly obese and here is her medication info.

She is on a shot of humolog before each meal. She takes 80 units of Levimir before bed time, along with other orals. So that's 4 shots a day and oral meds.

Her last a1c was almost 10. And her morning readings are always over 200

This morning it was 250. I had given her some of the fenugreek seeds and she made tea, drank it last night, and her sugar did not change. So obviousy in her case, she needs SOMETHING to be done.

She has a cardiologist because she has an arrythmia (sorry spelling??) and she is on high blood pressure meds, and coumadin and god knows what else.

I tried to gently have a talk with her about her morning readings but she said "I have a heart condition and my heart could stop in a heartbeat, so that's what I'm worried about". She has already gone to an electrophysiologist but he could not help her because of where the problem is located. He told her if it was on the proper side then they could operate on her but in her case they can't do anything. She gets palpitations and PVC's.

But her problem is her weight and her denial. I have to be very careful if I bring up her diabetes. Actually I wait for her to bring it up.

I told her today "you do know that when one has a problem controlling blood sugar that there can be complications eventually, you DO KNOW this right?" and she said "yeah, you can get coronary artery disease but I don't have that, I get pvc's". She is not concerned about her morning readings at all. She actually laughed and said "this is so frustrating". And I said "well, I don't think it's funny". She changed the subject.

And she hasn't been to an endocrinologist in over one year. Every time she goes to her primary care guy he gets on her case about her weight and she backs off. So she is not good about going to the doctor.

So here's my question. What the heck is going to happen to her if she doesn't get the diabetes under control?

And if she does finally go to see an endocrinologist, what will they do? She said she is on the highest dose of Levimir and oh, here is something VERY important.

She actually gave herself a shot of humolog (after she took the shot of Levimir). I said "you can do that??" and she said "no, not really but I wanted to see if I would get a lower reading in the morning and I did"

I have tried to explain dawn phenomenon to her but it flies on deaf ears.

The fact that she is experimenting with taking humolog and then going to bed, well, this doesn't sit well with me. I think she is gambling with her life.

I told her "they will probably put you on an insulin pump, so go on online and see all about it".

Her response is "I don't want to know"

So she obviously doesn't want to know.

But I do. What do you think the doctor (if she ever goes to him), well what do you think they will do for her? What does a person do when 4 shots a day and oral pills, well, when they don't work.? What's next?

Thanks for helping me. I did try and get her to go to Cornell with me and go to a nutritionist but she said "that's too hard"

Oh dear!!


Melody

There is really nothing you can do. The heart thing may be separate from the diabetes. But sugars out of control eventually do kill people, one way or another. I'd just steer clear of the subject with her.

One cannot make people in denial do anything when they are like this.

I know a prominent DOCTOR here...a woman no less... who ignored her diabetes, for years in denial. She dropped on her porch with ketoacidosis and it was too late for her. She died.
She was a child psychiatrist no less!

This person you describe seems to have no pancreas left to fall back on. When that happens only injections will work. Making some people change food is the hardest thing. Food may be all she has emotionally!

People in denial, like that must have deep seated esteem issues, and perhaps are looking forward to death.

Changing diet at this point, may not accomplish much... in her mind's eye... so she keeps her food where she likes it. It is not likely she will ever be off insulin.

Yeah, I hear you. When I began the Accord Protocol she could have gone with me. Years later (present time), she saw the change in me, in my appearance, etc, and that I do all that I can do to control my blood sugar (believe me I don't bring this up when we speak, but sometimes it's the topic of conversation (diabetes, I mean), so I once said to her "I wish you had gone to the Accord study with me). Her response:

"You don't know that it would have helped me"

????????????

I do not get such a way of thinking, but it is what it is.

And the odd thing is that she is a cancer survivor (over 10 years now). She had a cancerous polyp removed LONG ago. One would think that THAT would have given her a light bulb moment.

It sure would have given me a light bulb moment.

But thanks for giving me your wisdom. Too bad the fenugreek did nothing for her. I believe (in her case), that had it dropped her sugar down the next morning, she probably would have seen it as a reason to indulge at night (knowing that if she drank some fenugreek tea, and it drops the sugar, that this would give her license to over-eat.

Food addicts do this.

Oh well, nothing more to be done. I AM however having a ball teaching sprouting to people who wish to learn healthier alternatives.

How are you doing with the sprouting?

Melody

I haven't started the sprouts yet.... I think the spring/summer will be the time.

I am eating so little right now... The death of my 2 long time friends...kitties, the new kittie, and all the hoohaa I have now to deal with my blood sugar and the Glumetza, etc... another new thing? Right now I am doing seeds...but not the edible type.
My kitchen is full of seedstarting stuff and I can't move around in there at all (very small old kitchen). I have 4 flats now under lights for my outside garden.

Once I get those things outside, then I'll think about the sprouts.
I eat more greens/salads when the weather is warm anyway.

I found some NOW packaged seeds at a healthfood store about 45 minutes away. They were less $$ than the online places.
I do have them, I just have to get motivated. The metformin kills my appetite...maybe I will get over that effect? But no sickness yet from it. Next week I start 2 a day.

Ah, you haven't started sprouting yet. Sorry about your kitties. They must have meant a lot to you. Today I am expecting a replacement Flip video camera. I will then make a new video of what I did in my kitchen. I moved a bookcase across the kitchen and I have a completely self contained sprout shelving system. It's quite remarkable. I knew what I wanted and so I set out to make it. I have a swing lamp affixed to the top shelf and it swings down for greening up and it swings up to light my kitchen. Very innovative if I say so myself. But you have to see it to completely understand what I did. My other sprouting buddies get a kick out of my sprouting videos. I tell them "wait, you aint seen nothing yet". I sound like Al Jolson, lol

So I hope this Flip comes today. I have lots of videos to make.

I'll send you a link when I do the kitchen one. You'll see my sprouts greening up and you'll laugh. It really is a great set-up. I could do this for the rest of my life.

I find sprouting very calming, very anti-anxiety and because these foods are alive, well, I know they are helping my body, with all the anti-oxidant benefits.

I think we are never too old to learn stuff.

Look at how much I learned from you.


Melody

Yes, my 24 yr old cat and 20 yr old died 2 months apart. This was terrible on me. I was totally broken!

I did find a new kitten, and she is really a handful. I have pictures of all of them on my profile album.
This new kitty is like having a baby! She even squeals, tries to talk, and fetches! One amazing furball. And she keeps me really busy. She is my new avatar picture.

What a cute cat. I must share something with you. My friend has a dog, Babe and two cats, who she rescued from outside. They have been with her for years. She takes excellent care of all her pets. I am not a cat person. At least until last month, had never petted any cats.

I resolved (for the new year), to pet Tabitha and Little one (those are her cats). I was sitting in her living room and I patted the couch and I said "Tabby, come here". Everyone watched me. I let her smell me, and she rolled over on her back and I rubbed her tummy. Then she cozied up to me and laid next to me. Never saw such a thing and my friend said "I never thought you could do that, you don't go near cats". I said "we should all do something new once in a while and my resolution this year was to pet your cats. Then the other cat Little One is his name, I did the same with him. Now when I go and visit her, I have Babe (the dog) at my feet, wanting my attention, and both cats sitting one on each side of me. and I pet them.

Wow, I'm doing really well in my old age, aren't I?

lol

You had your cats for a long long time, now you can give the love to the new cat.

Best of luck

Melody
When I get my Flip, I record my relationship with Little One and Tabitha.