Help needed for my mom Diabetes URGENT

[TechGirl31]

My mother is a diabetic. She is having problems stabilizing her blood sugar..her doc currently has her on Metphormin 1000mg, 80 units of Lantus, 8 units of Humalog, a day for diabetes, then she takes Simfastin, 80 mg day for cholesterol , 20mg lisinopril ( doc said it protects her kidneys and liver from the other meds) , and levothyroxin for thyroid, 175 mg a day...A1C was 9.1. on her last fasting bloodwork. To top it all off, she's retired, on medicare, and has a supplement plan that isn't paying for her drugs...she ends up paying almost $1000 a month for drugs.... If you know anything about diabetes can you please let me know all the information you have...we're struggling here to figure this all out. She has been told she is insulin resistant and the doc recently put her on some other med to help with that.

[Melrose]

Not an expert by any means, but my husband was a diabetic, and he was the poster child for all that could go wrong, below the knee double amps, amputated fingers, dialysis, etc. At 48 he was gone.

How is your mother's diet? Has she been to a nutritionist about what to eat? I do know that diet, exercise, and medication are vital to regulating diabetes.

Has she (and or you) contacted the drug companies to see if she qualifies for their indigent program? Most if not all of the drug companies have this program.

Also, here in Virginia, and I am not sure if it is elsewhere, one of our health care foundations started a program with free clinics, whereby the drug companies furnish free meds to the clinics, and the patient visits the clinic, etc.

May you find the answers for your mother and you. There is a poster, bloodsugar101 (I think) that also had a website on diabetes. But, maybe she will come in to this thread.

[Houston Heather]

I would check out a copy of Dr Atkins Diabetes Revolution. Anything she does with regard to supplements and diet will have to go by her doc first.

I am in the position, a freind's wife is diabetic, one step from dialysis. At some point he's going to say she's ready for low-carb, but it might be too late.

I would ask her doctor for a referral to a LOW CARB dietician who will be supportive; many diabetes educators think 300-400 carbs a day is "fine", when most of us do far better on a lower amount.

I am prediabetic, eating low-carb, and I aim to keep my numbers as healthy as possible. Blood Sugar 101's website is excellent: Blood Sugar 101

[Wife of a Vet]

Bless you for wanting to help your mom. Diabetes is a tough thing to have. The initial diagnosis can be so frightening.

Your mom is on many of the same meds I am, including the lisinopril as a preventative. My A1C has never been that high, but after my initail diagnosis, it did keep going up and up every time I was tested. Until I started the LC diet.

In my own personal experience, diet is the number one factor in my blood sugar. And I don't mean the sugary sodas and candy and cookies. i've never been all that into sweets to begin with. But the pasta, rice, potatoes, bread... Only once I started doing Atikins did my A1C come down to normal levels. At that point I was able to stop with the glipizide - had to stop actually, I kept having lows.

[CarolynF]

Gosh, can she switch drug plans so they cover her meds??? My friend gets her diabetic stuff at Wallie and it is really cheap. Can you talk to a pharmacist? How about Liberty on tv? There must be something that can be done..

Honestly, I totally agree that she needs to eat LC and that will help her immensely, but it is alot healthier than drugs..Lots of peeps gave good advice.

[Jenny19]

I found this article hope It can help you.. Treat Diabetes

[Fire118]

Hi TechGirl31,

I agree with Houston Heather to get a copy of Dr Atkins Diabetes Revolution. Atkins diet helps people that are insulin resistant. It also help me with my thyroid problems. I know from my niece that is diabetic that when she goes on the induction part of the diet she doesn't require as much insulin.
Beside it sure can't hurt. Weight reduction alone usually helps.

Lots of Luck

[Su11]

See if she can be approved for a pharmaceutical assistance program with the drug companies that make her drugs. There should be information on their websites.

[TechGirl31]

This is nothing new for my mom, she's been Diabetic for about 15 years now...and she does do low carb, but the problem is that diet alone wasn't working for her...so they put her on pills, well diet and pills were working fine up until this last 2 years, when she got a new doc, and the new doc found out her triglycerides were through the roof. ( the old doc really didn't pay much attention).. Before she was on glyburide, thyroid meds and metformin. Then when she got to the new doc, they found they were high and gave her some thing called Tricore, or something , more metformin, lisinopril, and lovastatin. Well her stomach was sooo upset, they took out the tricore, and upped her thyroid and metformin..blah blah blah..went thru some adjustments, but then her sugars starting getting really high....A1C wasn't that high, but her fasting blood sugars were, so they put her on insulin and lowered her metformin....Well then they took her off glyburide, and put her on humalog, and now her daily blood sugars are off and on ...but her A1C is skyrocketing....She has ALWAYS done a low carb diet, she doesn't eat bread or pasta, etc..because she doesn't LIKE it....she eats the way she's supposed to....drinks water, and sometimes diet soda, etc...but can't get things right....I am suggesting she see a diabetes specialist....beacuse something isn't right. Unfortunately there aren't any close by

[CarolynF]

Oh dear..Have you checked Dr. Bernstein's site? He has an excellent diet/plan for diabetics. One of his keys is to watch the protein, which can act as carbs...

Can your mom exercise? Does your mom live with you so you know what she eats? She may be "cheating" a little bit here and there.

Many people in my small town will travel 150 miles to go to a specialist. Oftentimes, you don't have to go there every month, so it is not a big deal. It seems like she needs
a better doctor. Diabetes is very serious..you want her as stabilized as possible..

Good luck.

[Su11]

Just want to say I am very sorry.

[sherlynn9]

See my PM to you.

Sheryl

[AllisonB]

The A1C is a 'snapshot' of the average blood glucose readings over the previous 3 months or so. An A1C of 9 means an average glucose reading of about 210. Are you sure her meter is working correctly?