My grandmother is 90 years old and has congestive heart failure. She also is a diabetic that takes three insulin shots per day. In the last week she had two heart attacks, and the doctors have said there is little more that they can do for her. Monday, Hospice is going to step in and they will take her off all her medications and just give her morphine for pain until she passes away. I am just wondering what will happen to her once they stop giving her the insulin.
well that depends on the person and her blood sugars, she could probably go quite awhile by eating well. In all likeliness it probably wont be the lack of Insulin that kills her. Good luck, and best wishes to your grandmother
well that depends on the person and her blood sugars, she could probably go quite awhile by eating well. In all likeliness it probably wont be the lack of insulin that kills her. Good luck, and best wishes to your grandmother
References :
At a younger age, I would say that using no insulin would eventually lead to kidney failure, and the patient would be on dialysis for the rest of their lives (or until a transplant), but at that age, I would say she could die before kidney failure kicks in. It’s really difficult to say how long she could live, as it depends on many factors, such as the type of diabetes, her diet, her metabolic rate and ho active (or inactive) she is. I would give her a couple of months at the most, but don’t plan too far ahead. Instead of trying to figure out how long she will live, just try and comfort her right up until the last moment, and be prepared to receive bad news at the most unexpected of times.
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If insulin is stopped, your grandma will die due to diabetic complications. Type 2 diabetic patients also need insulin when the antiglycemic pills are ineffective for them.
References :
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000305.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_1_diabetes
Her blood sugar will gradually rise,even if she does not eat, she will fall into a slow sleepy hyperglycamic coma and slip painlessly away.
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GP for more years than I care to remember