Dear Tom's wife:
In Europe, people who have had 2 hypos in a year cannot drive. Link here.
The ADA says to pull over if you are low. They tell you it's similar to driving drunk.
But we know that seasoned diabetics cannot always tell when they are going low. They become immune to that sensation.
The ADA explains the risks here
Each state here currently has different laws. Here's California's matrix. If we lived in that state, which we don't, hubby would not drive!
If you take insulin and live in Texas, you need a medical evaluation. You can click here to find your state.
But here's the deal. My husband would never admit that he takes insulin. He thinks it's none of their business. And to top it off, I'm pretty sure his doctor would put down on a medical evaluation that he is perfectly capable of driving!
I know that my hubby should not ever be behind the wheel of a car. But that does not prevent him from driving. If I go with him, I drive. If there is anyone else in the car with us, I drive. That is my rule. I/we will simply not get in the car with him if he is behind the wheel. And yes, I get terribly tired of doing all the driving.
And yes, it was my sister who brought about this change. Was I upset with her? Not at all! I am eternally grateful that she said to me, "I will not ride if he is driving." I needed to hear those words. I needed to be made aware of just how dangerous it is to get in the car with someone who has diabetes behind the wheel. It really is like driving drunk. Some drunk drivers never ever get into a wreck. But you just never know when it could happen.
For the past 2 years, my mantra has been that if he gets behind the wheel, he takes his life into his own hands. But he will not take my life, my friends or my family's lives into his hands. It's just not allowed.
Yes, he fought me tooth and nail on this one. He got mad. He threw a fit. He refused to get into the car with me behind the wheel. But he did get over it. And he no longer drives my car. And I rarely if ever get into his truck if he is driving.
Read the links. I think it will be a real eye opener. It was for me!
DW
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
How many ways are there to handle your spouse's diabetes?
My dad's brother is married to a wonderful woman. They are in their 70s. She has had diabetes all her life and recently had her leg amputated. Prior to that, she had multiple surgeries trying to save her foot....cutting bits and pieces out at a time.
My uncle has always had a funny sense of humor - he simply can make any situation funny. He laughs a lot. He never gets upset. He has been that way my entire life. And that is how he handles her diabetes. Everything is a joke. Everything.
And while that is how they get through every day or their life....that does not work for me. My aunt has pretty much always ignored her diabetes. Overweight. Eats anything she wants. Does not exercise.
I've been off for a visit with my mom and she made a comment that I found quite interesting. She said that my aunt's daughter should go move her computer from the back bedroom to the living room so my aunt and my mom could email each other. Apparently my aunt can no longer physically get to where the computer is. They live about 1000 miles away from my mom. And that gave me even a different perspective on different lifestyles. My mom has her computer in her living room. Skype is always on. You just ring her up and she's there. My aunt, has her computer in the back of her house, via a maze that she can no longer get through.
So is the way each family handles diabetes the way you handle your life as a whole? To some is it a joke - to be written off completely? To some, you hide it in the back corner of a room somewhere - out of sight, out of mind? To others it's in the center of the living room - in the middle of your life and something you deal with every single day?
Oe does it move around? Some days it's right there in front of you and you deal with it - other days it's hidden away and you don't even think about it.
Interesting thoughts.
Having been off on a visit to my mom and then my brother - I've escaped the whole diabetes thing for a few days. Life is pretty good on the road! LOL! Back at home, I'm again painting walls and ceilings, moving entire rooms inside the house. Exercise equipment is going to the basement and the front bedroom will be a studio/bedroom. The current studio is getting turned into a library where I'm hopeful I can easily access cookbooks and medical reference books. So loads of painting to keep my days occupied. When done, I should have my own bedroom I can sleep in and we wills till have a guest room for when my sisters come to stay.
Hubby is still having horrible flatulence. Doctor's visit is next Tuesday. He still hasn't done labs that neuropathy requested he do a month ago. We both got off track on the heathy eating while I was gone, but will start back on again today. It's good to have goals!
DW
My uncle has always had a funny sense of humor - he simply can make any situation funny. He laughs a lot. He never gets upset. He has been that way my entire life. And that is how he handles her diabetes. Everything is a joke. Everything.
And while that is how they get through every day or their life....that does not work for me. My aunt has pretty much always ignored her diabetes. Overweight. Eats anything she wants. Does not exercise.
I've been off for a visit with my mom and she made a comment that I found quite interesting. She said that my aunt's daughter should go move her computer from the back bedroom to the living room so my aunt and my mom could email each other. Apparently my aunt can no longer physically get to where the computer is. They live about 1000 miles away from my mom. And that gave me even a different perspective on different lifestyles. My mom has her computer in her living room. Skype is always on. You just ring her up and she's there. My aunt, has her computer in the back of her house, via a maze that she can no longer get through.
So is the way each family handles diabetes the way you handle your life as a whole? To some is it a joke - to be written off completely? To some, you hide it in the back corner of a room somewhere - out of sight, out of mind? To others it's in the center of the living room - in the middle of your life and something you deal with every single day?
Oe does it move around? Some days it's right there in front of you and you deal with it - other days it's hidden away and you don't even think about it.
Interesting thoughts.
Having been off on a visit to my mom and then my brother - I've escaped the whole diabetes thing for a few days. Life is pretty good on the road! LOL! Back at home, I'm again painting walls and ceilings, moving entire rooms inside the house. Exercise equipment is going to the basement and the front bedroom will be a studio/bedroom. The current studio is getting turned into a library where I'm hopeful I can easily access cookbooks and medical reference books. So loads of painting to keep my days occupied. When done, I should have my own bedroom I can sleep in and we wills till have a guest room for when my sisters come to stay.
Hubby is still having horrible flatulence. Doctor's visit is next Tuesday. He still hasn't done labs that neuropathy requested he do a month ago. We both got off track on the heathy eating while I was gone, but will start back on again today. It's good to have goals!
DW
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