Alcoholism and diabetes. Help!

Posted By Kathy on December 30, 1998 at 20:45:58:







My father was diagnosed with Diabetes over 20 years ago.  He is in total denial that he has it, and has never done anything to treat his diabetes.  He also is an alcoholic, also in denial about that.  His drinking is consistantly an every day thing.  He normally drinks anywhere from 1 to 3 half pints of whiskey every day.  He does use the tester strips that you dip in urine to check his blood sugar.  He tells my mother that they are fine, but on several occaisions where he has dripped urine, she has checked them and they instantly turn black.  His urine is thick like Karo syrup.  Recently, he is taking spells of extreme hatefulness and just plain hard to get along with.  What are the symptoms that we need to watch?  There is no way in this world we can get him to a doctor, so I need to know what to look for in case emergency help is needed.  I thoroughly expect him to just drop dead one day.  He is 63 years old, approx. 230 lbs, gets no exercise, sleeps and watches TV.  Can you please tell me what to watch for?  I would sincerely appreciate it.