I trying to get my diabetic grandparents to leave Chicago and move in with me for a while. Both are non-insulin dependent, taking oral medication. Any advice on what to stock up on in case they do move in with me?

Thanks!

-- Deb M. (vmcclell@columbus.rr.com), November 03, 1999

Answers

I'd stock up on their meds, if I were you. See if their doctor will either double their precriptions and/or give prescriptions to be paid for from your own pocket. If not, find another doctor. If they're taking glucophage, you should know it's made by one company in France.

Second, the most important thing to remember in regard to a diabetic diet is BALANCE. The American Diabetes Association (on-line somewhere) has a lot of good information. Also search on "glycemic index." It's hard to believe, but certain forms of potato (i.e., fried, mashed) are worse than white sugar for a diabetic! At least, that's the latest thinking. Generally speaking, the higher the fiber, the lower the food is on the glycemic index. The more complex the carbohydrate, the lower on the index. Think whole grains.

Bear in mind the more even you can keep the glucose level in the blood, the longer you can put off insulin shots, although 5-10 years after onset, Type II diabetics usually have to go to insulin. In addition, even glucose levels mean putting off some of the inevitable side effects, which mostly involve organ and nerve damage. You might check to see if their doctor has advised them to take one baby aspirin per day and also Lotensin, which helps protect kidneys.

I suggest stashing some of those honey sticks you see at the checkout of some supermarkets or health food stores. Some kind of easily portable, long-lasting sugar is essential in case someone experiences a sudden downturn in sugar (it happens, often for no discernible reason).

Speaking of honey, check the honey section at the supermarket. There is now a "fake" honey made from fructose. It's a form of sugar, of course, but a more complex carbohydrate, and this is what you're looking for.

Read up on the symptoms of too much and too little sugar in the blood so that you know what to expect and what to do.

Oh--stock up on batteries for the glucometer they use; also on test strips and lancets ("jabber-stabbers")l Call around, they're expensive, prices vary and you might be able to find a less expensive store-brand.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 03, 1999.

Hey Deb, I have similar concerns with my husband, so I have been reading alot lately on diet in case medication becomes scarce. Here are a couple of good links:

Thanks, Old Git, this is certainly a topic that concerns alot of us.

American Diabetes Association

American Academy Family Physicians

AAFP Diabetes Links

Diabetes Monitor

Diabetes Monitor Links Page

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), November 03, 1999.

hi Deb, Very important, Ask your pharmacist for glucose injections. My husband would have died if I didn't have one in nightstand drawer. When thier sugar goes low they can slip into coma and convulsion at that point they obviously can't eat or drink anything as thier swallow reflex is gone and they would choke. I am sorry if this scared you but you need to know how to use those injections. You do not need a script for them.

-- Tress (tress59@aol.com), November 03, 1999.

Lilly, great links--again! Thanks.

I was diagnosed diabetic about a year ago and have been doing very well on a diet of my own formulation. Creating your own diet isn't really recommended but I know a lot about food and diets and persuaded my doctor to let me give it a shot. It's worked well for me.

Deb, the point about low blood sugar can't be underscored enough. I didn't know about the shots Tress mentioned; I shall have to look into that. Normally, I can tell when my sugar is dropping and a glass of juice puts it to rights. But there was one time when I experienced a sudden and rapid drop--if I hadn't been practically next to the juice in the fridge at the time, I would have been in trouble. I experiened disorientation, inability to form sentences, and near collapse before the sugar in the juice kicked in. There was no apparent reason for the drop in sugar. It can--and did--happen so fast and takes about 15 minutes to recover. Very scary.

I'm also paricularly sensitive to the low sugar problem because I hear of diabetic "sinkable episodes" freqently on my police scanner. It's a VERY common problem.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 03, 1999.

Look into something like THE ZONE diet to keep the blood sugar even. This means having protein and fat with every meal and snack. Nuts are good for snacks, by the way. Unfortunately stress seems to elevate blood sugar. Also, although grains might be okay, rice is very high on the glycemic index. Oatmeal is considered okay.

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), November 04, 1999.

I asked my Doctor for samples of the gluterol which I have to take. He was nice enough to give it to me! You might ask your doctor for samples!

-- Ruth Edwards (REath29646@aol.com), November 07, 1999.

Mara, it seems the "stickier" the rice, the worse it is for you. (Like Chinese rice.) Long grain rice is infinitely preferable. Basmati rice isn't too bad, and brown basmati rice is even better.

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), November 08, 1999.