But that's normal for me!

Earlier this month we buried my uncle. We still can't believe it. My mother and aunts and uncles are taking it hard. He was the first of their siblings to go.

I write this because of the reason he went. He died of a massive coronary, and death was instantaneous. He was a large man with both high blood pressure and diabetes. A double-whammie. He was non-compliant in the treatment of both. When he ran out of blood pressure medicine, and the drugstore said they couldn't refill it, he wouldn't always call his doctor. His doctor would say, "I'm sorry. You need to come and see me before I can re-write that prescription." This would make him aggravated. "They only want to make more money, that's why they want me to make an appointment!"

Several days before his death, he confided that he was out of his medication--both the diabetic and antihypertensive (blood pressure medicine). I proceded to lecture him...well...yell at him. I called his doctor and made an appointment right away. He actually went and had lab work done. On Tuesday, he called me, mad because the doctor wanted him to come in right away and discuss his lab work. That doctor just wanted his money.

"Well, you've been screwing around with your medicine, and he probably needs to do some adjusting and to talk to you about it." Always the lecturer. That's me.

He died later that night.

Later, we found out that his cholesterol was 462, he had been out of his blood pressure medication for several months, and in lieu of going to the doctor to get his diabetic medication, he had been taking cinnamon. Someone had told him that it cured diabetes. His doctor told us that he had referred him to a cardiologist months ago, but he never kept the appointment.

I don't doubt that there are many people in this world who would try to take you for whatever money they can get from you. I don't even doubt that there are some doctors who would. But high blood pressure and diabetes are nothing to play around with.

Many times I hear this statement as I'm assessing a patient..."Oh, that's a normal blood pressure for me." They smile. Nothing to worry about! Unfortunately, their high number are not normal. For anybody. I don't care how often or how long you run them. All the while, they are doing damage to every organ in your body. Eventually, that patient will experience the results of that damage and it may be too late. Damage like stroke, kidney failure, enlarged heart...just to name a few.

Recently, the standards for normal blood pressure have been lowered. Now, it is considered high if the top number (the systolic) is over 120, and the bottom number (the diastolic) is over 80. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure (hypertension), and your numbers remain high, call your doctor. Many times getting the right combination of medications to control you are just trying them out. If he doesn't respond, call him again. Ask questions. He's not doing this all for free. You are paying for his services and you deserve answers.

As far as the cinnamon is concerned, it may have helped him. I don't discount any alternative medicine. Universities are doing studies on cinnamon and its insulin-like properties. But you need to follow your blood-sugar levels closely, and perhaps take cinnamon and your medication. You need to work with your doctor on this. Let him know that you're adding cinnamon to your diet for this purpose. If it's helping you, your blood sugars should show it.

I've been rambling, I know, but we lost someone very dear to us, and I can't help but think that it was so unnecessary. (Of course, the Lord is sovereign.) It's so hard to make someone do what they should if they're determined not to, and it's not a good thing to realize that your last conversations with this person was yelling at him. But yell anyway. Don't let a premature death occur in your family.

My uncle was loved by all. He had many, many friends. He was so smart and well-read. He could talk with anyone about anything. He was well known for telling Cajun jokes in a hysterical Cajun accent. As a teacher for over 40 years, he literally influenced thousands of young people. His loss will be felt so keenly by so many. I love him, and I miss him a lot.