Advice needed re Circumcision

[watthong]

My partner's diabetes has gotten to the level when his urine is now affecting his foreskin. Anyway it has begun to act up, small tears, skin thinning, itching, constricting etc. Looks like a circumcision is in order. We googled for info and this one Petcharavej Hospital came up, promoting the "Staple Circumcision" technique (a 10-15 min procedure, stitches-less.) Any advice on the prices or suggestion of other places? (We're in BKK). It's interesting that the cost for children is a lot more than for adults (28K to 35K vs 11k). Additional cost are 1k for pre-op consultation, 1k for covid test before surgery and 1k follow-up. 

 

[Also prior to posting this I searched "circumcision" on ASEAN forum and it came up with one single thread which debated mostly about the religious aspect of this practice, so please spare me that. My partner might need to resort to this for purely medical reason.] Thank you in advance for any helpful input.

 

https://www.petcharavejhospital.com/en/Package/package_detail/Staple-Circumcision-bestprice#:~:text=Staple Circumcision (Children) 35%2C000 Baht,Doctor fees

[Celsius]

What a strange way to deal with diabetes 

[Lacessit]

Two routes out of diabetes itself - pharmaceuticals, or strict food and exercise discipline.

Because the OP's partner is diabetic, healing will be quite slow.

IMO the risk of complication may outweigh any benefit.

[scubascuba3]

Diet change can reverse diabetes type 2, most people lack the willpower for that and just do drugs and keep stuffing their faces.

 

As for circumcision, not easy in adulthood I've read, depends on person, more a mental thing

[howerde]

What is your partner doing about managing his diabetes?,  a level above 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes, as mentioned a high level can interfere with the healing process, a few years ago i had a small op, the doctor told me they would not operate if the reading was above 180mg/dl, as the risk was higher then the not that important op. he also mentioned that Thais do not heal as quick or as well as westerners

[bignok]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

What a strange way to deal with diabetes 

Yes. 

[watthong]

3 minutes ago, howerde said:

What is your partner doing about managing his diabetes?,  a level above 126 mg/dl indicates diabetes, as mentioned a high level can interfere with the healing process,

His is 160, still under the 180 threshold. The afore mentioned hospital touts the "staple" method (with what looks like a wine bottle opener, circled in red in pic.) so I don't know that would help/speed the healing or not. He is not managing his diet too well, only recently cutting down on sweets/fruit, but still consuming rice/noodles as normal.

[watthong]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

What a strange way to deal with diabetes 

Limb amputation is also "a strange way to deal with diabetes."

[mfd101]

1 hour ago, Celsius said:

What a strange way to deal with diabetes 

Yes, and nowhere does the Op suggest that he and his partner have actually consulted with a relevant medical professional on the matter.

 

Just straight to Wikipedia then off to get circumcised ... Wow! that's what I would call 'cutting corners' (except the snips are presumably nicely rounded out in this instance).

[watthong]

1 minute ago, mfd101 said:

Just straight to Wikipedia then off to get circumcised ... Wow!

This is exactly the kind of rush to judgement that I do not need.  Have some self-respect and go blab somewhere else, thank you.

[howerde]

5 minutes ago, watthong said:

His is 160, still under the 180 threshold. The afore mentioned hospital touts the "staple" method (with what looks like a wine bottle opener, circled in red in pic.) so I don't know that would help/speed the healing or not. He is not managing his diet too well, only recently cutting down on sweets/fruit, but still consuming rice/noodles as normal.

Is he taking medication? his reading of 160mg/dl would be high if on medication, if it is sticky rice/jasmine rice they are very bad for diabetics, he should try gabba rice and i have seen low GI rice on sale in supermarkets, and there are mixed rice options, but probably as important is exercise, i have seen low GI pomelo on sale, avocado is awesome in lowering you Sugar levels, it really does mean changing your lifestyle, google diabetes complications it should ne enough to change his mindset 

[watthong]

1 minute ago, howerde said:

Is he taking medication? his reading of 160mg/dl would be high if on medication,

Yes, he is on medication and the reading is 160. And the rice we eat is jasmine or the japanese sticky one.  In the market we have the violet colored, or rust-color or just plain brown rice, are those low GI?

[scubascuba3]

22 minutes ago, watthong said:

Limb amputation is also "a strange way to deal with diabetes."

