Diabetes Symptoms: My Grandparents' Struggles With the Disease

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin (American Diabetes Association). Diabetes actually runs in both my father and my mother's side of the family. My grandfather from my dad's side died from it a couple years back, and my grandmother from my mom's side is suffering from it at the moment. This disease has impacted my whole family and me in a way that I can't even begin to describe.

There are two major types of diabetes, they're called type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone that unlocks the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them (American Diabetes Association, 2008). Type 2 results from insulin resistance combined with relative insulin deficiency (American Diabetes Association, 2008).

My grandfather was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. My grandmother, his wife, told me she noticed that he was urinating more frequently and he was either always hungry or thirsty. She also said that even with the excessive amount of food my grandfather ate, he still lost a lot of weight. She also noticed a change in his personality. He became more irritable and was always stressed. That's when she convinced him to go to the doctor to find out what was wrong.

When they finally made it there, she said that it only took a few minutes for the doctor to figure out what was wrong with my grandfather. Of course, he took tests to make sure that it was diabetes and to figure out which type of diabetes he had. After a few tests, the doctor came back with the results and it was type 2 diabetes. He said my grandfather had it for a few years now and it needs to be properly treated or it can lead to complications. When they found out about this, she was very devastated. She said my grandfather had a blank look in his face and didn't know what to say.

The doctor laid out a treatment plan for him. He had to check his blood sugar twice a day. He had to make sure that it's close to normal as possible. My grandfather also needed insulin because his body did not produce enough. There were also medications that he had to take to lower his blood sugar. The doctor also told him to start exercising and eating healthy. That's the main problem with my grandfather, according to my grandmother. She said that he demanded to eat everything the doctor told him not to. He even told her that if he's going to die then he will live out his life the same way he has in the past. And he did. It wasn't really unlike him. That's the way he has always been except for being more irritable.

He experienced some of the complications the doctor mentioned if it the disease wasn't properly treated. He had two heart attacks, a kidney disease, and skin complications. It was very hard on him and everyone around him. He was a very active person and seeing him on that state broke our hearts. He looked very restless and sad but he still managed to make a few jokes and make everyone laugh.

My grandfather lived a few years until he passed away. It was a very devastating experience for all of us. I do regret not trying to spend more time with him. Maybe if any of us insisted on him eating healthier and exercising more then maybe he would have lived longer. Maybe he would still be here.

Sources:
http://www.diabetes.org/about-diabetes.jsp