I thought in the beginning that I wouldn't have need of pharmaceutical aid, despite my doctor warning otherwise. Silly me. Within a year I was in tears of exhaustion and loneliness and frustration. ...he put me on prozac. I was so wrought up though I couldn't feel any difference and became obsessed that they would make me fat. Off i came, only to be back a few months later. 2 more attempts, one made me sweat the other gave me hives. Any advice out there as I'm once again taking nothing and feeling desolate.
Good luck !!
Add Fiber, so your sugar levels get steady. Spikes cause mood swings and Exhaustion. I'm exhausted lately b/c I haven't taken my own advice and what we do for our elderly at ALF Angel House in south FL.
I try to get caregivers to also "take the challenge" of hydration & nutrition, and those who do, become like me, the water evangelist! It simply works.
Below is excerpt from an answer at diabetic question but It Applies Everywhere in Your life and your parent's... Really, you must be Healthier to be Happier.
We do get nurses to give insulin at the ALF, when the resident can't do their own. We are not allowed to do it, unfortunately as others say.
At her Own home, the neighbor can do it - and a friend or family member can also come to our ALF and do it. But we can't unless we are a nurse, RN or LPN is also ok.
Medicare pays for Once a day, or twice, but that means getting the longer acting type of insulin. A1C levels change, and the goal of insulin treatment is to get them below 7. We got a lady, true story, whose diet was out of control. So was her daughter (out of control) hysterical, anytime the lady mentioned cookies, candy or other poison, she would have a fit if we didn't immediately give to mom. I took her outside to front porch, asked, "how long have You been diabetic?"
Her answer? "None of your Fu**ing business! and How'd you know?" Angry as heck over denying Anyone candy at breakfast table... Gave it to others, one of whom was diabetic.
Alzheimer's is generally getting to be known as "Diabetes Type 3", so strongly is it tied to blood sugar spikes and diabetes.
Bottom line, a gentle stroll after a meal lowers sugar 50 points - Hydration helps the Entire Body and Brain to Work Much Better. Our brain is like one of those thin, itty bitty advertising sponges, 1/8" thick, that you put in Water, and it's Half Inch Usable sponge... Think of the one by the sink if you don't use it for two days... Hard, Dry, Can't do Anything...
Using Whole Wheat bread, Brown Rice, Quinoa, Steel Cut Oats, Lots of Coconut Water, Coconut Milk & Coconut Oil, Engagement, and Exercise, along with all the above, Lowered this woman's insulin use from 21 units a day to 7. And the visits from 3 to One, so Medicare would pay for it.
True story and there are Others, where folks went from shots to pills, and from pills to Monitoring (which we still can't do, but we can "help" them do)
All ALFs are not alike, and most just do what the medical machine facilitates. That's what I call it. The machine only knows money and drugs. Not diet, love, water, exercise or self-empowerment. I show videos about the stuff residents are going through, and they Understand it. Many can still read, and they're amazed by reading Short (key to attention span) articles, and they Keep them and read them daily, it's a wonderful thing...
Buy Coconut Oil, Quinoa, Coconut milk. We make a breakfast cereal (weekly or twice weekly, heat daily, easier getting to work on time, and you feel Great, plus mom stays more regular with everything and she is healthier)
Quinoa, Steel Cut Oats, another ancient grain optional (amaranth, wheat berries, farro etc) Cook Beginning with Longest cooking grain first. Add to liquid that is equal parts Water, Coconut Water & Coconut Milk (I add the coco milk later with the Steel Cut Oats or Quinoa, if using Long cooking grain like spelt, farro, barley, wheat berries) Make sure you add up to enough liquid total versus grain part.
Also chop apples (washed & cored, leave peeling on for fiber) Raisins, Craisins, Dates, Prunes, any other dried fruit you like, I add fruit half way to avoid mushing it. Cinnamon (great to stabilize sugar, you will hardly taste it, so be generous) Vanilla, and it's Delicious!
Remember liquids drank cold, take a While to absorb due to body temp being way higher... Try to drink more of your water/liquids room temp or warmed.
This simple list of healthy lifestyle habits, along with a Good steady Routine, so you Both know what to expect and feel comforted, will Really Help. A Lot.
Hugs to you
I am not a big believer in medications but I knew right away I would need all the help I could get dealing with this transition.
After my DNA test comes back, I need to go on anti-depressants due to dealing with 2 elderly parents.... I also have exhaustion, loss of appetite, and panic attacks. Now I can barely drive due to major panic when behind the wheel due to 6 years of driving Miis. Daisy and her husband [my Dad] in a large sedan that I hated to drive as my parents couldn't climb up into my SUV There were days when taking them to doctor appointments where I thought I was going to have an accident because I was a nervous wreck... whenever I told my parents about this, they would guilt me by saying "then we would have no one to drive us".... [sigh]. I would start to panic the day before their doctor appointment :(
I, too, hate taking any type of medicine. So this is a big hoop for me to jump through but I need to do something as I am crashing and burning.
Good luck !!