About two months ago, my father died. I know that at the ripe old age of 76, he had a long and full life. He raised two children, lived his dreams of owning a business, lived near the happiest place on Earth, and was so very proud of his children and grandchildren. He lived a fulfilling life, but I can’t help but wonder what would have happened if he had not suffered from conditions related to morbid obesity.
Obesity is killing America, and something needs to be said. This is the hardest article I have ever written, but it needs to be heard. I see friends and family members following in my dad’s footsteps, and I cannot bear to be silent about it anymore.
My dad’s slow suicide began when he was 47-years-old. He was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Being the man that he is, my dad decided, instead of moving more and changing his diet, medicine was the only way to fix his issues. So began the first of many medications. What doctors didn’t know about blood pressure medications back then (and thankfully they do now), was they can cause personality changes and depression. My dad went through various blood pressure medications until he finally found one that had minimal physical side effects, though my mom noticed he had significant changes in personality. He went from being patient and easygoing to being short tempered and self-absorbed. Eventually, he fell into a deep depression.
After he started on blood pressure medication, he was then diagnosed with diabetes which was the nail in his coffin. He could not get over his addiction to sugar, carbs, and other treats. I remember when I was growing up, we would sit down on a Saturday night, watch rented movies, and devour candy and chips, and guzzle sodas. They started him on a very low dose of insulin, and eventually he was supposed to check his blood four times a day and take injectable sugar. He was not great at remembering to do that; he would often have blood sugar readings in the 500 and 600 range. Target blood sugar levels range from 70-180 in people with diabetes.
After he started on blood pressure medication, he was then diagnosed with diabetes which was the nail in his coffin. He could not get over his addiction to sugar, carbs, and other treats. I remember when I was growing up, we would sit down on a Saturday night, watch rented movies, and devour candy and chips, and guzzle sodas. They started him on a very low dose of insulin, and eventually he was supposed to check his blood four times a day and take injectable sugar. He was not great at remembering to do that; he would often have blood sugar readings in the 500 and 600 range. Target blood sugar levels range from 70-180 in people with diabetes.
Near the end, he was taking 5000-6000 mg of painkillers which didn’t even touch the pain. There were many days he would sit and cry in agony. | Dr. Oz once described diabetes as “shards of glass ripping through your veins.” This destructive illness resulted in copious complications for my dad. He developed neuropathy, or diabetic nerve damage, in his 50s and 60s. By the time he turned 70, his neuropathy was so bad that he could not sleep. Near the end, he was taking 5000-6000 mg of painkillers which didn’t even touch the pain. There were many days he would sit and cry in agony. He lost his vision and would have his corneas scraped often in a vain attempt to save his eyesight. He went deaf in one ear and had to get hearing aids. Because of the neuropathy, he would drop his hearing aids and lose them. |
Each hearing aid cost nearly $500, and they were not covered by insurance. My mom had to inspect his feet once a week because of foot infections. Eventually, one of those infections took his toe. The doctor said that if his heart didn’t kill him, the infections and amputations would. His teeth became infected, and when they rotted out, the infection spread into his blood. The blood infection attacked his heart, and he needed open heart surgery a few months later.
He had a valve infection, and needed a valve replacement. He spent over 8 weeks in an intensive care unit. For two of those weeks, doctors could not figure out what was happening. The illness not only attacked his heart, it damaged his kidneys. He ended up needing kidney dialysis for weeks on end, immediately after open heart surgery. He retained water and his feet swelled. Miraculously, he recovered from that health scare, but his depression was getting deeper, as he could no longer work and my mom had taken over as the breadwinner of the family.
My mom and dad retired in 2013, and moved to Florida as part of his dream. He was having more and more difficulty breathing. He went to the doctor in February and they discovered that the diabetes had started to attack the other valve. A week before he was supposed to go to the cardiologist to start preparing for his second open heart surgery, he had a massive heart attack and died. Though the doctor said he was feeling no pain, and it was very quick (by the time I was at his bedside, he was in a vegetative state), it was not really a quick death. He was dying for 29 years. He started dying when he was in his late 40s, and he succumbed at 76.
While it was technically his heart that killed him, obesity led to his ultimate demise. It absolutely breaks my heart to see people, especially young people, following in his footsteps. The statistics are staggering. According to the CDC, 35% of children aged 12-17 are considered morbidly obese. According to the United States Army, 75% of people aged 12-17 are not qualified for military service due to obesity and obesity related conditions. Obesity related health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and related cancers are the highest causes of death in the United States.
Death by obesity is not what many people think it is: you don’t just suddenly keel over and have a heart attack. It is a slow, painful, and horrible way to die. Please take care of yourself. You don’t have to be a fitness guru, run marathons, or go on extreme diets. All you need to do is move more, eat less, and listen to your doctor’s advice on living a healthy lifestyle. Be an example for your children and grandchildren. They will thank you, and we will lessen the obesity epidemic.
Many Kind Regards,
Jodi
Obesity is an American epidemic. Read one writer's thoughts on obesity issues here.
Original image credit: mikecollar Flickr
He had a valve infection, and needed a valve replacement. He spent over 8 weeks in an intensive care unit. For two of those weeks, doctors could not figure out what was happening. The illness not only attacked his heart, it damaged his kidneys. He ended up needing kidney dialysis for weeks on end, immediately after open heart surgery. He retained water and his feet swelled. Miraculously, he recovered from that health scare, but his depression was getting deeper, as he could no longer work and my mom had taken over as the breadwinner of the family.
My mom and dad retired in 2013, and moved to Florida as part of his dream. He was having more and more difficulty breathing. He went to the doctor in February and they discovered that the diabetes had started to attack the other valve. A week before he was supposed to go to the cardiologist to start preparing for his second open heart surgery, he had a massive heart attack and died. Though the doctor said he was feeling no pain, and it was very quick (by the time I was at his bedside, he was in a vegetative state), it was not really a quick death. He was dying for 29 years. He started dying when he was in his late 40s, and he succumbed at 76.
While it was technically his heart that killed him, obesity led to his ultimate demise. It absolutely breaks my heart to see people, especially young people, following in his footsteps. The statistics are staggering. According to the CDC, 35% of children aged 12-17 are considered morbidly obese. According to the United States Army, 75% of people aged 12-17 are not qualified for military service due to obesity and obesity related conditions. Obesity related health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and related cancers are the highest causes of death in the United States.
Death by obesity is not what many people think it is: you don’t just suddenly keel over and have a heart attack. It is a slow, painful, and horrible way to die. Please take care of yourself. You don’t have to be a fitness guru, run marathons, or go on extreme diets. All you need to do is move more, eat less, and listen to your doctor’s advice on living a healthy lifestyle. Be an example for your children and grandchildren. They will thank you, and we will lessen the obesity epidemic.
Many Kind Regards,
Jodi
Obesity is an American epidemic. Read one writer's thoughts on obesity issues here.
Original image credit: mikecollar Flickr
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