If you wonder why I urge people to have
better A1cs, this article in Medical News Today should hopefully get
you to pay attention. A study released in the October issue of
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery®, the official medical journal of
the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) shows how important
blood glucose level are. The study shows that among patients
undergoing surgery for chronic wounds related to diabetes, the risk
of wound-related complications is affected by how well the patient's
blood glucose levels are controlled before surgery.
Researchers and ASPS Member Surgeons
Drs. Matthew Endara and Christopher Attinger of the Center for Wound
Healing at Georgetown University, Washington, DC report the following
findings. “The risk of serious wound complications is more than
three times higher for patients who have high blood glucose before
and after surgery, and in those with poor long-term diabetes control.
They emphasize the need for "tight control" of glucose
levels before surgery for diabetic patients at high risk of wound
complications.”
Fortunately, I cannot speak to wound
complications and needing surgery on one. I can say that I have been
fortunate in three of the surgeries I have had in September and
October and have had no problems with the areas operated on. Even
the areas that were opened in my body have healed with good results.
As of yet, I have been fortunate to not have chronic or any wound
complications. As a person with type 2 diabetes, I will continue to
manage my diabetes to prevent this from happening.
When Allen read what I was using for
this blog, he ask if I knew a fellow, which I did, but not as a close
friend. Allen said he had seen his name as being admitted to the
hospital and went to see him. He was not permitted, as he had
requested no visitors. So he decided to wait to see the dismissal
notice and then went to see him at home. His daughter would not let
him in and said her father did not want visitors. She did tell Allen
that her father had diabetes and had an amputation.
Allen asked me if I knew of this and I
said I did not and an amputation told me a lot. I said that he
apparently had kept it a secret from everyone and not managed his
diabetes. Allen agreed and said he thought he was close to him, but
apparently, not that close and he was not aware of the diabetes. I
said this was a problem and he would probably have another amputation
if he continued his secrecy and did not manage his diabetes.
We talked about what we could do. I
said we should ask the local doctor if he knew him. Beyond that, the
doctor will not be able to say anything more if he does know him. I
said we could say if he is a patient of his, that he could promote
our or his group as being beneficial for him. If he rejects the
doctor's suggestion, there is nothing more that we can do.
Allen said he would check with the
doctor and let me know. The next day Allen called and said the
doctor knew of him, but he was not a patient of his. He checked with
the other doctors and he was not a patient of any doctors here. Now
Allen was upset and throwing out ideas to try. I finally told Allen
to save his frustration and realize that he was not going to be able
to help his friend. I did tell Allen just to call him and wish him
well. Allen asked why he had not thought of that and said good-bye.
I did not hear from Allen for a few
days. Finally, he called and said his friend would not talk to him
and his daughter had been told to hang up the telephone. The next
day he said that his friend had been readmitted to the hospital and
the following day his obituary was in the paper. I had to tell Allen
that it is terrible to die alone, but that he had done his best in
reaching out to him and now he could do no more.
I called Ben and Barry and clued them
in about what had transpired. Ben said he had also known the person.
He, and Barry would see what they could do for Allen.
Yes, I was sidetracked, but the
situation fit and helped me emphasize how important management of
diabetes is to people's continued health.
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