Is he type 1, 1.5 or 2 diabetes?

[howerde]

5 minutes ago, watthong said:

Yes, he is on medication and the reading is 160. And the rice we eat is jasmine or the japanese sticky one.  In the market we have the violet colored, or rust-color or just plain brown rice, are those low GI?

Yes i think so i would say it is purple, when cooked it looks like sticky rice(it is a good rice), i found it fine, i just don't like the sticky texture. sadly the normal jasmine rice is not good a high GI index, i have seen low GI jasmine rice in villa, look for the packaging it should say low and it should state GI  below 50 or around it, some packaging just states low GI without figures i give those a miss, jasmine rice can be between 70-80 Gi, and it is not only the rice, it is the sugary sauces Thais eat with it, i always find noodles no problems it is the sauces that thais add that seem to be saturated in sugar and salt. no need to give up fruit just cut down

[howerde]

Just now, howerde said:

Yes i think so i would say it is purple, when cooked it looks like sticky rice(it is a good rice), i found it fine, i just don't like the sticky texture. sadly the normal jasmine rice is not good a high GI index, i have seen low GI jasmine rice in villa, look for the packaging it should say low and it should state GI  below 50 or around it, some packaging just states low GI without figures i give those a miss, jasmine rice can be between 70-80 Gi, and it is not only the rice, it is the sugary sauces Thais eat with it, i always find noodles no problems it is the sauces that thais add that seem to be saturated in sugar and salt. no need to give up fruit just cut down

Not sure about the Japanese rice i have not been able to see the GI index, but i suspect it is better than Jasmine rice, i mainly use indian Basmati rice

[Gecko123]

Shouldn't primary, if not sole, focus be on managing the diabetes rather than engaging in DIY management of symptoms?

[watthong]

14 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Is he type 1, 1.5 or 2 diabetes?

Unfortunately he doesn't know. Only at his last check up the clinic doc told him what he ate lately that his measure has come up high. He told her we been drinking mango smoothie lot lately so she said stop.

[watthong]

4 minutes ago, howerde said:

it is the sugary sauces Thais eat with it, i always find noodles no problems it is the sauces that thais add that seem to be saturated in sugar and salt. no need to give up fruit just cut down

Absolutely and my partner always had to have those otherwise eating it plain (more like my style) would be "flavorless" to him. Regarding fruit, at his last check up the clinic doc asked him what he ate lately that his measure has come up high. He told her we been drinking mango smoothie lot lately so she said stop.

(sorry have to go out now, but will resume later in the evening, thank you for the advice, much appreciated.)

[howerde]

2 minutes ago, watthong said:

Unfortunately he doesn't know. Only at his last check up the clinic doc told him what he ate lately that his measure has come up high. He told her we been drinking mango smoothie lot lately so she said stop.

Yes mango and Durian should be avoided, you can eat plenty of guava and avocado

[connda]

Buy some gauze and cut it in lengths.  Wrap around the shaft below the head and then pull the foreskin over it (sorry for the graphic description but?).  Do this three or four times a day or if the gauze gets damp or wet. He just needs to wick the dampness away so the skin isn't a breeding ground for bacteria.  Have him wash his friend with Betadine (Iodine/Provolone solution) in-between dressings.  Have him save himself the pain and money.  Speaking from about 45 years of experience.

Caveat - I'm not a medical expert and this is nothing but my personal anecdotal advice.  Always consult a doctor. 

Edited July 28, 2023 by connda

[Jingthing]

51 minutes ago, watthong said:

Limb amputation is also "a strange way to deal with diabetes."

Life saving when it needs to be done.

[connda]

5 minutes ago, watthong said:

Absolutely and my partner always had to have those otherwise eating it plain (more like my style) would be "flavorless" to him. Regarding fruit, at his last check up the clinic doc asked him what he ate lately that his measure has come up high. He told her we been drinking mango smoothie lot lately so she said stop.

(sorry have to go out now, but will resume later in the evening, thank you for the advice, much appreciated.)

He's diabetic but isn't eating like a diabetic.  Have him get education about his disease. 
Type 2 diabetes can be controlled and reversed.  If he isn't monitoring his blood sugar daily, then get a blood sugar monitor (yeah, he'll need to prick his finger every day but it barely hurts). 

