My 72 year old husband was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes

Posted by vboltin @vboltin, Mar 19, 2016

Hello, I'm new to the Diabetes group. My 72 year old husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes this week. I'm interested in this group so I can educate myself and help him become healthier. We've received close to zero help from the diagnosing doctor so are looking for a new one already. Do you recommend we seek another internal medicine physician or an endocrinologist?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Diabetes & Endocrine System Support Group.

Hi @vboltin, and welcome to Connect. Thanks for reaching out. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. I would like to connect with @aster who may be able to provide a recommendation. @aster, would you be willing to share your experience, as well as provide any insight or advice to @vboltin?

Have you began researching doctors who specialize in internal medicine and/or endocrinology?

Also, I found some information on lifestyle and home remedies for type 2 diabetes: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/manage/ptc-20169866.

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@alysebrunella

Hi @vboltin, and welcome to Connect. Thanks for reaching out. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. I would like to connect with @aster who may be able to provide a recommendation. @aster, would you be willing to share your experience, as well as provide any insight or advice to @vboltin?

Have you began researching doctors who specialize in internal medicine and/or endocrinology?

Also, I found some information on lifestyle and home remedies for type 2 diabetes: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/manage/ptc-20169866.

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Thank you, Alyse, for responding to my post. I read the info at the link you provided and also forwarded it to my husband. If @aster is willing to be in touch with me, I would welcome it. We're very new to diabetes so am reading everything I can find - which is considerable.<br />
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I believe we will contact an endocrinologist I've identified and will make an appointment on Monday. Fortunately, we live in a geographic area where there is an abundance of medical providers. The hard part will be finding one who is not only knowledgeable, but caring and willing to listen to concerns and answer questions. The doctor my husband saw initially was abrupt, impatient, and unfriendly. Now we're not so naive to expect the doctor to be a "best bud". However, we were sent home to pick up 2 prescriptions with an appointment 4 weeks away, but received NO guidelines (written or otherwise) about what John should do in the meantime as to diet, exercise, etc., no suggestion or scrip for a glucose monitor, etc. I find that unacceptable. Rant over. We're moving on to get this thing under control.<br />
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Thanks again!<br />
<br />

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@alysebrunella

Hi @vboltin, and welcome to Connect. Thanks for reaching out. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. I would like to connect with @aster who may be able to provide a recommendation. @aster, would you be willing to share your experience, as well as provide any insight or advice to @vboltin?

Have you began researching doctors who specialize in internal medicine and/or endocrinology?

Also, I found some information on lifestyle and home remedies for type 2 diabetes: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/manage/ptc-20169866.

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Try to find a physician who practices functional medicine.<br />
<br />
Nancy Shermoen<br />

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I hate to reveal my ignorance, but I'm unfamiliar with the term "functional medicine". Could you please explain?<br />
<br />

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Important question. As I mentioned, my husband is newly diagnosed and this is his 3rd day on meds. Because we haven't been able to see a certified diabetes educator yet and have no guidance from his doctor, we're flying blind as to his diet. Until we can get professional help, can anyone tell us what is a good rule of thumb for grams of carbs he should have at each meal and snack and maybe total daily calories? He is 5'9" and weighs 191 so, while he could lose a few pounds, weight is not a big issue. I've done lots of reading and somewhere saw 30 grams at each meal and 15 at each of two snacks. More reading seems to indicate that may be too low. Don't want to starve him! Basically, he's counting carbs (good carbs) and not worrying overly much about calories or fats at this point. Any input would be appreciated. Hope to see a professional this week!

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Hi @vboltin. I'm glad you found the information about lifestyle and home remedies helpful, and that you are planning to seek out an endocrinologist.

I found a diabetes diet that provides a sample menu, as well as general guidelines to ensure you're eating the right types of food and not too much/too little of anything. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-diet/art-20044295?pg=1) Please let me know if this helps. I'm not a medically trained professional, so I would encourage talking to your husband's new doctor about what's best for him.

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@alysebrunella

Hi @vboltin. I'm glad you found the information about lifestyle and home remedies helpful, and that you are planning to seek out an endocrinologist.

I found a diabetes diet that provides a sample menu, as well as general guidelines to ensure you're eating the right types of food and not too much/too little of anything. (http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes-diet/art-20044295?pg=1) Please let me know if this helps. I'm not a medically trained professional, so I would encourage talking to your husband's new doctor about what's best for him.

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Once again, thanks! Will certainly ask doctor, nutritionist, etc., but it takes time to get an appointment and we can't make a call until tomorrow (and, of course, the doctor probably won't have an opening immediately. This leaves us in the lurch in the meantime so will look at info you sent. Kind of know WHAT he can have, just not HOW MUCH. <br />
<br />

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You're welcome @vboltin. I understand that it takes time to get the appointment, so I'd like to provide you with as many resources as possible in the meantime. I would suggest subscribing to Mayo Clinic's Controlling Your Diabetes e-newsletter (https://newslettersignup.mayoclinic.com/?fn=209). It's devoted specifically to issues and concerns related to diabetes and how you can control it.

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@alysebrunella

You're welcome @vboltin. I understand that it takes time to get the appointment, so I'd like to provide you with as many resources as possible in the meantime. I would suggest subscribing to Mayo Clinic's Controlling Your Diabetes e-newsletter (https://newslettersignup.mayoclinic.com/?fn=209). It's devoted specifically to issues and concerns related to diabetes and how you can control it.

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Thanks! Have already done so. Have an appt. with an endocrinologist in 3 weeks.<br />
<br />

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@vboltin , I recommend that you and you husband watch a YouTube video called "Simply Raw Reversing Diabetes in 30 Days". I hope you will look it up and find it as helpful as I did. Also, for reading, I recommend Joel's book, "End of Diabetes". I bought mine as an audio book, but it is available in hard copy and in Kindle, whichever you prefer. You can order it on amazon. Both the book and the video has helped me immensely. I used to be pre-diabetec. Now, my blood sugar is back within the normal limits (under 100). Reversing diabetes is really possible. It just requires change in our life-style: to eat healthy and to stay physically active (loose weight). Best wishes to you both.

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