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sereneThe kids' dad went into the hospital with nausea, vomiting, and then chest pains. The nausea and vomiting are about a sugar crash -- they told him he's got bad diabetes, and will need to start insulin injections. The chest pains were from a heart attack. He's in intensive care, and the kids are really worried. He just moved in with them last week in order to help out when their mom leaves (she was supposed to leave today, but my mom's giving her to the weekend so she can help him in the hospital this week).
Poor kids just can't catch a fucking break these days.
Munchkin The Elder called me a few minutes ago asking if I could send info about diabetes ("Can you just send me a bunch of stuff? Just a lot of links in an email?") so zie can help zir dad. Zie and zir dad both like to walk, so zie's already planning on taking long walks with zir dad when he gets out of the hospital. I worry that zie's taking on too much responsibility for this, but I also think it's really admirable that zie wants to help, and it might be a good way to keep zir mind off zir current troubles with zir mom.
The text of the email I just sent:
Hi, sweetie. I'm sorry about your dad's health troubles. In this email, I'm gonna give you a bunch of links. You can read them a little at a time and just become more informed about diabetes, to help your dad, or you can show him the Spanish ones (or print them out for him) so he can learn for himself, too.
The two most important things are that he eats right and exercises. He doesn't have to go on some drastic diet, but he should watch his blood sugar, eat healthy foods, and start walking (or doing some other exercise that appeals to him). I have learned a LOT about diabetes from living with [![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
someotherguy] and [cute-poet-chick], so if you have questions, I can help you with the answers. I am here for you, and I know you're worried, but I just have to tell you what an incredible person you are for caring so much about your dad, and doing what you can to help him live a long and healthy life.
Here is the best page in Spanish, if you want to show it to your dad: http://www.diabetes.org/espanol/default.jsp?WTLPromo=HEADER_espanol&vms=192122220654
Here are some pages for you to understand diabetes and what to do about it. Your dad has Type 2 diabetes (the kind that comes in adulthood), so it's possible for him to make it better through eating right and exercising. It's the same kind that [someotherguy] and [cute-poet-chick] have, and they were both able to make themselves better by walking a lot and eating better foods.
About Type 2 diabetes: http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes.jsp
Information on controlling blood glucose, which is the same as blood sugar (diabetes is about the body having trouble controlling blood sugar): http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/blood-glucose.jsp
This is the diabetes learning center. It's available in English ( http://www.diabetes.org/all-about-diabetes/diabetes-learning-center.jsp ) and Spanish ( http://www.diabetes.org/all-about-diabetes/chan_span/channel.htm )
Here's an idea of what a person should eat to be healthy: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/healthyfoodchoices.jsp
And the most important part is exercise. Here's a good page: http://www.diabetes.org/weightloss-and-exercise/exercise/overview.jsp There's a walking club called ClubPed where you can track how much you walk.
If you're interested in message boards where you can ask your questions, there are some at http://community.diabetes.org/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=index&webtag=amdiabetesz
(They also have a website for kids, with some games and stuff, but the website talks to you like you're the one with diabetes: http://www.diabetes.org/youthzone/youth-zone.jsp )
Poor kids just can't catch a fucking break these days.
Munchkin The Elder called me a few minutes ago asking if I could send info about diabetes ("Can you just send me a bunch of stuff? Just a lot of links in an email?") so zie can help zir dad. Zie and zir dad both like to walk, so zie's already planning on taking long walks with zir dad when he gets out of the hospital. I worry that zie's taking on too much responsibility for this, but I also think it's really admirable that zie wants to help, and it might be a good way to keep zir mind off zir current troubles with zir mom.
The text of the email I just sent:
Hi, sweetie. I'm sorry about your dad's health troubles. In this email, I'm gonna give you a bunch of links. You can read them a little at a time and just become more informed about diabetes, to help your dad, or you can show him the Spanish ones (or print them out for him) so he can learn for himself, too.
The two most important things are that he eats right and exercises. He doesn't have to go on some drastic diet, but he should watch his blood sugar, eat healthy foods, and start walking (or doing some other exercise that appeals to him). I have learned a LOT about diabetes from living with [
someotherguy] and [cute-poet-chick], so if you have questions, I can help you with the answers. I am here for you, and I know you're worried, but I just have to tell you what an incredible person you are for caring so much about your dad, and doing what you can to help him live a long and healthy life.Here is the best page in Spanish, if you want to show it to your dad: http://www.diabetes.org/espanol/default.jsp?WTLPromo=HEADER_espanol&vms=192122220654
Here are some pages for you to understand diabetes and what to do about it. Your dad has Type 2 diabetes (the kind that comes in adulthood), so it's possible for him to make it better through eating right and exercising. It's the same kind that [
someotherguy] and [cute-poet-chick] have, and they were both able to make themselves better by walking a lot and eating better foods.About Type 2 diabetes: http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes.jsp
Information on controlling blood glucose, which is the same as blood sugar (diabetes is about the body having trouble controlling blood sugar): http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/blood-glucose.jsp
This is the diabetes learning center. It's available in English ( http://www.diabetes.org/all-about-diabetes/diabetes-learning-center.jsp ) and Spanish ( http://www.diabetes.org/all-about-diabetes/chan_span/channel.htm )
Here's an idea of what a person should eat to be healthy: http://www.diabetes.org/nutrition-and-recipes/nutrition/healthyfoodchoices.jsp
And the most important part is exercise. Here's a good page: http://www.diabetes.org/weightloss-and-exercise/exercise/overview.jsp There's a walking club called ClubPed where you can track how much you walk.
If you're interested in message boards where you can ask your questions, there are some at http://community.diabetes.org/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=index&webtag=amdiabetesz
(They also have a website for kids, with some games and stuff, but the website talks to you like you're the one with diabetes: http://www.diabetes.org/youthzone/youth-zone.jsp )
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no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 09:42 pm (UTC)I'm so glad they have you.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 09:43 pm (UTC)if it would help to have a personal email link my bestest friend dea has type I diabetes and has ... forever at this point. and it's not always been good but she is amazing and here and present in the world.
and works with kids and is my brain/twin (so if you ya know me ya know her) and could talk truthfully without scaring the munchkins.
and she's fantastic with kids. she could be honest and gentle. call or email me if you want this...
(hugs to you all)
no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 09:45 pm (UTC)i am gathering the munchkins' dad doesn't read english as well as he reads spanish? if you need further information in spanish, i might be able to ask my cousins if they could find anything for you.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 09:51 pm (UTC)(At least the good advice for the diabetes holds also for heart disease).
no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 10:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 10:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 10:52 pm (UTC)I hope he and the kids and their mom and your mom all make it through okay.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-01 10:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-02 02:11 am (UTC)Best wishes to you all.
no subject
Date: 2006-02-02 04:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-02-02 07:52 am (UTC)I was in the emergency room until 1:30 this morning with a friend having a heart attack, so this post strikes close to home.