HEALTH JOURNEY WITH DIABETES

In January 2025 my husband began to experience foot pain.  He thought he stepped on a stone, but the reality was later revealed as a lack of circulation.  Not enough blood going to his foot. The result was necrosis (dead places on his foot) and possible amputation.  How did this happen? 

Diabetes had been diagnosed several years earlier in 2018, but there were no issues at the time.  He simply took a pill and maintained an active lifestyle.  He was not overweight and had no symptoms except his sugar in blood tests.  I was not sure he needed to take a pill or prick his finger.  He seemed fine.  Until 2025. 

By April he was in the hospital undergoing vascular leg surgery to restore circulation to his foot.  He was there 12 days. After which there were many doctor visits and a lot more medicines.  We even were assigned a home care nurse 3 days a week to monitor his foot which still had a wound that was healing very slowly. 

Not only was my husband very ill, but it was hard to share the news with family.  We had lost a nephew at age 47 to complications of diabetes.  My husband was over 70.

According to Google:

Diabetes, particularly when poorly controlled, can cause widespread damage to various parts of the body, including the heart, eyes, kidneys, feet, and nerves. High blood sugar levels, the hallmark of diabetes, can damage blood vessels and nerves, leading to a range of complications. These complications can include heart disease, stroke, vision loss, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney disease, and foot problems, which can potentially lead to amputation. 

I would like to address: “particularly when poorly controlled.” My husband felt some guilt at first.  But I reassured him that he did not know what was going on in the beginning. He had no symptoms for several years. It is sad when we sometimes want to blame the patient as if they cause certain illnesses.  It is also a big adjustment for an older person to suddenly change their lifestyle; or have it changed for them due to circumstances.  They need a positive support team. I hope by sharing our journey we can support others going through this struggle.

June update: David was readmitted to the hospital and had his second to the big toe removed because the damage was down to the bone. He was only in the hosptial over night and has a home care nurse for followup. He can walk and his prognosis is good.