Diabetes advice (my father in law) and communication issues

[Thanna]

HI
sorry this is long - please read if you have knowledge of diabetes / later stages etc.

I have married into a very traditionally early/mid 1900’s family
they have (including my husband) the opinion that doctors know what they are doing and will take the best care of a person

is there anyone on this forum that feels this way?
i think not
not without patient cooperation, will, our demands, the bashing your head against a brick wall trying to get help.

NO i have no real trust, although when I’m compliant and well, i cooperate, because i have been lucky to want the help and my mum to pushed for it

anyway

my father in law has not been taking care of himself and my husband is of the opinion that he is taking enough care (i see him eat biscuits, cake, pudding, chocolate - every time i see him and the boxes of chocolate gradually get eaten)

he has recently bought a frame, then a mobility scooter.

now he has a lurch in his walk, his gait has changed and i think he has neuropathy

I think he probably now doesn’t look in his family health encyclopaedia on the shelf (really) and i assume that he is now googling stuff.

i don’t know anything more than i can guess - he is obese, doesn’t take care of sugar and now has uncoordinated gait.

I wish i could advise my husband what to say to his father .

my husband said today that his father is 85 and knows how to take care of himself

I read about orthotics - feet checking - etc… what can we do to help?

[Blossom]

I have type 1 diabetes which has no relation to diet changes or obesity… Sorry, I don’t know any advice for type 2 diabetes.

[zeno]

Does he know what he should be doing or is the motivation his problem?

[Thanna]

I think my husband doesn’t know what he is doing for himself other than trusting doctors and his fathers common sense…

Also i don’t know if the father knows what he should be doing.

I have researched around it a little and my guess is the gait problem is neuropathy… and loss of coordination in joints caused by not being able to feel them properly

i am new to looking it all up and i feel like i am stirring something that doesn’t need it but then i think about -
ways of improving comfort or safety - is orthotics a good idea that kind of thing
i know he should be checking his feet but i have no idea if he knows to or if he does
he is not going to get great care on the NHS we are not world leaders on diabetes care

motivation is the issue with the sugar
i don’t know if he even tests his blood sugar

[Wave]

I have type 2 Diabetes and have recently gone back on track with eating healthier.

For me it’s all about portion control and eating less.
Going to try to walk some more too.

I don’t avoid carbs but trying to eat less processed foods, although this can’t be completely avoided.

[Thanna]

thanks Wave.

he is now confined to much less exercise and his gait is affected.
i find it amazing that my husband doesn’t talk to his parents - not even the basics

[Csummers]

Everything in moderation.
If your father in law is 85 years old and type 2 diabetic, he must have been doing something right to live that long.

Personally, I don’t believe Dr’s are a healthy thing, in my experience you leave their office with more questions than you asked,a bill for &316., and hpefullr not one more problem than you started with.

I think 85 years is plenty of years to live, maybe you’re FIL is eating what he wants because he wants to leave this world a happy man-by getting all he likes before hhe goes?
All those sweets may shorten his life, but at least he will leave a happy man
?

[eighteyedspy23]

I have diabetes type 2. Maybe you could advise him to be more careful about his diet, to try and eat more lean protein and vegetables and less carbs (rice, potatoes, pasta and noodles, breads, certain cereals, etc.). If he has a a sweet tooth, encourage sugar-free sweets, that might help his tendency toward overdoing candy, etc. Fruits and nuts may be a healthier alternative to processed sweets.
Seeing a doctor on a regular basis is important too, as well as taking any meds prescribed as directed and on a daily basis. For problems with his feet in particular, make sure he asks the doctor to always check them out when he sees them. For dry skin accumulating on the bottom of his feet and his heels, you can use a scrubber to help get rid of this. Best time to do this is after a shower or bath, when the skin is still soft. This might help with circulation and being able to feel his feet a little more, so he can notice any problems should they arise. It’s very important to try and minimize any injuries to his feet, esp cuts or even scrapes, he may have more difficulty with infections. Any time he cuts himself anywhere on his body, you should let a doctor see it, even if it seems insignificant, dues to the problems diabetics have with healing and infections. Over all, losing weight can be very helpful in managing his diabetes, as well as his cardiovascular health. Hope this helps.