I have a diabetic friend who takes the worst care of himself…withing the last month I’ve found him passed out twice and two other times he’s been out of it.
I’ve even taken responsibility for giving him insulin shots when he has obviously gone days without them
This morning I found him mumbling and slumped over on his car door…called his girl then an emergency squad
Startin to wonder why I didn’t just wave and keep it moving
Because if you did nothing, you would carry terrible guilt if he died.
I heard Louis CK talking in an interview about his friend Patrice O’Neal (who battled diabetes and didn’t take care of himself). In the interview, Louis CK actually started to break down emotionally while talking about his inability to stop O’Neal from destroying himself. O’Neal died last year at age 41.
Do what you can, Rock. But it’s really up to the sufferer to hit bottom sometimes before making progress… if death doesn’t catch him first.
Stay strong for him as long as you can. That’s all you can really do.
If his own apathy regarding his health is affecting yours, forget about it.
You aren’t his mama and you can’t live anothers life.
[quote]Ct. Rockula wrote:
Startin to wonder why I didn’t just wave and keep it moving
[/quote]
Because he is your friend and you love him. Simple. Keep it up though, not just for him but for yourself too. Few things hurt more then thinking:“What if…?”
Good luck. You seem like a good friend to have…
Well, if you were a human being I would say to do what any human being with a conscious would do. Help him as much as you can. I don’t know your friend and I don’t know his situation, but if there seems to be some sort of recent escalation in his nonchalance toward his health, perhaps there is something else going on there. He may be suffering from depression or drug use or something like that and this is some bizarre way of asking for help.
We see people disregard their health all the time. But rarely do we see people disregard it in the face of obvious signs that their condition is worsening. Because of the highly-addictive nature of cigarettes I will exclude smokers from this. Regardless, when people don’t seem to care, they probably DO care but are so despondent and depressed or confused or whatever that they don’t know how to go about getting it.
Just because his actions indicate that he doesn’t give a shit doesn’t mean that’s necessarily the case. You wouldn’t be much of a person at all if you were indifferent about the sufferings of a friend simply because he appears to be indifferent. He may not be indifferent and to be blunt, you may be the person who can save his life.
Never sacrifice your own health for a non-appreciative beneficiary. Unless they show signs of life and a desire to climb the rope you throw them, they will only pull you down too.
You’re already distraught and off your center, how far down the rabbit hole do you allow yourself to go?
Helping is nice and noble and all, even selfishly satisfying in a sense, but draw your own lines. Only you know your limits.
It’s not easy to care for someone who won’t care for them self. I’ve been there, and if you have any conscience, it can seriously eat you up. No matter what happens, it’s never you’re fault, so don’t let it drag you down. Know that you always tried to be there, but ultimately, it’s not your choice how he goes.
S
Is he stupid (i.e. just doesnt remember) or doesn’t give a fuck?
I wonder if there is any sort of rehab esque type deal for stuff like this?
He’s a new diagnosis so. I guess he’s still in disbelief and trying to will the disease away. He’s been insulin dependent since December…noy adjusted and educated enough yet
I was just frustrated this morning and wanted to vent that’s all. This seemed like a better option that going to the hospital and yelling at him.
Its his life you all are right about that and I’m not ever planning on letting him drown…not alone at least
Thanks for the words and everything
[quote]Chris87 wrote:
I wonder if there is any sort of rehab esque type deal for stuff like this?[/quote]
That would be nice.
A non summer camp where diabetics can go to learn how their bodys work…how to take care of themselves etc
Truly I do sometimes just want to be done with all this…the emts questions…the fighting as the emts are on the way…the ill do better next time every time he comes too…opening his fridge and seeing one bottle of soda and nothing else
It’ll get better…we will get better
Expect the best but be prepared for the worst.
Rock,
My daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age 9, she is 17 now. We immediately enrolled in a support group run by a local hospital and it was the best thing we could have ever done. There are other people inclusive of parents, spouses and significant others going through the ordeal of dealing with diabetes along with the person who has been diagnosed. More importantly, there are people running the group who have had diabetes for a number of years and they share detailed insight into the disease. I would suggest that you get your friend enrolled in a support group immediately (along with yourself), it is a must if this person wants to get on with his life and live as normally as possible.
My daughter at the age of 9 had her diabetes under control within three months of being diagnosed and they switched her from daily injections to a pump and she has been on the pump since. This is what your friend needs to work toward; it gets rid of the need for multiple injections everyday and makes life so much easier.
Good Luck
This is going to sound fucked up but is it possible he is trying to kill himself by doing this?
[quote]rbarker wrote:
Rock,
My daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at age 9, she is 17 now. We immediately enrolled in a support group run by a local hospital and it was the best thing we could have ever done. There are other people inclusive of parents, spouses and significant others going through the ordeal of dealing with diabetes along with the person who has been diagnosed. More importantly, there are people running the group who have had diabetes for a number of years and they share detailed insight into the disease. I would suggest that you get your friend enrolled in a support group immediately (along with yourself), it is a must if this person wants to get on with his life and live as normally as possible.
My daughter at the age of 9 had her diabetes under control within three months of being diagnosed and they switched her from daily injections to a pump and she has been on the pump since. This is what your friend needs to work toward; it gets rid of the need for multiple injections everyday and makes life so much easier.
Good Luck[/quote]
Thanks. I will check out a hospital for some resorces.
[quote]kjmont wrote:
This is going to sound fucked up but is it possible he is trying to kill himself by doing this?[/quote]
I want to says its him being new to diabettes but suicide is a possiblity…
Sigh
When they cut off the little piggy that had roast beef, and the little piggy that had none, a fuck he might give. Who knows…I’d bet my monkey brain nutsack he won’t.
I was working with a train wreck also a few years ago.
the dude was obese, drank heavily and smoked. when he had a heart attack at 46 he was surprised
when he had a stroke a couple of years later, he was more surprised.
when he had to get a leg brace due to blood clots in his legs, and in constant pain, he could not understand how unlucky he has been with his health.
I just watched it happen, granted - I wasnt hitting him with insulin when he passed out like Rock did hid freind, but still - the ignorance of some people is just fucking amazing.
he had to take a disability retirement at 51, and now spends his days tending to the pain in his legs, his bad back (due to his obesity) and watches tv and plays on the internet.
what kinda life is that?
That’s the worst life imaginable Edgy.
The rule of thumb for me is this: I intervene once un-solicited. I intervene if solicited. Aside from that, I leave the fate of a man in his own hands.
I was once 50% BF and someone intervened on me. Someone showed some caring. But then, I took the ball and ran with it. He didn’t need to give me the message twice.