Also have him get his blood tested at a lab monthly to measure his A1C levels.  And make some lifestyle changes including exercise and dietary changes. If he gets serious about it, his A1C level should change over time (to the better). 

If you want to watch his blood sugar come back into normal ranges?  Fast^*. 

*Caveat - I'm not a medical expert and this is nothing but my personal anecdotal advice.  Always consult a doctor. 

[scubascuba3]

17 minutes ago, watthong said:

Unfortunately he doesn't know. Only at his last check up the clinic doc told him what he ate lately that his measure has come up high. He told her we been drinking mango smoothie lot lately so she said stop.

He needs to find out, then he knows what he's dealing with.

 

This video maybe of help, skip to 22 minutes onwards

 

https://youtu.be/BvkRtCFLmK0

[connda]

14 minutes ago, howerde said:

Yes mango and Durian should be avoided, you can eat plenty of guava and avocado

Guava is loaded with sugars and carbs.  Not ideal diabetes food.
Avocodo is fat and diabetes friendly.

Keto is another way to address diabetes.  Short term Keto.  I generally do cycle 4 to 6 weeks on and back to normal eating.  Your mileage may vary. 

Caveat - I'm not a medical expert and this is nothing but my personal anecdotal advice.  Always consult a doctor. 

[connda]

23 minutes ago, watthong said:

Unfortunately he doesn't know. Only at his last check up the clinic doc told him what he ate lately that his measure has come up high. He told her we been drinking mango smoothie lot lately so she said stop.

If he had type 1 diabetes he would have know years ago.  If his doctor said he doesn't know what type of diabetes he has?  Find a specialist and dump the other doctor. 

[connda]

25 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

Shouldn't primary, if not sole, focus be on managing the diabetes rather than engaging in DIY management of symptoms?

The issue he is having may have nothing to do with diabetes, although having diabetes puts him at risk of complications.  In this case address the symptoms of both the penis problem and the diabetes.  Dude needs to find a different doctor imho.

[connda]

58 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Yes, and nowhere does the Op suggest that he and his partner have actually consulted with a relevant medical professional on the matter.

He and his partner seriously need to consult a medical specialist about his diabetes.  From what I'm reading, neither have a clue regarding how to manage diabetes. 
Just went back to see if this was post number 1 on AN.  But its not so the OPs been around.

OP - take your partner and go see a diabetes specialist. 

[howerde]

16 minutes ago, connda said:

He and his partner seriously need to consult a medical specialist about his diabetes.  From what I'm reading, neither have a clue regarding how to manage diabetes. 
Just went back to see if this was post number 1 on AN.  But its not so the OPs been around.

OP - take your partner and go see a diabetes specialist. 

Thai doctors i have found are lacking on the advice when dealing with diet, i saw a few their was no advice on diet they just concentrated on the medicine, anything else was look on internet, i saw a few Endocrinologists, they were all the same.

[howerde]

How often is his blood tested daily? with a kit or every few months? he should have or should have been given an HbA1c test this would show his sugar level over 2-3 months, and regular monitoring

[Lacessit]

56 minutes ago, howerde said:

Yes i think so i would say it is purple, when cooked it looks like sticky rice(it is a good rice), i found it fine, i just don't like the sticky texture. sadly the normal jasmine rice is not good a high GI index, i have seen low GI jasmine rice in villa, look for the packaging it should say low and it should state GI  below 50 or around it, some packaging just states low GI without figures i give those a miss, jasmine rice can be between 70-80 Gi, and it is not only the rice, it is the sugary sauces Thais eat with it, i always find noodles no problems it is the sauces that thais add that seem to be saturated in sugar and salt. no need to give up fruit just cut down

There is no such thing as good rice, it is still high carbohydrate. As are all grains.

 

Forget the glycemic index, this is the diet that got me from 93 kg to 78 kg, and reduced my hbA1C  to non-diabetic levels. I eat until full.

 

1/ Meat of any description. Eggs.

2/ Vegetables - broccoli, green beans, cauliflower, cabbage, tomato.

3/ Fruit - strawberry, blueberry, apple.

4/ Almonds

5/ Dairy - cheese and yoghurt, unsweetened. Skim milk is not diet, it is actually rich in lactose.

 

NO processed foods. NO sugar. NOTHING that grows underground.

If your partner must drink alcohol, spirits such as whisky and rum only.