He is 78 and has been showing signs for awhile but no one wanted to intervene. There was a lot of denial.
Now his wife left him and my hubby is trying to help. He took him to the doc and he scored 11 on the memory test. This was last month. Hubby got POA.
Now we just found out he is eating off schedule and not taking his insulin.
He lives alone so not sure what to do.
His assessment is not for 3 months but he is on a cancellation list.
Do/should we have him hospitalized? This is so sad and very hard on my hubby.
Unless he is supervised, he could take TOO MUCH insulin or TOO LITTLE insulin. Both could be life threatening.
I'm a Type I diabetic and can say that you really have to have your mental abilities in order to calculate, monitor and administer insulin. I would have his wife supervise and WATCH for signs of high blood sugar AND low blood sugar.
Running high for periods of time can cause Ketoacidosis. Watch for extreme nausea, vomiting, body aches, pain in belly and muscles. Eventually labored breathing. It's a 911 situation.
Running low watch for shaky, nervous, sweating, extreme hunger, and headache. Always keep sugar source near like juice.
I don't know how someone can wait that long for tests if they insulin is not being monitored.
His care assessment is not until March 29 and then there is probably a wait to get into the nursing home.
He is still lucid most of the time but no short term memory at all.
Home care may be an option but I don't think he/we can afford enough to make sure he takes meds every night and eats the right amount/times.
My hubby is so stubborn he won't call the elder social worker or Alzheimer's association until he hears back about the assessment!
I know he takes one needle every night.
Hubby emptied sharp container last week and not one new needle since!
He lives alone- wife left him a couple months ago😞
He has relatives visiting for a few days but once they leave he is alone again.
They noticed he was "eating like he was starving"
But he could just be forgetting that he just had a meal..
Also he is not supposed to be driving but keeps suggesting to take them for drives.
Hubby is stubborn really and his siblings are useless!(sorry for short rant).
Thanks for your help!
Hubby thinks maybe he is depressed and trying to kill himself but I think he just forgets.
Either way, I don't think they are making him take it so it has been several days with zero insulin!
Doesn't your husband understand that untreated diabetes can lead to death? I don't know how serious your FIL's diabetes is, but if he's taking insulin (or should be), he could be in serious trouble if he's not eating/medicating as he should.
Please keep us posted on what happens...and try to manage YOUR stress as you watch the two of them deny anything can or should be done. Hugs to you!
Terrible things can happen if your blood sugar goes too low. Some people have a feeling when they go low, others don't. Those who don't can go unconscious, unless they get some sugar in them to raise the level. Then, you have to check your blood sugar with finger sticks for hours, to confirm it's stable.
IMO, all of this blood sugar control is too much for a person with no short term memory. I'm not sure what to tell you, but I would contact his doctor and or adult protective services saying it was an EMERGENCY. I would think a doctor would agree.
You refer to his wife, but then say he lives alone. I'm confused. Regardless, whoever is in charge needs to take immediate action. This insulin issue is not something that can be put on hold.
Driving is incredibly dangerous for a diabetic with not short term memory and no ability to properly monitor their blood sugar levels.
I wish he would come out of denial a bit so he is more prepared when things go wrong. Also he is shutting me out of the process. It sucks too because it so close to the holidays.
Hubby also is so angry that his siblings won't help but at the same time wants to be the hero and not really accept alot of help. He is the one who has the closest relationship to his dad but his siblings seems more concerned about their dad's meager assets.
I may call the social worker and Alzeimhers society myself tomorrow and see if they have any additional insight they can share.
I will keep you posted!
If he is having difficulty managing medicines, your hubby needs to figure out what to do. If your FIL is still legally competent, you won't be able to make him do anything, but encouragement might work.
FIL did not want to go and apparently put up quite a fight but hubby insisted and called ambulance.
I am just getting bits of info but his sugars are in the 20's.
I guess he is having a fit at the hospital and they put him in a chair he can't get out of to restrain him somewhat.
Thankfully hubby was there.
Hopefully docs will access him more fully tomorrow.
A person with dementia and a condition condition they must take medication for cannot safely live alone period.
Those are facts. It is not a matter of opinion -- your husband's or your FIL's -- it is a simple fact that dementia is a disability and the person needs some help to compensate for it.
As I am sure you can see, waiting for an assessment in March without doing anything to help manage the diabetes in the meantime is very dangerous. But the question is, what can you do about it?
Would showing this thread to your husband help? Is there some outsider whose opinion your husband respects you could bring in on this discussion? A golf buddy? A clergy member? FIL's doctor? ANYBODY he might listen to more than he'd listen to you? He may be stubborn and he may be in denial, but I assume he also loves his father and would not really want anything serious to happen to him if it could be prevented.
The hospital staff seem to be better than FIL personal doc and that is helping hubby come out of denial. Especially since sugars are starting to come down and FIL memory is still really bad.
Hubby's siblings have not even gone to visit their father in the hospital so it's all on my hubby.
FIL memory is so bad he keeps forgetting why he is in the hospital and that he is not coming home 😞.
All in all things are better than before because at least a plan is starting. Hopefully they get him in a home soon.