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Can anyone offer me some reassurance and logical thought?

8 replies

IKnowThisMuch · 27/11/2018 23:54

I'm normally found over on the Property / DIY boards, but I was wondering if anyone could help calm me down a little. Apologies for the length, and thanks in advance to anyone who gets through the whole post.

I'm staying with my parents at the moment and just bumped into my dad on the landing. I assumed both of us were heading for the loo.

He seemed a bit disorientated, and looked a bit lost. I said to him to go ahead and use the loo before me, but he said he didn't need to - he just was going downstairs to check something. Instead, he proceeded to head towards the spare bedroom.

I told him that wasn't heading downstairs, and asked him was he okay. He said he was, so I told him to get back into bed. He then proceeded to head to the loo, before coming out and going back to his bedroom. He sat on the bed and again I asked him was he okay - again, he replied he was, he was just tired. He then got into bed and turned the light off.

I went and spoke to my mum, who hadn't come up to bed yet. She went to check on him and again he reiterated he was fine, just very tired. She told me not to worry - he's half asleep, had too much to drink and is exhausted from working so much this week.

For context, he's 64. Generally in reasonable health, but has poorly controlled Type 2 Diabetes (coincidentally, he has a doctor's appointment tomorrow for same.) As mentioned, he's had a fair bit to drink tonight, and has been working a lot this past week (he does shift work, so had 3 nights on, one day off, and then two 12hr day shifts, finishing earlier on at 7pm).

Could anyone offer me some reassurance? My logical mind is telling me that alcohol + tiredness + half asleep = disorientation, but my anxious mind won't let me sleep for worry.

OP posts:
Friendofsadgirl · 27/11/2018 23:59

My very limited understanding of diabetes tells me that a drop in sugar can lead to confusion/disorientation. Has he eaten recently? Can you get him to eat something or take some fruit juice?

Friendofsadgirl · 28/11/2018 00:00

Sorry, that wasn't very reassuring but I think you're right to be concerned.

Sethis · 28/11/2018 00:03

Can you get him to test, even if it's just a case of holding his finger up while he's asleep? Conscious or unconscious that will give you a blood sugar reading.

Is it only the diabetes you're worried about, or other potential problems like early onset alzheimers/dementia/insert-problem-here?

Imnotaslimjim · 28/11/2018 00:04

I agree with the PP. When did he last eat? Can you get him to have some chocolate, jam on toast or a flash of fresh juice? You may well be right that it's the drink and tiredness but it's best to be safe.

KTyoupigeon · 28/11/2018 00:07

Doesn’t alcohol have a lot of sugar in it! I would make him test or do it for him before giving him anything to eat. You are right to be cautious and worried esp if he isn’t great at managing his condition. Is your mum still awake?

Friendofsadgirl · 28/11/2018 00:12

Drinking alcohol makes your blood sugar drop. I think you need to check his level, OP.

WrongSideOfHistory · 28/11/2018 00:13

Depending on his treatment for type 2 diabetes, giving him sweet food, on top of a few drinks, is probably not a good idea as his blood sugars are more likely to be too high.

Does he regularly monitor his blood sugar? If he can do this it might be worth getting a reading tonight just to check.

Either way he needs to mention this to the dr tomorrow.

IKnowThisMuch · 28/11/2018 00:20

Thanks for all the replies so far.

No concerns re: any other potential problems. This is the first time I've ever seen him display anything like this. Then again, I don't live at home anymore. But I speak to him every day, and mum hasn't reported anything.

He usually has one biscuit before he goes to bed, so he has had something sugary within the last 90mins or so. I know he shouldn't be doing that, but you can't tell him that...

He is notoriously poor at checking his blood sugar levels. Based on his last trip to the doctor, his sugars are higher than normal - I think around 8 or 9 when they were tested approx. 2wks ago. So not likely to be related to a low blood sugar level. If anything, it's the opposite.

Mum isn't awake anymore, but she popped her head in as she could see my light on. She reiterated that I shouldn't be worrying, that he just had too much to drink and because he was so tired, it was affecting him more than usual.

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