Diabetes Awareness - Please Read

2001ragtop · 10-03-2012, 11:43 AM

All I want to say is that my dad was diagnosed with diabetes in his mid 40s, and right now he is age 67.

At age 50, he was in the hospital and had his first stint(s) put into his arteries.

At least 6 years ago, I visited my dad at his house and I noticed that on both of his legs below the knee, his skin was very red. At this time I did not talk to him about it. I figured he was doing whatever the doctors told him to do.

Three years ago he lost the use of his kidneys. Recently they amputated his toes on the right foot, because they were not getting any blood circulation and he had a hole in his right foot that would not heal. The doctors are in discussions right now talking about removing both of his legs below the knee due to diabetes causing bad circulation in these areas.

At this time right now, he has just been moved to another hospital because I am told he had a few mild heart attacks, and their plan is to either put in more stints, or he may need to have heart bypass surgery.

My dad has type 2 diabetes. He has spent the last 2 months ONLY in different hospitals. He has not been home.

He was recently laid of his job but was given a nice severance package.

To me at age 67, he should be relaxing, enjoying his life, and traveling, visiting grand-kids, doing fun things.

Instead he is a prisoner inside his own body. He cannot drink more than 12 ounces of fluid a day. He may never be able to drive a car again.

For reference, he did spend most of his entire adult life being overweight, and I never saw him make any kind of changes to lose it. He is about 6 foot and I assume he weighs between 230 and 250.

I had no clue how dangerous diabetes can be, as well as heart disease.

I have made many changes personally to try to protect my kidneys and also to find out as early as possible if I show symptoms of diabetes. Although I have always weighed less than 170 lbs, and I look very thin, I have read that diabetes can STILL have the same affects on someone even if they are not overweight.

I just wanted to bring this up because I think many people have no idea that diabetes is called a "silent killer".

They call it the "Silent Killer" because by the time most people find out they have this, lots of damage has already been done inside the body and it may be too late to reverse or try to control it.

If this message helped just one person, or motivated one person to LOOK INTO what this disease is, then I did what I wanted to do.

If I had understood more about diabetes, I would have NAGGED and NAGGED my dad and checked on him and WARNED him constantly. I would have drove to his house and said "Okay man lets go walking...lets go jogging..." Let's go man. I would have said "Hey man, if you don't walk around now, guess what, later on you might not have any LEGS to walk with..SO LET'S GO."

I THOUGHT diabetes was just "taking insulin shots". I didn't know about the possible blindness, and the loss of circulation, and the losing of limbs.

Thanks for everyone who chose to read this and I Hope this message leads to some positive results for someone else.

RubyCamaro · 10-03-2012, 11:53 AM

Diabetes & heart disease are important risk factors to monitor if they run in your family. I'm glad you are now aware & trying to be proactive to take care of yourself. I wish I could get my husband to do the same. Maybe your post will motivate some of the reluctant folks to see their doctor regularly and take better care of themselves.

LoneStar · 10-03-2012, 01:02 PM

I commend you for sharing your story and spreading awareness. Diabetes is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. So while someone may be predisposed to having the disease, whether or not they get it depends on their diet, physical activity and lifestyle.

While some damage has been done when people find out they have diabetes (eyes, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves), it can be partially reversed and controlled with early lifestyle changes and medications. But still, the best treatment is prevention.

Of note, type 2 diabetes was formerly called 'adult onset diabetes' due to its onset in 60-70 year olds. But as diet has changed (worsened) and activity level has diminished, it is now affecting people in their 20's or younger.

10-03-2012, 11:43 AM	#1
2001ragtop Drives: V8 american car Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 1,417	Diabetes Awareness - Please Read All I want to say is that my dad was diagnosed with diabetes in his mid 40s, and right now he is age 67. At age 50, he was in the hospital and had his first stint(s) put into his arteries. At least 6 years ago, I visited my dad at his house and I noticed that on both of his legs below the knee, his skin was very red. At this time I did not talk to him about it. I figured he was doing whatever the doctors told him to do. Three years ago he lost the use of his kidneys. Recently they amputated his toes on the right foot, because they were not getting any blood circulation and he had a hole in his right foot that would not heal. The doctors are in discussions right now talking about removing both of his legs below the knee due to diabetes causing bad circulation in these areas. At this time right now, he has just been moved to another hospital because I am told he had a few mild heart attacks, and their plan is to either put in more stints, or he may need to have heart bypass surgery. My dad has type 2 diabetes. He has spent the last 2 months ONLY in different hospitals. He has not been home. He was recently laid of his job but was given a nice severance package. To me at age 67, he should be relaxing, enjoying his life, and traveling, visiting grand-kids, doing fun things. Instead he is a prisoner inside his own body. He cannot drink more than 12 ounces of fluid a day. He may never be able to drive a car again. For reference, he did spend most of his entire adult life being overweight, and I never saw him make any kind of changes to lose it. He is about 6 foot and I assume he weighs between 230 and 250. I had no clue how dangerous diabetes can be, as well as heart disease. I have made many changes personally to try to protect my kidneys and also to find out as early as possible if I show symptoms of diabetes. Although I have always weighed less than 170 lbs, and I look very thin, I have read that diabetes can STILL have the same affects on someone even if they are not overweight. I just wanted to bring this up because I think many people have no idea that diabetes is called a "silent killer". They call it the "Silent Killer" because by the time most people find out they have this, lots of damage has already been done inside the body and it may be too late to reverse or try to control it. If this message helped just one person, or motivated one person to LOOK INTO what this disease is, then I did what I wanted to do. If I had understood more about diabetes, I would have NAGGED and NAGGED my dad and checked on him and WARNED him constantly. I would have drove to his house and said "Okay man lets go walking...lets go jogging..." Let's go man. I would have said "Hey man, if you don't walk around now, guess what, later on you might not have any LEGS to walk with..SO LET'S GO." I THOUGHT diabetes was just "taking insulin shots". I didn't know about the possible blindness, and the loss of circulation, and the losing of limbs. Thanks for everyone who chose to read this and I Hope this message leads to some positive results for someone else.

10-03-2012, 11:53 AM	#2
RubyCamaro Jan Drives: 2010 Camaro 1LT Red Jewel tintcoat Join Date: May 2010 Location: Springfield, TN Posts: 16,241 View My Garage	Diabetes & heart disease are important risk factors to monitor if they run in your family. I'm glad you are now aware & trying to be proactive to take care of yourself. I wish I could get my husband to do the same. Maybe your post will motivate some of the reluctant folks to see their doctor regularly and take better care of themselves. __________________

10-03-2012, 01:02 PM	#3
LoneStar Drives: 2011 IOM Camaro Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Texas Posts: 3,446	I commend you for sharing your story and spreading awareness. Diabetes is caused by both genetic and environmental factors. So while someone may be predisposed to having the disease, whether or not they get it depends on their diet, physical activity and lifestyle. While some damage has been done when people find out they have diabetes (eyes, blood vessels, kidneys, nerves), it can be partially reversed and controlled with early lifestyle changes and medications. But still, the best treatment is prevention. Of note, type 2 diabetes was formerly called 'adult onset diabetes' due to its onset in 60-70 year olds. But as diet has changed (worsened) and activity level has diminished, it is now affecting people in their 20's or younger. __________________