Just found another study, done in Pakistan and published in 2010, that links brain atrophy and Type II Diabetes. Here is the link:
http://www.ayubmed.edu.pk/JAMC/PAST/22-2/Ghayyur.pdf
Well worth the read. I cannot copy/paste the text here, as it is in PDF file.
Farther down in the article, it also mentions Type 1s and similar findings, and references the article I posted about a year ago. Here is the link for that one:
Brain Atrophy, Lesions Found in Type 1 Diabetics; May Indicate Cognitive Impairment in Diabetics Begins Early
This is scary stuff. It seems that if you have diabetes, chances are "good" that you will also be "blessed" with brain atrophy. It is still not totally understood why, although there are some hypotheses out there. Given my crazy evening with hubby last night, I'm pretty sure that is what is happening to him, and also pretty sure that I have witnessed at least one "mini-stroke" or TIA, that he would NOT acknowledge or tell his doctor about.
Last night, he was just mean, nasty, yelling about some things that didn't make sense, and even threatening divorce. I had to leave. Spent the night at my brother's house for some much needed nurturance and peace. Planning on returning home later today, but it is so hard . . . how do you reason with (or leave, or even stay with) someone who probably has brain damage?
Sorry, Lilly
ReplyDeletesounds like he is really going downhill
faster and faster....
Brain damage manifests as a lot of different things so I don't think there's one answer to how to reason with somebody with brain damage. It sounds to me like the question with your husband is more along the lines of how to reason with somebody with mental illness (possibly induced by brain damage).
ReplyDeleteI have a brother with brain damage (incurred by hypoxia at birth) and mental illness (manic depression with psychosis, although he's doing much much better than was predicted during the events leading to his diagnosis and he is off all medications). He is one of my favorite people. He is easily excited, often cheerful, and generally optimistic. He likes sunrises and fantasy books, and people. Reasoning with my brother is difficult. If he gets to the point where he says "NO" you can't really change his mind in that same discussion... you have to just drop it and try again later, if it's worthwhile. Some of the bigger things to remember (with my brother, at least) are the impacts of sensory input (in other words, overstimulating and understimulating him will both lead to problematic behaviors- I think this is true for people in general) and that he wants to be respected and valued and liked and is a lot more likely to resist if he thinks you don't like him. If he has a ridiculous idea (for example, if he tells me that I used to be purple or that he has heard dogs speaking to him) it's best to just say "wow, I had no idea" and leave it at that.
I think my brother is a really great lovable person but I doubt he'd make a good husband. He's not, I don't think, capable of that level of responsibility.