Living with a Ticking Time Bomb: A Bad Diabetic
Do you live with a diabetic? I mean a bad diabetic. You know what I mean, they have diabetes. They must take Glucophage or Insulin or both. They should test blood sugar levels several times a day. They must test blood sugar levels once per day, but instead, they do nothing. Well, that is not exactly true. They eat sweets, skip meals, and do far too much on a workday. Do you know the type? If so, read on about our personal struggle of living with a bad diabetic. What can you do?
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This article previously appeared on Healthline Contibutors, but they've closed down their contributor pages. I wanted to make sure others had the opportunity to realize that you are not alone. Been there, done that, still doing that!
I live with a ticking time bomb. I am only an observer. I must not participate by making suggestions. And, why should I? He knows the rules. He knows how this works. I dare not ask, “Did you test your blood sugar today?” nor “Have you tested your blood sugar this week?” When everyone in the house (including me) has become annoying just by our physical presence, I must not ask, “Have you eaten today” nor “Did you have a milkshake?” When he “just doesn’t feel right” I cannot say, “What is your blood sugar level right now?” Nope, I must not ever say that.
Clearly, (in his head) what is wrong with him has nothing to do with diabetes. What is wrong with him is the fact that everyone around him is annoying. We are going out of our way to make him angry. We are baiting him. Of course, that is not it all. We are just as annoying as ever- no more, no less.
So, what do you with an incorrigible diabetic? I am not much of a praying person, but I pray a lot. I pray that he will see a doctor at least once per year for his A1C test. I pray that he will remember to pick up his meds. I pray that he will take said meds. Most of all, I pray that he will not have a diabetic seizure or stroke while driving the family. I know that sounds harsh. I cannot stop him from driving alone, but I can limit the times the kids go on excursions with him. Most often, on weekends, after he decides to roll out of bed, we go out for a big breakfast. He is already grumpy from missing breakfast, his sugar levels are clearly low, and he does not always understand what we are saying. (He would surely disagree with these statements.)
Before we leave the house, I always ask him to test. He is too hungry. He needs to eat first. He is full of excuses. During breakfast, I encourage him not to eat pancakes and syrup nor drink so MUCH orange juice. His eyelids lower. I can read his mind. He is wondering if I can be any more annoying. As we stroll to the car, I ask if I can drive home. His response is a low belly laugh. Now, the fun begins.
Tick tock.
His head begins to nod to his neck at every stoplight. His lids fall shut for seconds at a time. I ask timidly, “Hey, are you sleeping?” He responds, “I’m driving aren’t I? How could I be sleeping?” So, I am quiet until the next time he lets his lids fall closed, at least until the telephone pole gets a little too close for my liking- or the semi-trailer. I bite my tongue. I engage him in conversation- boring conversation about his job. Anything else is off limits for a car trip. He animatedly shares the details of an hydraulic engine. I am lucky to stay awake, but someone has to watch the road. As we turn into the drive, I thank God for allowing us a safe trip home and breathe a sigh of relief. What does he do? He goes to “rest a minute” before we do anything laborious and in an instant he is asleep. When he wakes, he is ready to eat again.
But, it isn’t always this way.
Tick tock.
His head begins to nod to his neck at every stoplight. His lids fall shut for seconds at a time. I ask timidly, “Hey, are you sleeping?” He responds, “I’m driving aren’t I? How could I be sleeping?” So, I am quiet until the next time he lets his lids fall closed, at least until the telephone pole gets a little too close for my liking- or the semi-trailer. I bite my tongue. I engage him in conversation- boring conversation about his job. Anything else is off limits for a car trip. He animatedly shares the details of an hydraulic engine. I am lucky to stay awake, but someone has to watch the road. As we turn into the drive, I thank God for allowing us a safe trip home and breathe a sigh of relief. What does he do? He goes to “rest a minute” before we do anything laborious and in an instant he is asleep. When he wakes, he is ready to eat again.
But, it isn’t always this way.
During the week, he is a good diabetic. He eats breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks a lot of water. He gets up early, works hard (too hard), and comes home hungry but happy. If I can get him to eat dinner at a reasonable hour, he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet- a true Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I do my best. We have a fridge full of insulin. I am worried about the expiration date. We are both self-employed and insurance is always an issue. Remember those excuses? Money is the number one excuse. “I can’t afford it, there are other things we need to do with the money.” Well, that is a true statement. But, what is the point? We need him around to do those other things. The clock is ticking. Everyday, we are living with a ticking time bomb.
Update: My diabetic recently started doing better. I think fear got the best of him. Weekends are still a struggle. As he ages, the affects of the diabetes are harder to ignore. His vision is blurry, (he blames it on something else, but won't get it checked out.) his feet have pins and needles- he shuffles along like a little old man. He isn't an old man, he is barely middle aged. He can no longer ignore the damage the diabetes is doing to his body, but he does.( I won't go into all of the gory details.) He does take his meds better, but he rarely sees a doctor. And when he does, he never tells the doctor the full story. There are so many red flags.
So many secrets.
I understand that it is terrifying, but ignoring it will not make it go away. It only gets worse. Don't be a bad diabetic. Think about your family. Be brave for them. You can do it!
Recommended:
Here's an oldie that shows how the Diabetes affects our Daily Life.
Recipes and Gadgets for Diabetics
Our Recipes
Update: My diabetic recently started doing better. I think fear got the best of him. Weekends are still a struggle. As he ages, the affects of the diabetes are harder to ignore. His vision is blurry, (he blames it on something else, but won't get it checked out.) his feet have pins and needles- he shuffles along like a little old man. He isn't an old man, he is barely middle aged. He can no longer ignore the damage the diabetes is doing to his body, but he does.( I won't go into all of the gory details.) He does take his meds better, but he rarely sees a doctor. And when he does, he never tells the doctor the full story. There are so many red flags.
So many secrets.
I understand that it is terrifying, but ignoring it will not make it go away. It only gets worse. Don't be a bad diabetic. Think about your family. Be brave for them. You can do it!
Recommended:
Here's an oldie that shows how the Diabetes affects our Daily Life.
Recipes and Gadgets for Diabetics
Our Recipes
