Kitchen Chat

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

JenniHusker — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:03:04 GMT

Debbie, You are a dynamite friend. A call to her physician's nurse might result in her going in to see the doctor. You're not asking them to give you any protected information. You could just let the office know that she needs to be seen ASAP.

So glad she has you!

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Lady Fingers — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:13:45 GMT

I'm very glad that your friend is doing better, but please to press her (gently) to make an appointment with a nutritionist and get some guidelines on how, and how often, she should be eating.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Gormetta — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 12:00:19 GMT

Thank you for the update, GrandmaK. She's lucky to have you for a friend.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

whiteflower_pa — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:27:48 GMT

I was happy to read this update.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

GrandmaK_54_Illinois — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:22:55 GMT

Thank you everybody! My DH and I drove up to her apartment. She had eaten something by then and took a short nap. She seemed more alert by the time we got there. She was embarrassed to let us in because her house was messy, and she was in her nightgown. I talked to her on the phone on my drive home, and she was alert and conversive. I also talked to her some more about learning to manage her diabetes. She said, "I do manage it. I check my blood sugar daily". I told her there was more to it than that, and reminded her that she needed to be taking in a consistant amount of carbs, with her meals spaced a consistant amount of time apart.

She was very appreciative that we checked on her. She never married, and her closest family (a sister) is 600 miles away. So she only has friends to depend on.

That's a good idea about the grape juice.

Thanks for your concern! I need to keep a closer eye on her.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Gormetta — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:12:49 GMT

I'm very concerned about your friend. Please let us know how this turns out.

I'm not a medical person but I did work with a developmentally disabled gentleman for many years who had diabetes. If he had displayed the symptoms you have described, I would have called an ambulance. She needs to be eating meals on a regular schedule, as well as snacks. Please help her get help before it's too late.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Karen Y — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:02:18 GMT

I have many of the same problems as your friend, including the diabetes and the transplant. Mine is 24 & 1/2 years old...and I am so very grateful for it. But the kidney problem started years ago when I had many bouts of strep as a kid, I'm now 61. I take 13 pills a day, + 2 insulin shots... It can be rough at times. A friend's husband is also diabetic and he was told to drink some purple grape juice to bring his blood sugar back up. That's what I now do, and keep little bottles in the fridge for that very purpose. It works faster that OJ and it really doesn't take much...

Hope she gets help real fast. You are being a really good friend. Does she have a family close by that you would be able advise of her health problems? It doesn't sound as if anyone else knows about this.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Karen Y — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:50:18 GMT

I have many of the problems your friend has. I too have a kidney transplant, mine is 24 & 1/2 years old...PTL!!!. But my kidney problem started as a result of strep throat as a kid; I'm now 61. I am on insulin shots 2 x a day plus various other meds. But I do know to eat on schedule so I can take my shots.

Is she on insulin? If not, IMO it sounds as if she needs to be on it or some meds. Does she have any family close that you could advise of her condition?

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

PalominofillyinMS — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 05:36:33 GMT

She need to be seen by a Doctor STAT! Sound like she could be going into a diabetic coma. She could even be experienceing acute renal failure. PLEASE get her to the ER! And please keep us posted on her condition. Prayers going up for her... ~Jeanne

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

whateverfood — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:46:24 GMT

Ivey_Queen:

whateverfood:

Anaphylactic Shock can be deadly, which is what this reads like. Mom is type 2

Hmm? Anaphylaxis and diabetes are not related in any way.

OK, I'm apparently using the wrong word- sorry. I hate medical jargon! It's too damme long, too complicated even for doctors to say, and I've only come across 3 or 4 in the medical profession that could actually put what they wrote on my mother's chart in layman's English...

A Diabetic "crash" is potentially lethal, regardless of what the AMA calls it, especially when severe heart disease is involved. I hope this has clarified my previous statement.

Editing to add:

I found the word (Hypoglycemia) I should of used; sorry again for the confusion:

It is very important to recognize hypoglycemia and be prepared to treat it at all times. Headache, feeling dizzy, poor concentration, tremors of hands, and sweating are common symptoms of hypoglycemia. You can faint or have a seizure if blood sugar level gets too low.

These seizures are potentially lethal, as all seizures can be.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Lynn1018 — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:12:57 GMT

I have zero medical training but if she can't stay awake...she needs to be seen in an ER soon. It could be from the diabetics...my MIL once went into some sort of a state where she appeared unconscious & unresponsive & it was because of her diabetics. And, my DH, who's had a triple-bypass....other than the chest pains we & our dr. thought were heartburn...would fall asleep anywhere...couldn't figure out why he was tired, even when he got up in the morning. You can either leave her alone because she's refused medical attention....or you can call the paramedics & give her address....once there, they'll assess her & make a decision. Sounds like she might be difficult for you to move, especially since she's uncooperative, but she may not be in a state of mind to be making a good decision for herself?

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Ivey_Queen — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:57:51 GMT

whateverfood:

Anaphylactic Shock can be deadly, which is what this reads like. Mom is type 2

Hmm? Anaphylaxis and diabetes are not related in any way.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

whateverfood — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:47:00 GMT

Anaphylactic Shock can be deadly, which is what this reads like. Mom is type 2 and I have to gripe at almost every day to eat according to her diet at the intervals she needs to. Stubborn! She's had 3 "crashes" this week- lethargic, confused, heavy sweating, shakes...hard candy followed by protein to last until the person can eat something substantial. She's gonna keep messing around and one of these days I'm gonna come home and find her in a big heap on the floor... (Yes, I can make her go to the ER and authorize treatment by EMT or ER.)

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

Ivey_Queen — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:32:00 GMT

If she allows them to assess her then the scare tactic may work (hopefully this is what would happen), but she can still refuse an assessment. Just because 911 is called does not mean they are required to lay hands on the patient. I've seen people call 911 THEMSELVES and then refuse an assessment.

Re: Any medical people here? I'm a bit concerned about my friend.

whiteflower_pa — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:15:52 GMT

Maybe- but they will check her vitals and maybe throw a good scare into her. Then she just might go.