what do you mean explain how modern medicine works. If you mean that they don't saw off toes anymore, you are likely wrong. diabetics feet are prone to circulation problems. In short, the feet (or just toes) "die" sometimes. They aren't taken off in order for the diabetes to get better. They are taken before it gets... how do I say this... gross... Also whole insulin helps, it can't work miracles so a diet and a strive towards a healthy weight are necessary. But, in the end, type 2 diabetes is somewhat curable. or more managable than type 2 diabetes. Insulin helps for awhile with type 1s but all the "modern medicine" doesn't help a lot of them as time goes on. Not creating your own insulin can take a toll on your body. And type 1s will never be able to produce their own insulin or "get better". I have a feeling OP'S dad is type 2. He has a lot less to worry about. While all cases are not the same, my grandpa was diagnosed at like 50ish (idk exactly but long before I existed. my dad, the youngest, was still living at home even I think) and he just took his meds and kept track of his glucose levels with the finger prick thing and he lived to be 98! he cheated his diet like crazy too. I have no idea how he lived so long. maybe by never smoking? he didn't move from his easy chair much and pretty much ate whatever the hell he wanted so I'm fairly certain he was some sort of medical mystery or miracle dude or something. so I stick by my advice of healthy diet and exercise in addition to the meds. exercise is a double whammy because I irc it help with circulation which diabetics struggle with as a I mentioned. *has multiple family members with type 2 diabetes and one with type 1 hence my my small chunk of knowledge. Diabetes can be a bit of a tricky iceberg. at the surface things might seem okay but not looking.out for oneself and being careful could lead to the toes being sawed off, etc. while the OP'S girlfriend's mother's story was extreme. there is an important lesson to learn from it that is still relevant even with modern medicine

it's actually pretty normal to loose some toes or even bigger parts of the feet when someone suffers from diabetes. Better tell your dad he has to start taking better care for himself and to visit a pedicure regularly to help avoid the risk loosing limbs! good luck for you and your dad.

It's not her place to say that, though. And that's not a helpful way to do it. Only his doctor needs to tell him how to live. Her saying those things to his son is not okay.

Reminds me of the Monty Python sketch with the man who gets his leg eaten by a tiger. "So, it'll just grow back then?"

That's a horrible idea.

As if you can cure T1, lol. Sorry for OP re the shock tactics

I'm gonna guess you mean type 2. I've been type 1 for 6 years (17 now) and I've been told the only possible ways it MIGHT be cured are an artificial pancreas or stem cells, neither of which I'd bother with because diabetes is a pretty easy one to deal with.

Last time I let my friend get a hold of my phone, I know you can't cure it through non medical means. Please look past the idiotic comment. Though while some of its partially true like lifestyle and diet changes can let you lead a perfectly normal life through diabetes. Hope for the best and again, so sorry for the idiotic comment by friend made