Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert food into glucose, a sugar that the body uses for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the blood, and can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes and organ damage...

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/ Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Sugar level: over 500

kokokitty
kokokitty
Help! I don't know anything about diabetes..
My grandma was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 5 years ago, and 3 days ago she was feeling really really bad.. so yesterday morning she went to the doctor.

Her blood sugar level was over 500!!!

They immediately sent her to the hospital and she stayed in ICU last night while they gave her fluids and brought down her sugar level...

What would cause it to do that?

She takes like 5 pills plus insulin every day.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Best thing to do is to speak to your grandma and to her doctor. There could be any number of different reasons and you need to know which one it actually was.

She should be checking her blood sugars several times a day so should have known her sugar was high before it got to the stage of hospitalisation. She should also have been aware that if she felt unwell the first port of call should have been to check her blood sugar. If you want to help her, you need to find out why she is not monitoring her diabetes and then you will know how to help.

For example, if she is not confident about managing her diabetes it could be that she just needs some education from her doctor and has been too proud or too nervous to ask. It might be helpful to attend with her so you also know what to do. Or, if she is forgetful and missed injections or other meds, it could be that someone needs to visit her every day to make sure she is checking her blood sugars, injecting and remembering her medication. There may be a district nurse in her area who could do this. It could also potentially be a financial issue if you live somewhere where you pay directly for healthcare.

However I am purely guessing here, like I say it's best to speak to her directly.

Hope she feels better soon.
mzizgayle
mzizgayle
There can be so many factors, that could do this, does she watch her carbs, portion controls etc? Talk with her and her doctor...being on all the meds in the world might not help if the person doesn't do their part.
deleted_user
deleted_user
she must walk every day drink lots of cold water and most importantly cut as many carbs out as possible. No sweets other than sugar free stuff. No sodas. Occassional diet soda green tea and teas are good. Im diabetic grandparents were and my father was who passed away from diabetes. Watch her portions on foods and fruits 1/2 cup couple times a day. Lots of vegies too. Tell your grandmother my advice. It all works my sugars were high now they are down to 113 and dropping.
mzizgayle
mzizgayle
Watch those sugar free items...they can have more carbs than the regular....get into the notion that carbs are sugars and that is what you will monitor....A carb is made up of simple sugars and complex sugars, so just by eliminating sugar doesn't mean you are not carb free.

If she is drinking regular cokes not diet, then she was getting 60 carbs or so just for a serving and most can soda is about 1 1/2 servings.