blood sugar this am 28 and heart rate 48

[ODAT]

Called mom my usual 11ish time and she sounded lethargic and said she wasn't feelling well. Hadn't eaten yet and was going to lay down. Asked what her bs was and said she hadn't tested it yet. So I had her test it while I waited. 28! Asked if she had oj and she said no and she'd call my sister to bring her some. Told her I would call sis and she needed to eat asap.

Called her back and told her sis would be there in about 10 min with juice and reminded her that she should have some always. So she tells me 'oh, I have a can of coke here that would work.' told her that it was BAD for her kidneys - " I know..." So she didn't drink that.

She was getting her B12 and arensp shot the other day and her heart rate was 48 bpm. It's been that low before (couple months ago) and heart doc reduced beta blocker dose. That was the first time. The second time the pcp said that as long as her blood pressure was ok nothing needed to be adjusted. Well now it's the third time and we are waiting for heart doc response.

I feel like I need to do something more. pcp just keeps adjusting her insulin and says it has a lot to do with what she eats. She has to do pre-op on 6/16. Hope none of these issues stop that surgery.

[Rerun]

Isn't there an inslin pump that can be inserted in her side?  I hear that works great.

[ODAT]

We certainly have to look into another option to keep this steady. Her bs was 419 at 2:15pm today. 28 then 419? with just toast and oj. She hadn't eaten lunch yet and just woke up from a 45 min nap. She sounded better. We are going to contact her pcp and I will suggest this. thank you Rerun.

[monrein]

You sound very worried.  I have no advice, just a 

[willieandwinnie]

ODAT, I hope your day got better. 

[ODAT]

Took mom to the pcp and he tells us NOW that if she doesn't eat enough that she should cut her insulin dose. Yesterday she told me she ate peanut butter toast and coffee for breakfast, then I know she drove an hour (from my other sisters) to get a script, then to get her B12 and arensp, then home where she ate dinner. She didn't eat lunch! She took her insulin and woke up with it at 28. She woke up at 9:30 and still hadn't eaten or tested her bs until I made her do it while I was on the phone at 10:45am.

Doc said that the old thinking was that diabetics should not have beta blockers because it could cause hypoglicemic unawareness but as long as her blood pressure is good, she needs to stay on bb for her heart.

Doc also wants her to have an ultrasound of her neck to see if there is any blockage prior to her surgery on 7/6. I'm like, yeah okay, that's really crunched that you tell us now and oh by the way when would you have told us if we didn't emergency come in today?!!!! She does have a 7/3 appt with him for surgery clearance -that would have given us less time.  So I take her for that on Thursday. He said if it was only 30 to 40 % blocked they would still do surgery. Geez, he was walking out the door when he said that what happens if it's more?

time for bed. son's team lost his baseball game by 1, he didn't get to play first, struck out all three times at bat, missed a ball in outfield, ump kicked our best catcher (and the coach's son) out of the game on the first up to bat because on the third strick (after the ump accidentally called the second strike the third then apologized 'my bad...') that the ball hit the ground. The ump said 'you're out of the game, this isn't even a warning, you're out!' Coach was yelling and the ump said keep it up and you'll be in the parking lot. Then a kid from the other team plowed our third base guy and our center was mouthing and the ump almost kicked him out!

Thanks for listening and the hugs.

[Sunny]

Your son had a pretty interesting ball game. It's good he's out there giving it his best shot.
I sure hope you and your sister get things figured out for your Mom. It's hard as parents age, they seem to overlook such important things --
like eating lunch. She would probably do so well if the Docs could just figure out her meds so that she could have some sort of program to
follow and maintain what health she has. I hope things go well for your Mom. She's fortunate to have such loving children.

[Sluff]

I think Rerun is right is there anyway your Mom could get the insulin pump? I think that would be the perfect solution. 

[ODAT]

Sorry forgot to tell you that we discussed the pump and the doctor said that they usually don't suggest someone my mom's age to use it because you have to be very mindful of its use. Mom gets confused and forgetful so doesn't look like an option. Just knowing that she has to decrease her insulin if she doesn't eat a lot that day hopefully will be enough to prevent low bs. Man, I still can't believe it took this long into this for us to be told this. Me and sis take turns but I'm pretty sure she was never told this either.

[Sunny]

My 83 yr old father usually goes into the doctors office alone. When I drove him to the Doc last month I asked if I could go into the office
with him. What I found out is that the Doctor was giving him information he was not remembering, such as how to take his meds along
with side effects if the meds weren't taken correctly. So I wrote it down for him and every once in a while I will send him E-mail as reminders
of how he should be taking the meds. Perhaps this has happened with your mother. She may not be remembering all the info provided by her
Docs.

[ODAT]

Cathy is going to write up a big board schedule - which she has done in the past and it got pushed aside. Mom even has to be told when to eat. I just talked to her. This morning her bs was 260. What she did was eat a regular day of food yesterday (unlike Tuesday when she only ate two meals so she put her insulin to half dose) she forgot to put her insulin back to regular dose. I can just sense and hear that she is getting more and more confused and forgetful. I see from IHD that this is one complication of toxic buildup. She couldn't remember if she ate breakfast yesterday.

My mom always has to have someone go with her to the doctors. Me and sis are on the charts to be able to get info when we call too (HIPPA).

[The Wife]

I have to no advice for you Odat but I do have a big hug and lots of love to send your way.

 

[MyssAnne]

No advice. Just lots of hugs, and support, and encouragement. It's so tiring, isn't it?  We went through this with my mother, and now my father. 

[talker]

Hi All, and ODAT,

Any followup with the outcome here, that anyone knows!   

talker