In the group of us that meet to discuss
diabetes, most of us are (6 of 8) on insulin. The latest addition to
our group asked why we were testing so often. We had answered many
of his questions before, but this time we knew he was fishing for a
different answer. I asked Allen about the purpose behind the
question this time. He stated that two in his group were only
testing infrequently and generally just before they were to have
their A1c test.
We knew that they are allowed two test
strips per day, and asked if he knew if they were using them all
within a few days. He said he was not sure what was happening. I
ask Allen how many were eligible for Veterans benefits and he stated
all of them. We found out that only Allen was actually receiving VA
medical benefits. The rest were a question mark and he was not sure
why they were not receiving benefits. I knew what Allen and I were
going to be doing. I told Allen to find out where they had their DD
214 forms and we would accompany them to the local VA office.
In the process, we contacted Sue to
help her brother. Sue said she was sure her brother was already on
the VA roles, but that she would check and find out what was
happening. I asked her to let us know as soon as she could. The
next day, she called me and said he was, but for two years had not
submitted a means test and he was denied benefits. She also stated
something that would interest all of us. Her brother was slowly
losing his eyesight and his last A1c had been above 9.0. Sue would
not say exactly what it was, but the cause of her brother’s
depression was now known. Sue was sure that we were on the right
track in getting him reestablished with the VA.
I asked if she would help and she asked
what she could do. I explained what should be needed and gave her
the telephone number of the VA office where she could check what may
be needed to get her brother back under VA benefits. She then asked
if anyone would be able to help with her brother and I said I would
talk to Allen and he would talk to the other two who had assisted
him. She said that would be okay and appreciated if they would
contact her.
A couple of days later, Sue contacted
me and said she had the information needed to get her brother
reinstated for VA benefits. She stated Allen was to accompany her to
the VA office after she, her brother, and Allen had been to the
attorney's office. Sue said that her middle brother (also with type
2 diabetes) was in the process of moving back and would help in the
future. They were going to the Attorney's office to have a general
power of attorney executed for her and her middle brother and a
medical power of attorney for them also with Allen on the medical
power for times when the other family members were unavailable.
I expressed my support for what was
being done and hoped that everyone in that group would soon be able
to have VA benefits and this should lessen the hardship they were
feeling. Sue said that she was also going to work with the other
group to encourage regular and more testing. She did state that her
eldest brother was now on insulin and they both would be sitting in
when possible with our group since so many were on insulin. I said
that would be great as there is a lot to be learned.
The experiences of the last couple of
weeks have been good for all of us and we have all learned from the
depression and testing problems. We have been doing a volume of
research to know what we need to discuss and answer questions about
for Sue and her eldest brother. We are all waiting to meet her
second brother.
Allen did say that the VA applications
have been filed for everyone now and it is just a waiting game.
Please understand that the names are
not their real names and done only to make reference easier to
follow. This is the agreement with my fellow members of the group
and I will abide by their wishes.
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