As I've been ill for the past week, I haven't eaten a lot so I've lost 4lb - if only weight loss and health were that easy.
I really wasn't sure what to write about this week and a thought came to mind - why not have a look at diabetes. To confess, I haven't got around to reading about it (I'm not a medic, so all information would have to come from websites)!
My experience of diabetes comes from my late mum. I can't remember when she was diagnosed with it, but I reckon it was round about 2016. She didn't need to take insulin, but she was supposed to look after herself - eating healthily and trying to keep active. She had a blood monitor, where she would prick her finger with a lancet and put a drop of blood onto a tab and insert it into a machine where it would read her glucose levels.
In 2018 she fell downstairs, hit her head and shattered her hip socket joint so she had a hip replacement - up until that time, she walked everywhere - she was over weight but she did like walking. After the operation, she found she couldn't walk without a frame, which really frustrated her big time. She got by though.
Of course in 2020 there was lockdown and all of her activities finished - she loved going to the Salvation Army and helping out in their shop, she founded and ran their parents and toddler group for years, she went to their ladies meetings, Sunday meetings, she started and ran a CAMEO (Come And Meet Each Other) group for ladies and men - they had crafts and speakers etc, she loved going to the Trefoil Guild (this is the senior section of the Girl Guide Association (Girl Scouts in the USA). She would organise things with her Trefoil Guild ladies, they had craft meetings, lunches out, speakers etc. All of that stopped and my mum was trapped indoors (I say trapped, because there was nothing to go to), I believe she sank into depression (although that's another story).
In January 2021, my dad went into hospital because he wasn't well so I took a week off work to help my mum out. I remember getting the bus to the hospital and when we got off I saw my mum looking around confused - so I asked "What's wrong?" to which she replied "I'm looking for my daughter!" I said "Mum, I am your daughter!". She laughed it off, but after the fall down the stairs her writing changed - it went 'wobbly' (that's how I can describe it) and her memory started to go - she had a phenomenal memory for remembering all kinds of dates etc - she would even call me to remind me of appointments I had because she knew I'd forget them (that was in my younger days)!
In September 2021, my mum and dad were struggling a bit so I took a week off work and went to help them out. I'm so glad I did because I had the opportunity to say "Thank you!" to my mum for all the help she had given me (again, that's another story) and that was the last time I saw her.
Now to the diabetes part - while I was there in the September, I saw the machine and the tabs etc and asked my mum what they were for and she said they were for measuring her blood sugar levels and "I don't bother with it anymore!" She had given up. Hindsight is a 'good thing' people say sarcastically and I wish I'd asked her to show me how it worked, because I think her glucose was probably through the roof. I remember her eating so slowly and my dad saying that she always took ages to eat her food these days! She was failing! Around about 28th October 2021 she suffered a massive stroke (it didn't help that the ambulance took 5 hours to arrive and it was 24 hours before she got to the stroke ward)! She passed away on 1st November 2021 from complications due to diabetes and a stroke (I can't remember the exact wording - but those were basically the causes).
Why am I writing all this? I want to say to those who have diabetes - PLEASE do your blood tests, even if you don't feel like it &/or take your insulin. Those who have relatives and friends who have diabetes PLEASE keep an eye on them!
If you're in the UK and you are concerned that you or someone you know may have diabetes - click the link below for more information:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/
If you're in the USA:
https://diabetes.org/
If you're in Canada:
https://www.diabetes.ca/
If you're in Australia
https://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/
If you're in NZ
https://www.diabetes.org.nz/
Have a really good week anybody reading this and keep an eye on your health!
xxxx
