It would be great if you could just buy her one of the many good books out there on living with diabetes, but if she so far has resisted making any changes, a book, in and of itself probably won’t help. You should get one anyway and read it yourself, so that you know what to expect and then suggest that she read it to (which may fall on deaf ears) This one, by the American Diabetes Association sounds good The New Family Cookbook for People with Diabetes And this one called The American Medical Association Guide to Living with Diabetes
If you can, go with her to her next doctor’s appt. (if she doesn’t have one, make one specifically) to talk with the doctor to get his recommendations and see if you can make an appt. to see a registered dietician to get all of the necessary facts and info. Sometimes just having someone there to take in all of the (scary and often confusing) facts can do wonders. The poor person with the condition may be so overwhelmed that they just can’t “hear” or “comprehend” the facts or come up with a reasonable plan to implement the plans.
My dad has some serious heart problems and had to have a valve replacement/open heart surgery late last year. I’ve been doing most of the research myself (online) and me and my mom have spoken extensively with all of the doctors, nurses and nutritionists and pain therapists to get all of the info and the plan. Then I have made up diagrams to help implement all the things that need to get done: time schedule for meds, weekly menu plans, food lists of “good” foods and “un-acceptable” foods, blank schedules to write down or mark off exactly what was eaten and at what time, daily exercise regimen, doctor’s appt. etc.
It’s a lot easier to do what you are supposed to do when someone writes down on a chart exactly what you are supposed to do, and then you have to mark it off in some way to prove that you’ve done it (so you won’t forget and to satisfy your relatives).
You and she could start the exercise plan together. It’s a lot easier to exercise and stay motivated if you have a partner than it is to do it by yourself.
And then you should join at least one of the online forums dedicated to diabetes, so there will always be someone at the end of the line who can help point you in the right direction and give you needed support. Here is an example of a forum
If you need more medical info check out the Mayo Clinic’s diabetes info pages Don’t just trust anything you read online, use trusted sources such as this one. The Center for Disease Control site on diabetes is good for a lot of info too. Ask mom’s doctor what websites he recommends.
Your best bet is to sit down with her, when she’s feeling calm and tel her how much you love her and don’t want to lose her to this treatable disease. Then tell her you are going to help her by becoming her “partner”. Then go to the doctor with her, read the books, make the charts for her, start exercising with her, start cooking with her and check to see that she’s following the instructions. Good luck : )
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