Diary of a Diabetic's Wife: Diabetic Complications

 Please check out Chris'  Diabetes Support Group for Spouses page on Facebook for ongoing conversation about diabetes.

*The pictures at the end of this post are very graphic and very real.  

This blog is on the reality of complications that come along with diabetes. It's not meant to scare anyone or gross anyone out. Only to inform and to wake those up that won’t take diabetes seriously. I guess I've been spoiled with having a husband who takes his diabetes very seriously so he hasn't encountered certain complications, yet.
   Over the years, working in the health care field, I’ve seen a woman come in who has been a non-compliant diabetic, not by her choice, but because she doesn't have health insurance. She is a single mom, works two jobs and goes to school. She's a hard working woman and takes care of everyone but herself.
   I've seen her get progressively worse and it breaks my heart. This past week she presented herself at my employment and she was in tears. Crying because she knew she needed to be seen by the doctor but knowing she didn't have insurance and couldn't afford her incurring expenses. I did my best to reassure her that we would take care of her and then we'd work out the financial part of it.
She had developed severe open sores on her foot and they were badly infected. Oozing in fact. Her foot and part of her leg had begun to turn a black color. I knew immediately that this was very serious. She could lose her foot and possibly her leg.
   As I visited with her I felt compelled to do everything in my power to help her get financial assistance. I had empathy for her because I knew her situation and I also know that so many physicians won't even begin to see a person unless they have insurance. What a shame! I couldn't begin to imagine trying to get care my husband and his diabetes without having insurance. The cost is astronomical.

   What I'd like to get across on this blog is to please take care of yourself.  If not for you, for your loved ones.  I think it's so selfish of a person to not take it seriously.  (Just my own opinion of course.) It's not a fun experience watching diabetes slowly destroy someone’s body.

There are several things that a person can do to check for ulcer sores on their feet:

1. See your physician such as a podiatrist for regular foot check-ups.
2. Keep your toe nails clipped evenly so you aren't getting in-grown toenails.
3. Don't go barefoot, especially outside. Always wear some type of footwear.
4. Dry your feet well after a shower, especially in between the toes.
5. Don't smoke. Smoking can cause poor circulation in the feet and cause bad problems for them.

Please take a look at some photos of foot ulcers caused by diabetes and if these don't make you want to take care of yourself I'm not sure what will. 

Diary of a Diabetic's Wife: Diabetes From a Child's Perspective

This post is written by my oldest son Jared. He's been around the longest to see his dad living with diabetes and so I asked him if he would write a few things about what he remembers growing up. ~ Chris

Ever since I can remember, my Dad has had to check his blood sugar constantly throughout the day. I can't imagine having to prick my finger as much as he does to make sure that my blood sugar levels are good in order for me to feel good through the day. I know that my Dad has had to fight every day with his Diabetes. Some days are really hard for him, his energy gets drained if his sugar levels get low, and it takes all he has to get out and do anything. I feel so bad for him when this happens, he gets so depressed.

There have been many experiences that I have with my Dad dealing with low blood sugar. The one that comes to mind for me happened about 15 years ago. I was sleeping and it was around one in the morning, and had a strange feeling come over me telling me that I needed to get up and go to the kitchen. There was my Dad with very low blood sugar trying to get some sugar down him, but he was at the point where he could not help himself anymore. He was confused and didn't know what was happening. I yelled down to my mom and she came running up stairs so we could work together and make some orange juice and whatever else we had in the refrigerator. He starting crying and saying I don't want my kids seeing me like this, and he kept saying it over and over again. As I tell this experience it feels like it just happened yesterday.

My Dad is a great example to all those that are Diabetic of ways that they should take care of themselves. He is constantly making sure that they should take care of themselves. He is constantly making sure that his health is in as good as it can be.

I am grateful for my Dad and the hard work that he puts into himself to make sure that his health is in as good as shape as it can be in. Without his dedication to himself he would not be around today. There are many Diabetics who don't take care of themselves and live lives that are terrible, constantly in the hospital with different medical problems. If you take care of yourself you can live a life that is manageable!!

Diary of A Diabetic's Wife by Chris Pyne

This is the first entry into our new bi-weekly feature by Chris Pyne.  Please visit her support group at Diabetes Support Group for Spouses for ongoing dialogue and support.

Roger and I were married 34 years ago. I met my sweetheart when I was 15 years old and I was married to him at the age of 18. I remember when I met him, someone had told me he was a diabetic and so I asked him if he was and he said "no, that's my brother."  Basically, he was in denial. He was diagnosed at the age of 9 with the disease.  All I knew about diabetes at that point was that he had one shot a day.

Chris and Roger Pyne.  Photo courtesy of Shana Gardner, StarLit Photography.

Shortly after we were married I had a very rude awakening to the life of being a spouse of a diabetic. He had come home from work one day and told me how hungry he was. Well, not knowing the significance of his disease, I told him that I would get him something to eat in a little bit. In the meantime he was in the kitchen trying to find something to eat but was having an insulin reaction where his blood sugar bottomed out. Next thing I knew he was on the floor having a seizure. Thus, began my life now with my diabetic husband.

After that experience my life changed. The sleepless nights of awakening every time Roger would wake up to check his blood sugars, worrying every time we went someplace when we hadn't come prepared for an emergency, the continual doctor appointments such as his family doctor, kidney doctor, diabetic doctor, cardiologist etc., worrying that my children would become diabetic, when he would become ill with the flu. It never ended. Diabetes ran our lives.

During our 34 years of marriage I've had to call the paramedics multiple times. He's been hospitalized many times for diabetes related problems. I remember one incident where he had accidentally given himself the wrong insulin. He was in a panic and I went into panic mode with him. I had to help him counteract his insulin mistake by making him eat and eat lots of carbohydrates. He would get so sick of all the food that he would almost vomit it up.  Thus, another trip to the emergency room.  

Many times, I've been awakened out of a dead sleep with a feeling that something was wrong. Roger wouldn't be beside me in bed so I would go find him and he'd be having an insulin reaction where if I hadn't of gotten up he would have had a seizure.  My adrenaline would go from this dead sleep to a rush of panic within seconds. I would get physically sick after the incident was all over. Each time this happened I was so grateful that I had been inspired to wake up and be able to help him.

About 5 years ago Roger got on an insulin pump which has helped him a lot. I've been so proud of him for the way he has done his best to be healthy. His doctors have called him their model patient because he cares so much about trying to keep his diabetes in control.  In spite of taking care of his self,   the disease takes control and begins to wreak havoc on the body. I've been his support through many, many surgeries. Being the worst was watching him go through open heart surgery at the age of 53. Then 6 months later,  back surgery.

Many times I've wished for someone who I could talk to that could relate to what it's like being the spouse.  Someone to share experiences with . I wouldn't trade any of it though because I love my sweetheart and I'm so grateful I can be here to help him. He is my rock and my hero.