Frustrated over grandmother

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Specializes in PCT.

I just wanted to run this by someone, because I'm only a student and don't really know anything yet. My grandmother In-Law was in the hospital last week. She is in her late 60's or early 70's about 5-foot and 250 lbs. She can hardly get around and eats loads of sugar and junk. She was admitted last week for the beginnings of bronchitis and extreme shortness of breath. They gave her breathing treatments for it and sent her to physical therapy because they were concerned with her ability or should I say non-ability to easily get around, sit up or stand up from a sitting position. To be honest she has been this way for the entire 2 years that I have known her. After her respiratory problems cleared up they refused to discharge her until they sent a social worker to her home to be sure that handrails were installed, throw rugs were removed and that she could remove her shoes with her hands (not slide them off with her feet). They however did nothing to suggest she should change her diet and never once considered her risk and symptoms of diabetes. She was not even on a restricted diet in the hospital. It is mentally painful to me that this basic root of many of her health problems is glossed over without even a mention. Is it normal to give up on an elderly persons weight just because they are elderly?

Will I have to overlook things like this when I am in the patient care setting? :confused:

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Specializes in NICU.

If she was in the hospital, she probably did have her blood sugar checked, so if she does have diabetes it would have been picked up at some point. They did address her mobility issues, so that is a step in the right direction. Getting her more active is the best thing for her.

Maybe people might think I'm a horrible nurse and granddaughter...but my grandma is 80 and a type 2 diabetic. She's about 50-75 pounds overweight and has to walk with a cane. She only checks her sugars a couple times a week (usually high but still under 200) and takes her diabetes medication (oral, not insulin) ALMOST every day. She also drinks soda, eats coffee cake and bismarks, has nightly sundaes, and goes through a loaf of white bread by herself in less than a week. And I think it's okay.

She's 80, has 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She also lost my grandpa 5 years ago. It's basically just her and her dog, who is the fattest little chihuahua I've ever seen.

If we made her stop eating all those foods she loves, she'd just be the saddest person in the world. She lives for food, and grocery shopping and restaurants are the only places she ever wants to go. She doesn't care if eating like that will put her life at risk - she's said many times that if she has the choice between eating her sweets and dying tomorrow or eating totally diabetic-healthy and having five or ten more years...she'd pick the sweets, hands-down.

And at her age, I think I would too.

JMHO!!!!!!!!!!!!

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If she was in the hospital, she probably did have her blood sugar checked, so if she does have diabetes it would have been picked up at some point. They did address her mobility issues, so that is a step in the right direction. Getting her more active is the best thing for her.

Maybe people might think I'm a horrible nurse and granddaughter...but my grandma is 80 and a type 2 diabetic. She's about 50-75 pounds overweight and has to walk with a cane. She only checks her sugars a couple times a week (usually high but still under 200) and takes her diabetes medication (oral, not insulin) ALMOST every day. She also drinks soda, eats coffee cake and bismarks, has nightly sundaes, and goes through a loaf of white bread by herself in less than a week. And I think it's okay.

She's 80, has 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. She also lost my grandpa 5 years ago. It's basically just her and her dog, who is the fattest little chihuahua I've ever seen.

If we made her stop eating all those foods she loves, she'd just be the saddest person in the world. She lives for food, and grocery shopping and restaurants are the only places she ever wants to go. She doesn't care if eating like that will put her life at risk - she's said many times that if she has the choice between eating her sweets and dying tomorrow or eating totally diabetic-healthy and having five or ten more years...she'd pick the sweets, hands-down.

And at her age, I think I would too.

JMHO!!!!!!!!!!!!

AMEN! Sometimes you cant' teach an old dog new tricks.

Does your GMIL want to change her diet? Sometimes all the preaching/ teaching in the world isn't gonna help unless she wants to eat better. Of course if she wants to make sure you/ family helps her...ie share recipes, shopping etc.

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While I agree with the other two posters, it does seem a little moderation would be in order for your grandmother. She shouldn't have to subsist on carrots and tofu, if that would depress her (I'm sure it would!), but adding some healthy things to her diet and walking 15-20mins/day are not ardous miseries, and would improve her quality of life. I think that those things should have been suggested.

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

Is it possible that she did recieve some teaching regarding thse things? It is not uncommon to have a consult with a dietician. Was or is she receptive to this teaching. Even a regular diet in the hospital is somewhat restrictive if you have ever looked at it. Though staff has little to no control over what the family brings into her while she is there. I know I have too many other irons in the fire to frisk family members at the elevator for contraband food.

It would also be possible for the family to request a consult with a dietician out patient if this is a concern.

It sounds like there are many issues going on in this situation and they are making an effort to cover as many as possible. It may be up to the family to become members of the team and help this GM to attain a safer and more optimal health situation. A hospital stay cannot change a lifetime of poor health decisions.

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I just wanted to run this by someone, because I'm only a student and don't really know anything yet. My grandmother In-Law was in the hospital last week. She is in her late 60's or early 70's about 5-foot and 250 lbs. She can hardly get around and eats loads of sugar and junk. She was admitted last week for the beginnings of bronchitis and extreme shortness of breath. They gave her breathing treatments for it and sent her to physical therapy because they were concerned with her ability or should I say non-ability to easily get around, sit up or stand up from a sitting position. To be honest she has been this way for the entire 2 years that I have known her. After her respiratory problems cleared up they refused to discharge her until they sent a social worker to her home to be sure that handrails were installed, throw rugs were removed and that she could remove her shoes with her hands (not slide them off with her feet). They however did nothing to suggest she should change her diet and never once considered her risk and symptoms of diabetes. She was not even on a restricted diet in the hospital. It is mentally painful to me that this basic root of many of her health problems is glossed over without even a mention. Is it normal to give up on an elderly persons weight just because they are elderly?

Will I have to overlook things like this when I am in the patient care setting? :confused:

I am an insulin dependent grandmother. I started out on oral drugs and diet control which worked fairly well for a number of years. In 2001, after elven years, I was put on insulin. And am very well controlled except when I am on a steroid. I admit that I cheat once in a while. And am currently overweight because of steroid use. Despite having been a diabetic for fifteen years, I do not presently suffer from an of the side effects that normally accompqny the disease.

Your grandmother in law, may or may not be a diabetic. She may or may not have been tested. Her PCP may just have given up on her. You and I do not know. If you can talk to her, I would suggest you do. And try the following, that you are concerned about her health. And the possibility she may be or might become a diabetic. And you are concerned about her weight and its impact on the development of diabetes. If she is open, suggest that the issues be raised with her PCP. A GTT and a referral to an endocrinologist, who specializes in the treatment of diabetes, as well as a diabetic nurse educator, and a RD who specializes in diabetic diets. And offer her the support, encouragement and help she will need. And please do not write her off because of her age.

Grannynurse

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Specializes in PCT.

Thanks for the insight. I have only been in the family for a few years and she is kind of hard to get close to so I don't know that I would be able to try and help her myself. It really bothered me that the hospital seemed more concerned about the status of her throw rugs than her diet. Maybe they talked to her about it when the family wasn't around, and she didn't want to listen. Her breakfast the day after she came home from the hospital was pancakes slathered in chocolate pudding, so apparently even if they did try to councel her it didn't work. I talked to my MIL about the posibility of diabetes, but she didn't seem concerned because "They have never had it in their family". I told her that it isn't always a genetic thing. She also told me that she has a follow up appointment including blood work so I guess that's a good sign. I think the RD is a great idea, maybe I can suggest it to my MIL.

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